© AMA Research Ltd 2016
BI-FOLDING & SLIDINGDOORS
7 % GROWTH PER ANNUM EXPECTED IN despite Brexit fears
THE UK BI-FOLD DOORS MARKET
»»
IN 2015, THE UK MARKET FOR BIfold doors was estimated to have grown by 12 %, according to a new report by AMA Research, with similar growth expected for 2016. Rising from a low installed base, bifold demand has increased sharply in recent years driven strongly by significant growth in the home improvement market – both new extensions and replacement-and changing tastes in favour of opening up the home and garden area.
AMA’ s report assesses the market by frame material and, while aluminium is the dominant frame material, timber accounts for around 20 % of the market. Overall, the trend for maximising natural light has resulted in increased glazing used for entrance and patio doors and internal doors. Home extensions are a key market – with around 200,000 extensions per annum offering good market prospects for manufacturers and installers alike with bifolds popular where homeowners are
7 % growth per annum expected in the UK Bi-fold doors market
October 2016 – Cheltenham, UK
extending kitchens / living areas and want a more open link to the outdoors.
In the commercial office sector, bi-folds have increased in use as interior doors which offer natural light, but offer flexibility by enabling rooms to be expanded or contracted easily. They are also popular for car showrooms and similar businesses allowing easier movement of vehicles and products. Bi-folds have also been in use for many years in the leisure a more sector open as link exterior to the outdoors for. restaurants and bistros, and internal space dividers in the health & fitness sector.
PRESS RELEASE
In Within 2015, the leisure UK market sector for, replacements
bi-fold doors feature was estimated importantly to have as older grown style by bi-folds 12 %, according to a new report by AMA are changed for newer styles and frame
Research, with similar growth expected materials for 2016 and. Rising more from easily a low operating installed features.
“ The base supply
, bi-fold structure demand remains has increased complex and sharply in recent years driven strongly fragmented by significant, but growth increasingly the competitive home, as
many improvement window and market door – companies both new now offer extensions and replacement-and bi-fold doors,” said Andrew Hartley, Director changing tastes in favour of opening up of the AMA home Research and garden.“ A number area. of companies
that originally focused on single materials – eg. aluminium, PVCu or timber – have extended product ranges to include alternative material products in order to widen channel exposure. Bi-fold doors have also seen wider distribution generally in recent years, particularly through retail DIY / home improvement multiples and online.”
Current AMA forecasts indicate steady to good growth into the medium-term with the bifold doors market growing by around 7 % per annum to 2020.
The bi-fold doors market is a relatively new and expanding sector, worth over £ 70m at manufacturers prices – and much higher in terms of installed value.
As indicated above, a key driver of market growth has been consumer interest in bi-folds – with the residential market accounting for over 50 % of sales- while suppliers themselves have contributed to the growth of the market through new developments in frame materials, styles, colours and features. In terms of product mix, exterior bi-folds dominate the sector by both volume and value due to residential use – although commercial interior bifold doors account for a significant share of the market.
AMA’ s report assesses the market by frame material and, while aluminium is the dominant frame material, timber accounts for around 20 % of the market. Overall, the trend for maximising natural light has resulted in increased glazing used for entrance and patio doors and internal doors. Home extensions are a key market – with around 200,000 extensions per annum offering good market prospects for manufacturers and installers alike with bifolds popular where homeowners are extending kitchens / living areas and want
In the commercial office sector, bi-folds have increased in use as interior doors which offer natural light, but offer flexibility by enabling rooms to be expanded or contracted www. amaresearch. co. uk easily. They are also popular for car showrooms and similar businesses allowing easier movement of vehicles and products. Bi-folds have also been in use for many years in the leisure sector as exterior doors for restaurants and bistros, and internal space dividers in the health & fitness sector. Within the leisure sector, replacements feature importantly as older style bi-folds are changed for newer styles and frame materials and more easily operating features.
Stunning Anglesey Installation
»»
ANGLESEY-BASED INSTALLER, Window Medic, has recently completed a sea-front renovation project with PatioMaster sliding patio doors on two levels.
Owner, Stuart Hamilton, explains:“ Initially wanting bi-folding doors, we suggested the homeowners looked at PatioMaster sliding patio doors, as these fulfilled the brief of wanting as much glass as possible to maximise the views from the property and utilising the space effectively. We also installed a Juliet glass balcony on the upper level to comply with regulations, while giving the property a striking edge. The property was also fitted with new windows using Profile 22.”
Having worked with PatioMaster for 16 years, Stuart and his team believe its sliding patio doors are ideal for almost every project:“ PatioMaster doors are a well tried and trusted product and extremely popular with our customers. Simple, cost-effective and we get very little call back on them, when compared with other systems. We’ ve also got a great relationship with the team at PatioMaster and the back-up service from them is fantastic.”
“ The supply structure remains complex and fragmented, but increasingly competitive, as many
Starting window out as and a repairs door companies company in now
1997 offer
, bi-fold doors” said Andrew Hartley, Director of AMA Research.“ A number of companies that originally focused on single materials –
Window eg. aluminium Medic, took PVCu over or timber its current – have premises extended product ranges to include alternative three material years products later. Over in the order years to that widen followed channel, exposure. Bi-fold doors have also seen wider distribution generally in recent years, particularly through retail DIY / home improvement
Stuart and his team worked on building up multiples and online.”
their showroom and the installation side of the
business, while still focussing on the repairs side, which Stuart believes helped them keep their head above water when the recession hit. Now employing 14 people, as well as regular subcontractors, Window Medic manages two teams of fitters and 2 teams of repairers that focus on double glazing, with a fleet of six vans.
Stuart adds:“ We have also recently updated our showroom with a 4-pane, grey on white PatioMaster sliding doors display. The 4-pane and grey colours have become really popular lately, and we wanted to show these off to our customers and highlight the benefits of the PatioMaster doors.”
PatioMaster is one of the UK’ s leading manufacturers of in-line sliding doors and works through a small network of local craftsmen.
www. patiomaster. co. uk
34 » DEC 2016 » CLEARVIEW-UK. COM