Most remodelers, like consumers, tend to lean on specific product brands. There are brands we know, brands we use, and brands we perceive to be the best. In some cases, these are the same, but in many cases, not. As professionals, remodeling contractors must make specific product decisions on each job that are influenced by a range of business factors, including budget, product availability, and client demand. Quality is not an absolute. But by reporting on the range of brands that interface with remodeling professionals, clear trends emerge.
Every two years, REMODELING releases its brand-use study. The Farnsworth Group, which conducts the study for us, collected 1,493 responses this year from recipients of our magazine and newsletters who identified as professional remodelers. About 17% of these remodelers do some new construction, as well, but the vast majority, 83%, work exclusively on existing housing—43% of that work on structural alterations and additions, 35% on major replacements, and 22% on maintenance and repair work. About 73% of firms reporting took in under $1 million in revenue while 15% took in between $1 million and $3 million, and 12% earned over $3 million (of which only 2% earned over $10 million). This snapshot of the industry not only underscores how rarefied the list of top remodelers published in this issue are, but demonstrates that we are an industry of small businesses—firms that, while providing service, are themselves in need of service and lasting performance from the products they spec.
As is reported here, the survey asks which product brands are the most familiar to remodelers, which brands do remodelers use most often, and which ones do they perceive to be the highest quality.
Category
Bath/Shower Surrounds/Shower Doors
Brand familiarity
Kohler
Used most often
Kohler
Highest overall quality
Kohler
Category
Bathroom Ventilation/Fans
Brand familiarity
NuTone
Used most often
Panasonic
Highest overall quality
Panasonic
Category
Baths: Tubs, Jetted And Non-Jetted
Brand familiarity
Kohler
Used most often
Kohler
Highest overall quality
Kohler
Category
Cabinets: Semi-Custom And Custom
Brand familiarity
KraftMaid
Used most often
KraftMaid
Highest overall quality
Poggenpohl
Category
Cabinets: Stock
Brand familiarity
KraftMaid
Used most often
KraftMaid
Highest overall quality
Medallion Cabinetry
Category
Caulks/Sealants
Brand familiarity
Liquid Nails
Used most often
Phenoseal
Highest overall quality
OSI Sealants
Category
Decking: Composite and Vinyl
Brand familiarity
Trex
Used most often
Trex
Highest overall quality
Trex
Category
Decking: Wood
Brand familiarity
Wolmanized Wood, EraWood
Used most often
Wolmanized Wood, EraWood
Highest overall quality
Wolmanized wood, EraWood
Category
Deck Railing
Brand familiarity
Trex Railing
Used most often
Trex Railing
Highest overall quality
AZEK Rail
Category
Kitchen Appliances
Brand familiarity
Bosch
Used most often
GE Appliances
Highest overall quality
Sub-Zero
Category
Doors: Entry
Brand familiarity
JELD-WEN
Used most often
Therma-Tru
Highest overall quality
Marvin
Category
Doors: Garage
Brand familiarity
Clopayr
Used most often
Clopay
Highest overall quality
Overhead Door
Category
Doors: Patio
Brand familiarity
Andersen
Used most often
Andersen
Highest overall quality
Marvin
Category
Exterior Trim
Brand familiarity
AZEK Trimboards
Used most often
AZEK Trimboards
Highest overall quality
AZEK Trimboards
Category
Faucets
Brand familiarity
Kohler
Used most often
Moen
Highest overall quality
Kohler
Category
Flooring: Laminate
Brand familiarity
Armstrong
Used most often
Armstrong
Highest overall quality
Shaw
Category
Flooring/Surfaces: Ceramic Tile
Brand familiarity
Dal-Tile
Used most often
Dal-Tile
Highest overall quality
Dal-Tile
Category
Flooring: Wood
Brand familiarity
Lumber Liquidators
Used most often
Bruce
Highest overall quality
Bruce
Category
Laundry Appliances
Brand familiarity
GE Appliances
Used most often
GE Appliances
Highest overall quality
Bosch
Category
Lighting
Brand familiarity
Halo
Used most often
Halo
Highest overall quality
Kichler
Category
Lighting Controls/Switches
Brand familiarity
Leviton
Used most often
Leviton
Highest overall quality
Lutron
Category
Locksets/Hardware
Brand familiarity
Kwikset
Used most often
Schlage (Allegion)
Highest overall quality
Schalge (Allegion)
Category
Paints/Stains
Brand familiarity
Behr
Used most often
Sherwin-Williams
Highest overall quality
Sherwin-Williams
Category
Ridge Vent Systems
Brand familiarity
CertainTeed
Used most often
GAF Cobra
Highest overall quality
GAF Cobra
Category
Roofing: Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingles
Brand familiarity
GAF Timberline
Used most often
GAF Timberline
Highest overall quality
GAF Timberline
Category
Roofing: Clay/Concrete/Synthetic Tile
Brand familiarity
CertainTeed
Used most often
CertainTeed
Highest overall quality
CertainTeed
Category
Roofing: Metal
Brand familiarity
ABC Metal Roofing
Used most often
ABC Metal Roofing
Highest overall quality
CertainTeed Matterhorn
Category
Siding: Engineered Wood
Brand familiarity
LP SmartSide
Used most often
LP SmartSide
Highest overall quality
LP SmartSide
Category
Siding: Manufactured Stone
Brand familiarity
CertainTeed Stonefacade
Used most often
Boral
Highest overall quality
Eldorado Stone
Category
Siding: Fiber Cement
Brand familiarity
James Hardie
Used most often
James Hardie
Highest overall quality
James Hardie
Category
Siding: Vinyl
Brand familiarity
CertainTeed
Used most often
CertainTeed
Highest overall quality
CertainTeed
Category
Sinks: Kitchen/Bath
Brand familiarity
Kohler
Used most often
Kohler
Highest overall quality
Kohler
Category
Surfacing: Laminate
Brand familiarity
Formica
Used most often
Wilsonart
Highest overall quality
Wilsonart
Category
Surfacing: Quartz
Brand familiarity
Silestone
Used most often
Cambria
Highest overall quality
Cambria
Category
Surfacing: Solid
Brand familiarity
Corian (DuPont)
Used most often
Corian (DuPont)
Highest overall quality
Corian (DuPont)
Category
Toilets
Brand familiarity
American Standard
Used most often
Kohler
Highest overall quality
Kohler
Category
Windows: Fiberglass
Brand familiarity
Integrity (Marvin)
Used most often
Integrity (Marvin)
Highest overall quality
Integrity (Marvin)
Category
Windows: Skylights/Roof Windows/Tubular Skylights
Brand familiarity
Velux
Used most often
Velux
Highest overall quality
Velux
Category
Windows: Vinyl
Brand familiarity
JELD-WEN
Used most often
JELD-WEN
Highest overall quality
ProVia
Category
Windows: Wood/Clad-Wood
Brand familiarity
Andersen
Used most often
Andersen
Highest overalll quality
Marvin
