No Slumber for Composite Lumber

Published Monday, October 22, 2018

Speaking at the Composite Lumber Manufacturers Association meeting earlier this month, Home Innovation’s Director of Market Research Ed Hudson shared his expertise on the market for outdoor structure materials used for building decks, railing, and fences based on data from our Annual Builder and Consumer Practices Surveys.

Key points he made during the presentation included the continued growth in popularity of composite and plastic materials in new homes, particularly as outdoor decking. Wood decking (all types) still retains its dominance in home repair and remodeling, owning about 75% of this market, and not giving up to alternatives as quickly in this market.

Presentation by Ed Hudson to CLMA Board of Directors

Additionally, the presentation highlighted the giant size of the market for fence materials, particularly in the repair and remodeling market, with new fence installations exceeding 1.8 billion linear feet per year. Treated wood products remain the dominant material, and privacy fences with vertical boards the most common style.

While still a minority of porch and deck rail installations, metal and glass systems have continued to encroach on more traditional lumber and plastic materials.

Ed is frequently called upon to share his insights with various industry groups. If you’re interested in finding out more about the data presented above, purchasing your own survey data reports, or enlisting Ed to present at your industry conference, get in touch.