Masonry Veneer Products to Experience Substantial Growth by 2012 According to Newly Released Principia Study

EXTON, Pa. -- The North American market for masonry veneer in residential and commercial applications reached over 160 million square feet valued at nearly $700 million in 2010. Principia Partners’ 2nd multi-client study on the subject titled MASONRY VENEER 2010 shows better times ahead for this important building products category over the next few years. The residential market for masonry veneer will be the primary driver of new growth between 2010 and 2012, contributing over $150 million in new demand.

Masonry veneer product supply is fragmented with over 150 suppliers dotting the North American market. Participants include large multinational building products companies like Headwaters and Owens Corning, traditional siding companies like PlyGem and Crane and full dimensional masonry suppliers like Boral Bricks and Buechel Stone. The practical limits on shipping distances and distribution make effective distribution critical to long-term success. Only a few companies have been able to achieve a truly national footprint. Most recently, Owens Corning, an industry leader, announced the sale of its Masonry Products business to Boral Bricks. Already a major distributor for Owens Corning, Boral will be adding manufactured stone to its own thin brick product line.Use Inlays to Step it Up a NotchIn woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm (1/8 inch), that are typically glued onto core panels (typically, wood, particle board or medium density fiberboard) to produce flat panels for cabinets, parquet floors and furniture. Veneer is cost effective and strong, however, it can blister, delaminate, or peel back at the edges. Also, since veneer is glued to a plywood or medium density fiberboard substrate the edges must be covered.Masonry veneer including manufactured stone, thin veneer stone, thin brick and masonry panels is group of cladding products used for high architectural styling to simulate stone or brick appearance at a installed cost of 50 to 60% that of full dimensional masonry. The shortage of skilled masons has led even higher installed costs for full dimensional masonry widening the spread from masonry veneer. Masonry veneer products are highly versatile and widely used in facades, foundation facings, archways, courtyards, entrance pillars as well as interior applications such as accent walls, chimneys, mantels and more.

Principia's latest study MASONRY VENEER 2010 serves as an important baseline analysis for year-over-year forecasting and business planning purposes by existing and new industry participants. Principia Partners is a leading international business consulting firm, and has extensive experience in building products industry. In particular, the Firm has closely monitored the market for building and construction products over the past 10 years through various research efforts. For more information, visit the Industry Reports section of the Publishing portion of the company's web site at www.PrincipiaConsulting.com.