Greener Pastures

Steven Shaw
Created:

Sustainability, durability and depth appearance are among the hottest trends in countertops today.


Dunevich anticipates consistent growth in the usage and desire for quartz, along with continued growth and development in the sustainable products arena.

“The economic situation we’re in is painful, but it has sparked a revolution of sorts,” adds Williams. “It requires designers and manufacturers to really evaluate and pay attention to consumer needs and to think way out of the box.”

Williams sees more innovation in affordable, sustainable and recyclable materials in the future, as well as a lot of interesting new designs as the styles and tastes of the younger generations influence the industry.

“There will be a thinning of the herd, but the herd will come out of this much stronger,” she concludes.

Righthand anticipates that products made in the U.S.A. will become “a big thing going forward,” noting, “Going green and made domestically should go hand in hand. We need to recycle local materials. Do we really need to go to Africa and recycle their content? What about here at home? We need to rebuild our economy, so I expect ‘Made in America’ to be an emerging trend.”

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Housing Rebound Projected to Boost U.S. Countertop Demand

Cleveland, OH — U.S. demand for countertops is forecast to increase 2.4% annually, to a total of 760 million sq. ft., by 2013, with growth prompted by an anticipated rebound in housing construction from its depressed level over the past two years (see Market Pulse).

That’s the projection of The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland, OH-based industry research firm which predicts that, while the residential remodeling sector will post below-average advances in demand through 2013, gains will be promoted “by the large stock of homes requiring countertop replacement, as well as the desire of consumers to renovate their kitchens and bathrooms by installing larger-sized countertops.”

According to The Freedonia Group, countertops made from engineered and natural stone will experience the strongest gains through 2013 – growing at annual rates of 9.6% and 8.0%, to 49 million sq. ft. and 66 million sq. ft., respectively.

“Consumers view these materials as durable, aesthetically pleasing surfaces that are highly resistant to scratches and extreme temperatures,” the research firm said. “Engineered stone will benefit from its resistance to biological contaminants and its resemblance to natural stone, while remaining impervious to moisture. Natural stone will benefit from consumer interest in the luxury and style that granite and others types of stones offer.”

Demand for laminate countertops is forecast to grow at 1.3% annually through 2013, while solid surface will post a 1.6% annual growth rate (to 91 million sq. ft. by 2013) and cast polymers, tile and other surfaces will grow at a rate of 2.4% annually (to 99 million sq. ft.).

The Freedonia Group also forecast that laminate countertops will continue to account for the largest share of countertop sales (455 million sq. ft. by 2013), and that the residential market – which accounts for some three-quarters of overall countertop demand – will continue to drive demand through 2013.

In contrast, the non-residential market is forecast to contract through 2013, as decreases in non-residential construction spending will limit overall countertop demand, the research firm noted.

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