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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 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. These findings come from a series of questions included as part of Window & Door's 2013 Industry Pulse study, asking about the electronic tools and media companies use 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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December 16, 2011
When we set out two years ago to establish the Window & Door Dealers Alliance, we never envisioned the kind of impact we would have in such a short period of time.
Some of our many highlights from 2011 include turning back the lead clearance testing rule proposed by Environmental Protection Agency, securing language in the HomeScore Energy program criteria favorable to window and door dealers...
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December 14, 2011
Last year was tough for the industry. But as 2011 winded down, there were new signs of hope.
Single-family home sales were inching up, as was builder confidence, as measured by the National Association of Home Builders. Challenges persist in the housing market, said David Crowe, NAHB's chief economist, but he also predicts "modest, gradual" improvements heading into 2012.
The mood was...
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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 »