Wood and Laminate Floorcoverings Market Report - Key Facts

Did you know that...

1. Wood laminate flooring sales have grown by around 6% over the 2013-2015 period.
2. Wood flooring currently accounts for around 16% of total floorcovering sales.
3. Solid and engineered woods account for over 35% of sales.
4. The leading 5 suppliers account for a combined share of around 35-40%.
5. Distribution of wood and laminate flooring is fragmented with flooring multiples and DIY accounting for a combined share of over 40%.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Wood and Laminate Floorcoverings Market Report - UK 2015-2019 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Construction Chemicals Market - Key Facts

Did you know that...

1. The market for Building and Construction Chemicals was estimated to have grown by 22% since 2010.
2. It is estimated that resin flooring systems typically account for approximately 7-8 million m² of area laid down per annum.
3. Around half of the concrete, cement & mortars admixtures are used in the ready mixed concrete sector.
4. Silicone sealants account for around half the UK market for specialist sealants by Volume.
5. Floor & wall tile adhesives & grouts constitute the largest sector of the trade / DIY market for adhesives, estimated at 25-30%.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Construction Chemicals Market Report - UK 2015-2019 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Tool Distribution Market - Key Facts

Did you know that...

1. The Building and Garden Tools market is worth over £1 billion, with good growth in 2014.
2. Drivers/ drills/ hammers account for over 40% of the market.
3. Tool distribution is very fragmented with tool specialists, industrial distributors and DIY multiples each accounting for over 20% share.
4. Professional tools account for over 65% of the market.
5. Market prospects are for steady growth, partly driven by a trend towards cordless tools.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Contract Cleaning Market Report - UK 2015-2019 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Moderate growth expected in highly competitive UK door and window fittings market

UK door and window fittings market has been through a period of major change over recent years, with significant consolidation of suppliers in some sub-sectors. According to a new report from AMA Research, the market for door and window fittings increased by around 2% in 2015, following similar annual growth rates in 2013 and 2014. The sector remains very competitive with a recovery in volumes partially offset by downward pressure on average prices and margins. 

While competitive, the market is also very fragmented in terms of product range, specification standards and routes to market, with product applications ranging from high specification commercial applications to retro-fit traditional style fittings. While the general public buy door and window fittings at the retail level, the bulk of the market is trade-based with supply into the door and window fabricator sector a key channel.

Locks and handles represent the two major product sectors, together accounting for over 50% of the fittings market. The locks market has remained relatively flat in recent years due to the slowdown in the economy and in the replacement window sector in particular, while the switch to electronic systems has impacted the market in some commercial applications.

Door closers were estimated to account for around 15% of the market in 2015 having grown in recent years. The majority of door closers are fitted into the non-residential sector with the private commercial and public buildings being key end-users, and the sector has particularly benefited from the introduction of higher specification products in recent years, with legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) helping to boost demand.

In terms of supply structure, the market has seen some degree of consolidation over recent years, with the emergence of several major groups, though there are still many successful companies operating in specialist niche sectors.

“For 2016 and beyond, forecasts for the total door and window fittings market indicate modest but positive growth, based on improving housing and construction markets - though growth will be constrained by price pressure and strong competition”, comments Jane Tarver, AMA Research “In addition, further changes to building regulations and standards are likely to provide continuing opportunities for higher specification products into the medium-term and beyond”.

Current forecasts show further steady rates of value growth over the next 3-4 years.  The private sector is forecast to drive growth into the medium-term, particularly given the recent steady improvements in consumer confidence and spending, with the new housing market also driving demand. In addition, the commercial sector is growing strongly – particularly office construction. As a result, a key driver for growth is likely to be the trend towards higher specification products, particularly those which offer added security features and are aimed at the commercial sector.

The ‘Door and Window Fittings Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years experience within the construction and home improvement markets.  The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Contract Cleaning Market - Key Facts

Did you know that...

1. The contract cleaning market is worth over £5billion.
2. Outsourced contract cleaning accounts for over 65% of the market.
3. Offices is the largest sector, but healthcare is a key sector accounting for around 12% of the market.
4. The commercial cleaning equipment, products and chemicals market is worth around £1 billion, with powered cleaning equipment accounting for around 30%.
5. Market prospects are for steady growth with the introduction of the living wage set to drive up contract prices.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Contract Cleaning Market Report - UK 2015-2019 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Double digit growth forecast in the UK Kitchen and Bathroom PODs market

The bathroom and kitchen PODs market was worth an estimated £137 million at MSP in 2015, having recovered well since 2012, according to a newly released report by AMA Research. This performance reflects the improving situation in the UK economy and strong opportunities afforded by the residential and student accommodation sectors in particular. However, although the market has seen a significant rise in recent years, it is remains significantly below its peak value in 2009.

The prefabricated POD market saw a rapid decline between 2009 to 2012, driven primarily by the global economic crisis and the downturn in the housing and construction sectors, which led to some major suppliers exiting the marketplace. Since then, however, the market has shown good signs of recovery, with this becoming more pronounced over the past two years, and is expected to remain buoyant over the forecast period to 2019.

PODs continue to provide advantages of consistency of build quality under factory conditions, speed of assembly and reduction of trades on site, all of which will sustain market growth in the face of the skills shortages. The prefabricated PODs market continues to be dominated by shower-room PODs, which account for around 50% of the market by value, followed by bathroom PODs, both of which lend themselves to self-contained, sealed units. Kitchen PODs represent only 5% of the overall POD market, with the wider variation in layouts, sometimes open plan, meaning fewer opportunities for standardised POD units.

The majority of PODs are manufactured from either Glass reinforced plastic and composite (GRP) or steel frame, with a smaller proportion manufactured in concrete and other materials, such as timber. These proportions have changed in recent years reflecting a number of changes in the marketplace. Firstly, there has been a contraction in the number of suppliers producing concrete PODs for the UK market; secondly, the trend towards using lighter materials on construction projects has increased, meaning that modular steel frame has become more popular; thirdly, the key area of student accommodation favours the use of GRP (as do some budget hotels), driven by cost.

Forecasts for 2016 are bullish, reflecting a significant improvement in economic conditions and business optimism. In the medium-long term, the bathroom and kitchen PODs market is expected to experience a reasonable level of growth, tailing off slightly towards the end of the forecast period, and by 2019 the market value is forecast to be 29% above 2015 levels. However, growth levels will depend on the performance of individual end use markets. 

“The key sectors served by PODs, such as student accommodation, flats and apartments, care homes, hotels, are all expected to show growth in the coming years, perhaps with the exception of the MOD sector” said Hayley Thornley, Research Manager at AMA Research. “As the POD market has matured, new opportunities are also arising for refurbishment of existing PODs, alongside new build. Upgrading and renewal of POD interiors in student accommodation, for example, to compete with the quality of new build projects, presents a developing area of work in this marketplace.”    

The ‘Bathroom and Kitchen PODs Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services within the construction and home improvement markets. The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Annual growth rates of 4-5% forecast in the UK Dehumidifiers market

The overall UK market for dehumidifiers experienced strong growth in 2014 at 9%, following a number of years of modest growth rates of between 1-3%. The positive trend continued in 2015, although a slowdown in construction in the latter half of the year is thought to have had a negative impact, resulting in estimated growth of around 3% in 2015. Key market influences include a more buoyant economy, growth in the industrial sector and higher levels of construction in the domestic and commercial sectors.

The domestic sector accounted for just over 40% of the market by value in 2015, though in volume terms this share would be significantly higher. This sector has experienced good growth in recent years supported by RMI and rising levels of housebuilding. In addition, the extensive flooding and prolonged wet weather in 2014 that affected some areas of the UK supported demand for dehumidifiers. 

Other drivers in the domestic sector include; a higher level of product awareness; increased awareness of condensation problems; greater marketing activity by manufacturers; wider availability of dehumidifiers; and increasing price competition supported by the growth of lower value imported products.

The performance of the non-domestic sector has been mixed in recent years, largely due to the varied performance of different end-use sectors. Key drivers for growth include rising demand and investment in, among others, several industrial sectors including the food processing and manufacturing sector, pharmaceuticals, electronics and automotive. A higher level of building and construction activity is also supporting the dehumidifier market, particularly building dryers to the hire sector and direct to building contractors. Other sectors include growing demand for warehousing and storage facilities, largely driven by online purchasing. This often involves electronic products or similar, where the use of dehumidification is vital to ensure the quality of the product. This is also an important factor in other sensitive ‘electronic’ environments such as data centres.

In general, the positive trend in the dehumidifier market is expected to continue in the medium term, with the market forecast to see annual growth of 4-5% between 2016 and 2019. However, a prominent feature in the dehumidifier market in recent years has been the high level of price competition, driven by the introduction of many foreign and ‘own-brand’ products, particularly in the domestic sector, and this is likely to continue to affect the market negatively.

The UK domestic dehumidifier sector has been subject to a number of changes in recent years, with many new companies entering the market as well as withdrawing from it. Other trends include distributors and retailers offering ‘own brand’ products, which has increased the level of price competition in the sector. There is some overlap in the non-domestic sector with heating, air conditioning, ventilation suppliers also offering dehumidifiers. It seems likely that the supply structure will become increasingly blurred, with companies offering products that provide greater integration across the air handling/air quality industry.

“In product terms, it seems likely that there will continue to be a shift to greater integration of products offering air handling and air control features” commented Hayley Thornley, Research Manager at AMA Research. “The focus on energy efficiency is likely to support the growth of multi-functional products offering air conditioning and dehumidification. In the commercial sector, there is already a trend to install ‘air control’ products which offer both, and in the leisure sector this has been the case for some time.”  

Additional factors that are likely to support future growth include; a general improvement in the economic environment and consumer confidence, increasing consumer awareness of the problems associated with excess humidity, wider distribution of products and availability of dehumidifiers via supermarkets and department stores and the growing popularity of online retailing, particularly in the electrical appliance sector. Additional shower installations in homes and ensuite bathrooms may also support demand for dehumidifiers, along with the growth in the use of power showers and more regular use of showers in general. Niche sectors such as saunas, steam and cabin showers may also provide some opportunities, particularly those increasingly installed in luxury bathrooms in upmarket homes.

The ‘Dehumidifiers Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services within the construction and home improvement markets. The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Utilities Construction Market Report - Key Facts

Did you know that...

1. Construction output for the utilities sector has grown by 64% since 2008.
2. The utilities sector has outperformed the wider infrastructure market over the last 2-3 years due to outstanding growth in the electricity sector.
3. Capital investment by the water companies in England and Wales under AMP6 (2015-20) is forecast to be around £26bn.
4. Investment in renewables and cleaner, more efficient generation capacity has underpinned electricity construction output and will continue to provide further stimulus for medium-term growth.
5. Construction of new onshore and offshore storage facilities will be key driver for construction output growth within the gas sector.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Utilities Construction Market Report - UK 2015-2019 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Steady improvement in the UK bathroom products market

The bathroom products market is estimated to have grown by around 5% in 2015, reflecting the continued steady improvement in the UK economy and the building and home improvement markets. The market has seen a steady increase since 2013, following a period of comparatively volatile market performance, with growth in 2014 estimated to have reached around 5%.

Baths and sanitaryware is the largest sector of the bathroom products market, accounting for over 35% by value, followed by bathroom accessories, taps and mixers and bathroom furniture, while whirlpool/spa systems account for a significantly smaller share. Key trends include investing in products that offer better quality and longevity combined with luxury. Materials that have a natural appearance and texture in combination with a subtle use of colour in soft, neutral tones have also grown in popularity while the use of industrial designs, which use rough textures with visible pipes and brickwork, has also continued to grow.

The recovery in the UK economy has resulted in the number of bathroom products installed in new housing increasing, and this has particularly benefitted bath and sanitaryware sales. The recent increase in consumer confidence levels has also resulted in a growing number of homeowners looking to refurbish their property. Sustainability and water efficiency has become a key concern with UK householders, as they become more aware of the environmental impact of components that make up their homes. As a result, water efficient bathroom products are in greater demand.

In addition, demand for ‘inclusive’ bathroom solutions is growing as the UK population ages and the number of people with additional needs increase. The trend towards ‘care in the community’ has resulted in increasing numbers of elderly and disabled people living at home, creating demand for accessible solutions that make the bathroom easier to use and also more functional. The trend towards ‘multigenerational living’ has also positively impacted on demand for ‘inclusive’ solutions that ‘future-proof’ bathroom areas used by all members of the family, irrespective of their age or ability.

With an increasing UK population and a smaller average household size, there is a high proportion of houses, flats and apartments with small bathrooms. Products such as compact wall-hung sanitaryware, slim-line wash basins, the space-saving shower bath, short-projection furniture etc. are increasingly popular. 

“Another key trend which has become increasingly important is the growing use of digital technology in UK bathrooms, something which has added value in a number of product sectors over the past two years” said Hayley Thornley, Research Manager at AMA Research. ”Examples include digital taps and sensors to control temperature and flow, mirrors featuring entertainment systems that use Bluetooth technology, whirlpool systems with chromotherapy, aromatherapy, integrated heaters and voice activated controls.”

The outlook for the UK bathroom products market in 2016 looks positive with good growth also anticipated in the medium-longer term. By 2019, the market value is forecast to have increased by 14% compared to 2015. However, the bathroom market is becoming increasingly price competitive as low-cost imports continue to account for a sizeable proportion of bathroom products sold in the UK. In addition, the growing use of the internet to source the best deals is also having an impact.

The UK bathroom products market is forecast to continue to fragment and the number of own-label products, often sold via the internet, is likely to increase. Competition from non-UK suppliers is also likely to grow as they increasingly develop their own concepts and designs rather than providing copies of existing products. Pricing pressures are likely to remain intense due to a growing number of competitive distribution channels such as the internet, DIY multiples and multiple retailers.

The ‘Bathroom Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services within the construction and home improvement markets. The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Commercial Washrooms Market Report - Key Facts

Did you know...

1. By 2019 the market value is forecast to have increased by around 11% compared to 2014.
2. Washroom panel systems were the largest sector of the market in 2014 accounting for 39% of the total.
3. It is estimated that 74% of commercial washroom products are distributed via trade channels such as builders/plumbers merchants and distributors.
4. Enclosures, screens and trays have held share with the increasing use of all-in-one shower pods/cabins at some 28% of the shower sector.
5. There is now a greater use of composite and other materials such as glass, natural stone and solid surfaces, they account for some 18% of the commercial sanitaryware market.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Commercial Washrooms Market Report - UK 2015-2019 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Consolidation continues in the UK builders & plumbers merchants market

The builders and plumbers merchants market has seen strong recovery during 2013 and 2014, following a period of relatively poor market performance, reaching growth of 6% in 2013 and 9% in 2014. This was due to the housebuilding sector in particular starting to recover, with other key sectors that have stimulated demand for merchants’ products including offices, infrastructure, industrial and education. Indications are that growth was slightly lower in 2015 at 4%, though the overall trend remains positive.

In 2014/15 it is estimated that merchant sales accounted for around 9% of total construction output, indicating that the merchants remain an important distribution channel in the overall construction market. The merchants offer an extensive range of products, with the traditional building products still dominating the merchants’ product mix. Plumbing & drainage account for around 17% and heating & ventilation for around 15%, with other sectors commanding smaller shares.

The market is dominated by a leading group of 5 organisations who account for an estimated share of over 75% of the market. Since the economic downturn, the merchant market has undergone some significant structural changes, with the market consolidating as some of the larger companies have acquired relatively smaller, but established merchants. Difficult trading conditions experienced in recent years have led to increased competition from other channels, particularly Internet-based operations.

“The impact of the construction downturn was initially more significant for the merchants, with DIY outlets benefiting from consumers switching major home improvement projects in favour of lighter DIY tasks” commented Keith Taylor, Director of AMA Research. “However, since 2013 the merchants have performed better than the DIY multiples, benefiting from the significant growth seen in housebuilding and some non-domestic new work in particular and also the growth in house prices driving the residential refurbishment sector.”

The market is price sensitive, something which is driven by competition, energy & fuel costs, volatile prices of raw materials and product availability. Whilst price increases boost market size, they contribute to some margin erosion in merchant business, principally in respect of commodity and ‘known value’ items. Buying groups continue to play an important role in the merchants’ market, particularly for regional and local merchants, and the sector has undergone some changes recently with mergers of leading organisations.

The upturn in construction activity since 2013 has also led to supply chain issues and shortages for some products such as bricks & blocks, timber and roof tiles. However, some manufacturers have re-opened moth-balled manufacturing facilities to address the issue. In addition to these product shortages, there are also some prospective on-site skills shortages.

Future prospects for the merchant market remain relatively optimistic with increased confidence in the continued recovery of the UK economy and that it will be sustained. Construction activity levels are increasing, although the rate of growth is thought to have slowed slightly in 2015 and the rate of recovery remains vulnerable. However, forecasts are broadly positive, with growth rates of between 3-6% per annum forecast until 2019.

Drivers in the residential sector include the traditional UK under-investment in housing stock in terms of new build requirements, also the age of the current dwellings stimulates expenditure of RMI activity; the current confidence in the new housebuilding sector in terms of starts, forward reservations, completions and average prices. Returning confidence and investment levels in the private commercial sector are likely to be one of the key drivers for growth in non-residential output into the medium-term, with good growth forecast in the office sector in particular. The market will also be influenced by the cost of fuel and energy as well as the volatility of the exchange rate of Sterling against both the US Dollar and the Euro, the rising cost of raw materials and product shortages as well as potential skills shortages.

The ‘Builders and Plumbers Merchants Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience in the construction and home improvement markets.  The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.