The Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) has released the WDMA 2024 U.S. Market Study for Windows, Architectural Interior Doors, and Patio & Entry Doors. This comprehensive study defines the industry’s historical, current, and projected market size. Drawing on direct industry input for product shipments in 2023 and supplemented by additional primary and secondary research, this report provides a thorough benchmark of market trends. The Farnsworth Group, a nationally recognized market research firm, conducted, analyzed, and prepared the study.

The 2024 market study includes:

• Analysis of the attitudinal drivers of homeowners and contractors.
• Key macro drivers in the residential and commercial markets.
• A gauge of overall shipment demand sentiment and industry expectations.
• Timely information on residential/light commercial windows, patio doors, residential entry doors, and interior architectural door market trends and product relationships.
• Historic data from 2021 through 2023 and forecast data for 2024 through 2026.
• National and regional data, along with detailed product shipment data for residential and non-residential construction.

Key Insights from the 2024 Market Study

Market Overview:

After experiencing several years of growth, the window and door market saw a slowdown in 2023, with a slight decline in shipments compared to 2022. Rising interest rates and the cessation of stimulus funds have shifted homeowner priorities towards smaller renovations rather than large-scale projects.

Regional Strengths:

Despite the overall national decline, certain regions demonstrated resilience. The South Atlantic region, buoyed by significant new home construction, recorded the highest volumes of window and door shipments.

Commercial Sector Trends:

The commercial sector faced challenges in architectural door shipments due to high interest rates and stricter lending practices, complicating developers' efforts to secure loans for new projects. The longer timelines associated with commercial and multi-family projects suggest that high interest rates will continue to impact project starts for the next 2-3 years. Although there is some concern about the potential oversaturation of the multi-family market, this is considered a less likely scenario.

The Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) has filed an ANSI Project Initiation
Notification (PINS) to propose the development of a new standard for commercial fiberglass
reinforced polymer (FRP) doors and frames. This standard will set performance attributes for FRP
doors and frames and will fill an industry gap for industrial-built doors that are intended to
withstand moisture, chemicals, and damage caused by extensive use. These doors are used in
environments such as educational facilities, healthcare, wastewater treatment facilities, pool
areas, food processing, dairies, zoos, veterinary o,ices, and other industrial building types. FRP
doors and frames are versatile where door performance in harsh environments is essential and
where other door types may fail in this type of environment.

WDMA is seeking stakeholder participation in the development of this standard such as FRP door
and frame manufacturers, FRP door component suppliers, architects, specification writers,
building o,icials, building owners, facility managers, end users, and distributors.
The PINS announcement was published in the ANSI Standards Action on April 12th, 2024, and is
open for public comment for 30 days through May 12th, 2024. For questions, comments, or if you
are interested in participating in the development of the standard, please send an email to
[email protected].

The Window & Door Manufacturers Association is an ANSI-accredited standards developer for
fenestration products such as windows, doors, and skylights. These standards define the expected
performance of fenestration products and serve as voluntary industry benchmarks rooted in widely
accepted practices. 

The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) announced today that Special-Lite is the newest member of the association. 

Based in Decatur, Michigan, Special-Lite manufactures complete entrance systems, doors, interior aluminum framing, and other Division 8 and Division 10 products for commercial and institutional buildings. These include aluminum, all fiberglass, aluminum/fiberglass style doors in addition to flush, monumental ("stile and rail"), fiberglass simulated wood grain, and 6-panel doors.

Built to last in high usage and challenging environments, Special-Lite is unique for their quality and made-to-order custom options. Founded in 1971, the company pioneered fiberglass-reinforced polyester (FRP) material for door skins in the early 1980s. Today, it is one of the largest volume producers of FRP doors in the U.S., with facilities in both Decatur and Benton Harbor, Michigan.

For more information on the Window & Door Manufacturers Association, click here.
For more information on Special-Lite visit special-lite.com.