Industry Trends8 min
Q & A: Market Trends and the State of the Siding Market
The siding industry is ever-evolving. We recently sat down with Angie Kieta, Market Development Manager at LP Building Solutions, to discuss the latest industry developments.
Q: How has the siding industry changed over the past year?
A: “In terms of the siding industry, sheathing with weather-resistant barriers is gaining popularity. Previously, WRB sheathing was installed primarily on larger, multi-family homes. Now, we are starting to see it being used on single-family homes as builders and homeowners are recognizing the value of a stronger building envelope. With product durability being a primary concern, builders prefer to use products that are impact-resistant and protect against weather and decay, like LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding products.”
Q: What are the predictions going forward for the next year as far as styles and materials?
A: “We expect to see the builder demand for smooth-texture siding continue to grow, as homeowners are gravitating more towards this aesthetic. The board-and-batten look is also expected to remain popular as builders continue to embrace this style due to homeowners’ growing preferences.”
Q: What are the most popular siding materials or trends currently?
A: “Builders and homeowners are wanting ‘wider’ looks for homes. From interior flooring to exterior siding, the trend is ‘going big.’ With this, there is increased demand for LP SmartSide Vertical Siding, which comes in 16-foot lengths, quickens the installation process and eliminates seams when applied to areas such as gable ends on single-story homes.
Q: What technology trends are you seeing?
A: “In terms of architectural resources, we are seeing an increased demand from builders for more training and assistance. In response to this need, LP has created Architect’s Corner, which includes comprehensive resources to give builders more design freedom and assistance in taking AIA-accredited CEU courses.”
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Industry Trends6 min
Where the Construction Labor Shortage Is Most Severe
According to the latest American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, about 4 million people now work in residential construction (both single-family and multifamily) – down from the 5 million who were employed just before the Great Recession. Although the workforce has shrunk by 20 percent nationwide, some parts of the country are experiencing less pain than others. Similarly, light commercial construction has been reportedly back on the rise post-Recession, with IBISWorld reporting that the recovery started just before 2014 and continuing steadily through 2019 (source).
Continue ReadingIndustry Trends7 min
A Commitment to Product Availability
It’s frustrating when factors outside of your control cause you delays or unexpected expenses during a project. Those factors could be weather delays, insufficient staffing, breakdowns in cash flow and unreliable product availability. LP devotes significant resources each year to ensure that its product availability is second to none. Because even the most innovative building solution is useless to customers unless they know that it’s available when they really need it.
Business Advice10 min
How to Prevent Lap Siding from Buckling by Using a Butt Joint
It’s a silly name, but a “butt joint” is an application technique where two pieces of material are “butted” up against each other. It is the simplest joint to make, and a butt joint can be either end to end or end to face. Depending on the width of the wall, butt joints will occur where two pieces of lap siding come together, creating a vertical seam. LP® SmartSide® lap siding products are available in 16’ lengths, and can help reduce the amount of seams where a butt joint would normally occur when using shorter pieces.
Industry Trends7 min
Why You Should Rely On Data Rather Than Instinct
For many years, construction pros have relied on experience and gut instinct more than on data, but that’s rapidly changing. Many banks, investment groups and insurance companies now need a construction data analysis to help identify potential risks before okaying a construction deal. And in the field, builders need easy access to actionable information – both at the lot level and company-wide – to help boost quality, control costs and manage trade partners.