Big Changes Underway in Whole-House Re-Piping Market

Home Innovation Research Labs has been tracking hot and cold water piping installations in new homes for nearly two decades. In short, Copper has fallen from the dominant #1 position to a very distant #3, while PEX has grown rapidly from the #3 position to leading this market by more than double the share of any other material. Two decades ago, CPVC was at the #2 position and has generally there with only some minor growth along the way. But what about plumbing piping installations in existing homes, as part of remodeling projects, or as whole-house water pipe replacements?

According to our Builder Practices and Consumer Practices Reports, on an annual basis, the market for water piping installation in existing homes is roughly the same size as installations in new homes. In existing homes, new water piping is commonly installed to replace individual failed lines, to re-route plumbing lines, for supply lines to new faucet or bath locations, or as a whole-house replacement for a system that is no longer reliable or safe to use.

Not surprisingly, CPVC is the most popular water pipe for both partial and whole-home replacements. Looking at the past three years, market shares and growth and decline trajectories of CPVC, Copper, PEX, and Galvanized Steel vary considerably depending on whether it was a whole-house or partial-plumbing installation.

With partial plumbing replacements or lines to new fixtures, CPVC is on a moderate decline with PEX picking up the lost share. Copper and Galvanized Steel shares are fairly flat.

However, the picture looks much different with whole-house replacements. PEX, while still in the #3 position, is on a growth trajectory, while CPVC is declining. Interestingly, falling copper prices between 2013 and 2015 seem to have arrested its long-term decline or allowed a mild rebound.

Keeping up with purchasing trends is crucial in maintaining the health of your building products business. In addition to our new home data from the Builder Practices Reports, Home Innovation Research Labs offers annual reporting of market sizes and volumes for US and Canada markets for remodeling via our Consumer Practices Reports in the following product categories:

Appliances | Bathroom Accessories | Cabinets for Kitchen & Bath
Countertops | Deck & Porch Railings | Exterior Doors | Faucets
Fencing & Landscape Walls | Finish Flooring | Fireplaces | Garage Doors
Home Standby Generators | House Wrap & Radiant Barriers | Insulation
Interior Doors | Interior Finishes | Outdoor Structures | Patio Doors
Plumbing Fixtures | Plumbing Piping | Radiant Floor Heating | Roofing
Sheathing (Floor, Roof, & Wall) | Shutters & Exterior Ornamental Trim
Siding & Exterior Cladding | Soffit & Fascia
Structural Systems (Floor, Roof, & Wall) | Windows

Get the information you need to position your products in today's changing market. Reports are available for immediate delivery! Contact me for a sample report or to place your order. I look forward to talking with you.

Sincerely,

Ed Hudson
Director, Marketing Research Services
Home Innovation Research Labs
301.430.6305 | marketresearch-eh@HomeInnovation.com

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