Demand for hard surface flooring in the US is forecast to rise by 7.2% annually to 2015, when it will reach 9.2 bn ft² (855 m²), valued at USD 11 bn, according to a recently published report “Hard surface flooring” from market researcher Freedonia (Cleveland, Ohio / USA; www.freedoniagroup.com). This rate of increase represents a dramatic turnaround from the 2005-2010 period when demand fell by 6.9% annually, the researcher said. Advances will be driven by a recovery in improvement and repair spending and a rise in new building construction from a depressed 2010 base. Freedonia said the gains will also be driven by the increased use of hard surface flooring instead of carpeting.

Vinyl flooring will continue to account for the majority of hard surface flooring demand, the researcher said, because of its low cost, durability and minimal maintenance requirements. However, vinyl flooring will see below-average growth up to 2015 due to competition from other hard surface flooring materials, such as laminates and tile, which are seen as more attractive.

Laminate and tile flooring are forecast to see the most rapid demand gains up to 2015. Laminate growth will be spurred by the rebound in residential building construction, the market where laminate flooring is most often used. Advances will also be supported by the efforts of manufacturers to create products with more realistic finishes and textures. Tile flooring demand will be supported by its performance properties, such as durability and slip resistance. Together, vinyl and laminate flooring are projected to account for almost 60% of the total hard surface flooring market in 2015.