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Industry Trends5 min

2018 Housing Forecast: Steady Year Ahead

As we kick off 2018, builders, architects and product manufacturers are making their predictions and looking for new opportunities in the year ahead.

Panelists at NAHB’s 2018 Housing & Economic Outlook presentation at IBS were cautiously optimistic about the coming year. They foresee 5% growth in single-family starts and strong growth in residential remodeling in 2018. Although they predict that multifamily starts will level off this year, activity won’t drop as sharply as in 2017. The consensus is that there will be steady housing growth in the year ahead.

Perhaps the biggest challenge on the horizon is that housing demand is outpacing construction due to labor and land availability constraints. New entry-level buyers will have to contend with rising home prices and mortgage rates.

Here are some other trends that will impact the homebuilding business this year:

Products and practices that improve worker health and safetyOSHA’s tough new regulations on respirable crystalline silica may cause some builders to look for alternatives to products like fiber cement siding. LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding products are a great replacement for fiber cement siding because they do not use silica or silica-based products as a raw material and are not subject to OSHA’s new regulations.

More products designed for easy installation – Due to the ongoing shortage of skilled labor, products need to be easy for entry-level workers to install. For example, there’s a shift away from installing shaft wall liner in favor of U350 wall assemblies (featuring LP® FlameBlock® Sheathing) that are faster and easier to install.

The push for partnerships – At the recent Hanley Wood HIVE conference, AOL co-founder Steve Case encouraged the construction industry to find new synergies from partnerships and alliances. A good example would be how LP leveraged Gorilla Glue Technology® in engineering LP® Legacy® Premium Sub-Flooring.

As we begin the new year, the mortgage market is stable, and the vast majority of metropolitan housing markets are faring well (324 in positive territory, with just 7 negative nationwide). The stage is set for stability and growth in 2018, but every year brings unexpected developments. Thanks to LP product innovation, you’ll have high-performance solutions to meet any challenge ahead.

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Business Advice5 min

How to Make a Shift in Your Business Plan by Using Premium Building Materials

To keep pace with the last several years of changes related to homebuilding, you likely need to shift your business plan—let’s take a look at a few ways to navigate this.

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Business Advice5 min
Adding Value to Remodels with LP® Structural Solutions Products

Communicating the benefits of the LP® Structural Solutions portfolio for a sub-floor kitchen remodel or sub-floor bathroom remodel can be a key difference in positively reinforcing the value of the overall renovation.

Industry Trends9 min
The Importance of Vented Soffit

LP® SmartSide® Vented Soffit provides continuous ventilation for the roof, and it’s made with the same durable materials and and boasts the same great aesthetics as LP SmartSide Trim & Siding.

Industry Trends9 min
Predictions for 2023 Building Trends from LP Leadership

We caught up with several team members at LP Building Solutions to get their takes on the upcoming year and how our products tie to key challenges, new building trends and more.