Principia Consulting’s latest edition of the low-slope roofing market titled Commercial Roofing 2016 highlights demand for commercial roofing which has grown as the overall construction market has strengthened over the past few years. Growth of this roofing segment has been further punctuated by demands for higher performance both during and after installation.
Updated building codes for increased energy efficiency are driving changes in construction method to provide continuous insulation performance for proper building enclosure. Commercial roofing has become increasingly more systems-driven requiring further education aimed at architects, roofing consultants and contractors about selecting and installing the right system including underlayment, insulation, weather resistant barriers, flashing and tapes, adhesives and coatings. Developing specifications for complete systems will create opportunities for all companies supplying the commercial roofing market.
The competition between roofing systems, ranging from more traditional roofing such as built-up roofing and modified bitumen to faster growing single-ply and liquid-applied roofing has heightened to meet these energy efficiency code changes as well as reduce heating and cooling costs and deliver LEED credits as part of the overall building envelope system. Solar panels and vegetative roofs to manage energy performance of the building are also part of the solutions available, gaining attention among both the A&D community and property owners. These options will further influence the type and thickness of roof membrane selected as will mixed roof designs on these projects.
Ken Jacobson, a Partner at Principia Consulting, adds, “End market changes also have great impact on the supply of commercial roofing. Shifting product trends will force decisions on industry capacity at the manufacturer level while the changing product mix to meet the range of options available will require distribution to take more inventory to meet product availability for contractors. Both manufacturers and distributors/dealers also will need to provide more education on how their products perform to meet code and deliver value to the architect, contractor and property owner.”
From a supply perspective, stability exists among the tier one product manufacturers, with remaining suppliers focused on specific product or market segments to create a defensible competitive position. Distribution continues to consolidate at the top with the top three distributors accounting for well over half of commercial roofing sales. These companies have the size and scale to deliver the necessary level of support to meet the changing and more complex aspects of serving this segment of the roofing industry.
Commercial Roofing 2016 provides a vital baseline analysis for forecasting and business planning for current and new industry participants. Using 2015 as its launch point, the report analyzes demand drivers and trends by material, construction type, distribution channel, supplier and region, providing forecasts through 2018. It also analyzes trends in current products, new product developments and technologies, and competitive materials, helping companies anticipate customer needs, plus insights into:
- Up-to-date market size and forecast
- Voice of Customer feedback on usage and preference trends
- Channel dynamics and trends impacting demand
- Market share review for leading producers
- Strategic insights into the growth segments of commercial roofing
Subscribers also have access to Principia’s proprietary market model and forecast tool. This powerful web-based tool is designed around best practices of data visualization and usability. The online platform enables users to log in from any desktop or mobile device to access all of the data from the report, with the added ability to instantly customize the data views and integrate with their own information.
Commercial Roofing 2016 launches in the first quarter of 2016 and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2016.