Wood Coatings
Market
The wood coatings market continues to face some
challenging economic conditions. However, reports
of a rebounding housing market and increased
interest by consumers in undertaking DIY projects
provides some much needed opt mism.
BY KERRY PIANOFORTE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Although the wood coatings mar- ket will surely face another tough year, there are some reasons to be optimistic. Wood coatings
stand to benefit from a rebound in the
housing market and increased interest
in consumers to undertake DIY projects.
According to a recent Freedonia
Group study, Wood Protection Coatings
and Preservatives, demand for wood
protection coatings and preservatives
is forecast to increase 2.2% per year to
$3 billion in 2013. A rebound in the
housing market will promote growth,
as the residential segment is a key outlet for wood products that utilize coatings and preservatives. Demand will
also benefit form a shift in product mix
to higher value items, a slight upswing
in pressure-treated lumber production
and solid levels of residential repair
and improvement spending. These
favorable factors, however, will not
overcome continued weakness in the
key wood siding market.
In general, wood protection products
will achieve the best gains in interior
wood applications, such as flooring and
cabinets. In these applications, gains
will be promoted by a rebound in hous-
ing starts and growth in residential
improvement spending, as the purchase
of these items is common during both
homebuilding and remodeling activity.
In order to maintain wood’s position in
interior applications, wood coatings sup-
pliers will strive to develop product lines
that feature a wider range of colors,
improved efficiency and enhanced dura-
bility. In addition, wood coatings suppli-
ers are addressing demand for “green”
materials with the development of envi-
ronmentally friendlier formulations.
The longevity of interior wood limits
gains in coatings demand, as mainte-
nance requirements are infrequent.
