A look at the future of vinyl windows

Ai:f i

:liit$:':y ;:'jTl itil;

window framing material in the coming decade, according to a "U.S.

Market Report for Vinyl Windows" by Conoco Chemicals.

The total U. S. market for windows is large. Prime and replacement win-

Replacement Trend G rows

Prime/Replacement Wi ndows

CHART I dows account for 6590 of the total market. In 1978 nearly two thirds of all prime/replacement windows used in residential markets were in new construction. Replacement held to 340/o By 198 I , due to distressed new housing markets and continued growth of the replacement trend, market shares were almost reversed. (See Chart 1).

In l98l wood and aluminum were almost equal in the market. (See Chart 2) Within the overall wood window category, vinyl clad wood windows were nearly 4090 , reflecting the demand for ease of maintenance, an important trend.

In residential new construction, the most commonly installed window is a single-glazed aluminum window because of its low cost, confirmation to FHA/VA and local building code standards, easy installation and good delivery. Residential replacement is characterized by custom manufacture, smaller volume per purchase, but large total volume sales, which are growing at l2t/o per year.

Story at a Glance

Residential remodeling, commercial rehab jobs beef up market new manufacturers and designs. . . products gain in acceptance.

Energy savings, high quality, longlasting maintenance - free properties, attractive appearance and ease of installation are important in the window remodeling market. Professional remodeling accounts for about 67slo and do-it-yourself, 3390. Higher priced prime and replacement windows are common. Because they are lower in cost than prime windows and easy to install, storm windows have a large portion of the market, 23.6 million in 1981.

Residential replacement windows are sold about equally through building supply distributors or wholesalers, lumber dealers or home centers, direct from supplier-owned distributors and from specialty dis-

Commercial Remodeling Modern ization Projects

By Specifier 1981