This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
VINYL, LINOLEUM & RUBBER


FOCUS ON THE VINYL FLOORING MARKET


Vinyl flooring is a popular choice for both the contract and domestic sectors. The market is seeing steady growth, spurred by the economic upturn, which will continue dependant on private sector housebuilding and non-residential construction.


THE UK FLOORCOVERINGS


MARKET The UK floorcoverings market is mature and, as a result, sales are highly susceptible to the cyclical nature of consumer confidence & spending and the performance of the underlying economy.


VINYL FLOORCOVERINGS


MARKET Vinyl flooring accounts for an estimated 15% of the total UK floorcovering market, a share that has remained relatively consistent since 2009.


The sector includes cushioned and un- cushioned vinyl sheeting and vinyl tiles, used in both contract and domestic applications. Cushioned products, formerly associated with the domestic market, are now commonly specified throughout the contract sector.


The UK market for vinyl flooring is estimated to be worth around £275m in 2014, an increase of 3% from the previous year but below the peak achieved in 2008. However, vinyl flooring has displayed higher growth


36


Significant decline in 2007-11 has been followed by relatively moderate but steady improvement in the 2012-14 period, the result of improving economic conditions, a recovering housing market and a rise in business confidence and levels of investment.


The overall market is estimated to have been worth around £1.8bn at the end


rates than the overall floorcoverings market, and it is expected that the market will have surpassed its peak level once again by the end of 2015.


A return to positive growth was achieved in 2012, and it has been demand from the contract sector that has supported the recovery. Prospects for the contract sector remain bright, with investment and output in the commercial offices, leisure, retail and industrial sectors expected to improve, though public sector spending cuts may affect demand negatively. In 2014 it is estimated that sales to the contract sector accounted for 62% of total sales by value.


Growth has also been stimulated by the sales of luxury vinyl tile (LVT), which has been one of the fastest


of 2014, representing a 2% increase on 2013. The floorcoverings market is currently forecast to experience growth rates of 2-3% per annum until 2018, with more buoyant prospects for the 2014-16 period. Key to the forecast remains the recovery in private sector housebuilding and private sector non- residential output in the medium term


growing floorcovering sectors in recent years. Though overall demand within the domestic sector has improved, recovery in this sector has been slow, and there is strong competition from other flooring products, particularly in the buy to let sector.


Other factors influencing overall value growth have included the development of ‘click’ vinyl flooring and slip resistance products, the growing popularity of cushioned vinyl flooring in commercial and industrial settings and increasing raw material prices for PVC resins and plasticisers as well as energy and transport costs. However, competition has increased in the sector in recent years putting downward pressure on prices.


www.tomorrowsflooring.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64