Hardwood Flooring Gets A Rise

Hardwood flooring shipments reached nearly 673,000,000 bd. ft. in 2004, the highest level for shipments since 1966, according to NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association.

The 2004 shipments level (672,805,000 bd. ft.) reflects a steady upward trend in flooring shipments that has been ongoing since 1991. NOFMA attributes the strong numbers to the enduring popularity of wood floors and the continued strength of new home construction and residential remodeling.

"Hardwood floors offer homeowners lasting beauty, sustainability and a great value," said Timm Locke, NOFMA executive v.p. "With the proper installation and care, hardwood flooring is an investment for the homeowner that will last a lifetime and beyond."

In 1966, the Federal Housing Administration approved the use of wall-to-wall carpeting in new home construction, an event that contributed significantly to a near 857o decline in strip flooring shipment levels over the next l0 years (654,368,000 in 1966 to 98,755,000 in 1975). A series of recessions, coupled with extremely high interest rates, kept flooring markets depressed until the early 1980s, when they began to recover.

NOFMA points to a variety of factors to explain the continuing rise in wood flooring's popularity. The warmth and beauty of natural wood, as well as its durability and decorating versatility are the primary reasons consumers continue to prefer wood floors in their homes. "People always have and likely always will like the look and feel of real wood floors," Locke said. "And they know that even if their taste in furnishings or wallcoverings change, their wood floors will always fit the d6cor."

Wood flooring is also a good investment, long-term. A recent sur-

MMhM vey of real estate agents commissioned by the Hardwood Council, a hardwood industry marketing coalition, indicated that hardwood flooring can add $7,000 to $10,000 to a home's resale value. That, in turn, helps to explain why a 2004 survey of wood flooring contractors by Hardwood Floors Magazine indicated that 7 l%o of wood floor-related work was remodeling projects, while the remaining297o was in new construction.

"For years we've known that one of the first things a new home buyer will do is replace the builder grade carpet in their home with new hardwoods," Locke said. Now, he suggested, more builders are realizing that and offering wood floors as an upgrade option, helping to further spur flooring market growth.

NOFMA also believes the trend toward "green" building practices has helped fuel demand for wood. More and more consumers, builders and architects are using hardwood flooring because of its environmental attributes. Like all wood products, hardwood flooring comes from a renewable resource, making it inherently sustainable.

Wood flooring is also a significant contributor to improved indoor air quality and reduced allergens. Some 60 million Americans suffer from allergies and vacuuming does not eliminate the dust mites, dander and other contaminants that are trapped in carpets and released into the air when the carpet is disturbed.

NOFMA says there is little to indicate the growth in flooring shipments will end any time soon. According to the National Association of Home Builders, housing starts are expected to see yet another strong year in 2005, a good indicator that wood flooring demand will remain strong. "With a growing trend among consumers to place more emphasis on their homes, coupled with very favorable conditions in the building industry, we see the trend continuing for the foreseeable future," Locke said.

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