Trends

Find out what our research experts view as important changes and trends in homes and building products.

June 23, 2017

Market for Building Materials: Moving Towards the Middle?

The housing rebound continues, but its effect hasn’t been evenly distributed across the spectrum of housing types and price-points. In 2006, Multifamily represented only 16% of residential starts but surged to 35% of starts in 2015, bringing a new character to the market for home building materials. In 2016, however, while we saw a modest return to pre-2006 markets when Move-up and Starter homes ruled, Multifamily began inching its way back down from its peak the year before.

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Tagged:
Data and Trends, Building Practices, Energy Performance, Insulation

June 5, 2017

Insulation Usage Patterns Linked to Home Type, Pricepoint, Geography, and Builder Size

Like most data points in the building industry, insulation material usage varies widely by geographic area, the size and type of builder, and types of homes. The national survey of builders we conducted in February, 2017 sheds further light on usage patterns—confirming some stereotypes about insulation usage in new homes, but it also seems to refute others, lending insight into the market for insulation materials and systems.

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Tagged:
Data and Trends, Building Practices, Energy Performance, Insulation