There are several limitations in assessing the window and door fabrication market – differences in product definition, residential and commercial sector variations, market volatility, level of vertical integration in fabrication and installation, glazed / unglazed supply etc.

However, given these limitations, we estimate that, at trade prices, the windows and doors fabrication market was worth around £2.65 billion in 2005. This represents a substantial  reduction in comparison with our estimate for 2004 and reflects the challenging market conditions that fabricators are facing, particularly in the domestic home improvement sector. 

The non-domestic market has been relatively buoyant in the 2000’s, underpinned by high levels of construction output in the commercial office, education and health sectors.  However, the domestic replacement and housebuilding sectors were less positive during the early years of 2000, with the domestic window replacement market reaching saturation.

In 2005, the residential windows and doors replacement market has seen notable declines and it is widely accepted that the market is now mature.  Prices and margins continue to be under pressure throughout the distribution chain, particularly for PVC-U, underpinned by intense levels of competition and over-capacity, especially within the direct sell market.    The mature replacement sector is expected to continue to decline in 2006-2009. The decline may be mitigated to some degree in the public sector by work undertaken as part of the Decent Homes initiative but the private home improvement market is likely to continue to decline certainly in the short-medium term, though it is difficult to assess where the market will settle. 

Conservatories continue to offer relatively good prospects in the domestic sector as market penetration levels are low and the product remains high on homeowners preferences for home improvements.  However, much depends in this sector on general economic developments and in the difficult market of 2005, this sector has suffered along with windows. 

The newbuild market, though relatively small by comparison with the replacement market, and despite a slow and relatively flat market in 2001-03, has become more buoyant in recent years.  Early signs for 2006 show positive growth and this market will continue to be supported, at least in the short term, by government initiatives such as those for affordable homes and keyworker homes. However, volume growth in housing completions will be offset to some extent by the rapid switch to flats, which is resulting in a lower average number of windows per new dwelling.

The commercial sector is expected to continue to be relatively buoyant with both new build and refurbishment projects anticipated in the office and leisure sectors.   In the public non-housing sector, the long-term commitment by the Government to publicly funded and PFI schemes suggests that demand for windows and other glazing products will continue to grow, particularly in the education and health sectors.

The supply sector remains very fragmented as it comprises vertically integrated retail glazing companies, PVC-U trade fabricators and fabricator/installers, aluminium systems fabricator/installers, bespoke glazing contractors, composite door manufacturers, commercial glazed door manufacturers, roof light manufacturers, steel window manufacturers and major joinery companies. 

The structure of the industry has always been volatile with a high turnover of retail companies.  As margins have become more depressed in the saturated market and the pressure on companies to survive a downturn in sales alongside rapidly rising costs becomes more acute, it is expected that there will be further significant rationalization in the supply chain. 

The retail glazing sector is itself very fragmented, the leading 6 suppliers only having a combined market share of around 25%, led by Anglian.  Other national retail companies include the following: Bowater Zenith, Everest, Staybrite (also owned by Bowater), Weatherseal, Safestyle etc.

PVC-U trade fabrication is also highly fragmented, with leading players such as Shepley, Speedframe, Griffin Windows, Sash UK and CWG typically having shares of 1-3% of the domestic doors and windows market. The growing number of 'super-fabricators' is leading to gradual consolidation, as is the fact that a number of smaller fabricators are withdrawing from manufacture to focus on installation. 

The aluminium fabrication industry is largely focused on the non-domestic market, as the use of aluminium in the domestic sector has lost share to PVC-U alternatives. In recent years, this sector has been marked by a large loss of capacity with a number of once major players no longer in operation. There are no dominant companies in this sector, but key players include:  Solaglas, AC Yule, Parry Bowen, Dane Architectural Systems and Charles Henshaw.

The other key supplier sector is the joinery industry, largely selling timber windows and doors to the builders merchants and DIY markets, although the leading players have diversified into PVC-U and composite materials as demand for timber products has declined. Key suppliers are Magnet, Jeld-Wen UK, Premdor, Howarth, etc.

In terms of materials, PVC-U is considered to have reached its peak in many markets, particularly the domestic market.  Aluminium has a particularly strong share of the commercial market, however, where its strength makes it suitable for structural glazing projects.  It has also gained some share in the domestic sector as a result of it popularity among specifiers for riverside/luxury flat developments.  Timber, whilst losing share in the past, has retained a share of the market, helped by Social Housing sector specification of timber for doors and windows, environmental factors, advances in timber treatments and the traditional appeal of wood. 

Composite materials are gaining share in the entrance door sector, particularly rapidly in the public and new housing sectors, but while there are new composite materials in the window market, they have not achieved any significant share gains to date.  There has been some restructuring in the sector.  In particular, two groups with notable interests in the door and window market, Laird Group PLC and Epwin, are represented in the composite door market by more than one company.  In addition, US door manufacturer, Therma-tru, already an importer into the UK, has acquired UK company Sentinel.