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February 1, 2012
Consumers will soon demand doors, window and hardware that communicate with and be controlled by smart home systems
A remarkable turning point in the fenestration industry was reached a few weeks ago. Rather than waiting for the upcoming International Builders’ Show, Pella Corp., Andersen Windows, Therma-Tru Doors, Lowe’s and Schlage introduced new Internet-enabled products a month earlier at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Many probably paid little notice to the importance of the...
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January 31, 2012
With consumer confidence slowly but surely seeping back into the economy, some industry companies are banking on a decent home improvement season in the coming months. And this uptick in confidence also coincides with “spring home show” season, a dynamic that could prove to be a useful catalyst in the window and door industry.
Let’s talk about home shows. Love ‘em or hate...
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January 23, 2012
This week we heard from two sources that business could be improving. The National Association of Home Builders reported that builder confidence is up for the fourth straight month. “Builders are seeing greater interest among potential buyers as employment and consumer confidence slowly improve in a growing number of markets," says David Crowe, NAHB chief economist....
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January 20, 2012
With slowly improving market conditions, NAHB is optimistic for annual event
Window and door manufacturers may not be convinced, but organizers see positive signs for this year's International Builders' Show, scheduled for February 8-11 in Orlando, Fla. With the housing market showing signs of modest improvement, the National Association of Home Builders reports pre-registrations are 25 percent ahead of last year's pace and exhibit space sales have remained strong for the...
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January 18, 2012
In working on the 2012 forecast piece for the January/February issue, I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of folks in the window and door industry about what they expect for the coming year. We covered a lot of topics, as I’m sure you can imagine, ranging from the significant challenges our industry continues to face, to the overlooked opportunities that some companies are pursuing in a...
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January 9, 2012
The concept of the smart home has been with us for many years. Progress in the market, however, has been limited. Last week's announcement from Lowe's about the launch of the Iris system indicates things are changing. And the residential window and door industry is paying attention.
Therma-Tru Doors, for example, is going to offer doors that allow homeowners to monitor activity with the Lowe's...
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January 1, 2012
Survey result looks at adoption rates for new electronic tools and media
Websites are the norm, social media has many fans and mobile technologies are gaining traction among manufacturers, distributors and dealers of windows and doors. Those findings come from a series of questions included as part of Window & Door's 2012 Industry Pulse study, asking about the electronic tools and media companies using to conduct business and/or communicate with customers and...
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January 1, 2012
With more realistic expectations for the coming year, window and door companies focus on opportunities that exist
If 2011 was the year for window and door companies to adjust to the new norm of the marketplace, 2012 will be the year of truly accepting market conditions—no more waiting for a recovery—and focusing on areas in which businesses can thrive, industry executives say.
“We are hopeful that the recovery will come sooner than later,” says Todd Woods, director of marketing and...
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January 1, 2012
A three-step system for water management in scenarios where the window is replaced but the wall cladding is not
Replacement windows and doors represent a sizable majority of the fenestration products installed into buildings in recent years, particularly with the drop in new construction starts and incentives provided for the energy efficient replacement units. While there has been significant effort in codes and standards to improve installation practices in new construction installations, relatively...
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January 1, 2012
Survey reveals dealers, distributors and manufacturers are extremely cautious about business outlook
The window and door industry is looking at the coming year with extreme caution, according to the 2012 Industry Pulse, Window & Door’s exclusive annual survey of industry executives. North American window and door manufacturers and dealers remain guarded in their expectations for the economy as a whole and window and door demand in general.
This year's study indicates less...
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January 1, 2012A three-step system for water management in scenarios where the window is replaced but the wall cladding is notReplacement windows and doors represent a sizable majority of the fenestration products installed into buildings in recent years, particularly with the drop in new construction starts and incentives provided for the energy efficient replacement units. While there has been significant effort in codes and standards to improve installation practices in new construction installations, relatively... more »
January 1, 2012Survey reveals dealers, distributors and manufacturers are extremely cautious about business outlookThe window and door industry is looking at the coming year with extreme caution, according to the 2012 Industry Pulse, Window & Door’s exclusive annual survey of industry executives. North American window and door manufacturers and dealers remain guarded in their expectations for the economy as a whole and window and door demand in general. This year's study indicates less... more »