Wood and wood-look laminate flooring are contiuing to increase their share of the UK floor coverings market.
According to the latest report on the sector from AMA Research, wood and laminate products are forecast to put on another 11% growth by value this year to reach £338 million in a total floorcoverings sector worth £2.1 billion . And annual sales are predicted to reach £441 million in 2006.
AMA said that among the factors driving consumers to wood and laminate are “fashion trends towards natural interior decoration products and the influence of the lifestyle media”.
“The market has particularly benefited from the focus of the media which has consistently portrayed wood a as a fashionable floorcovering,” stated the report.
Fastest growth continues to come in laminates, but AMA maintains that this is not at the expense of solid or engineered wood flooring products.
“Solid wood flooring has benefited from the attention given to laminates, returning volume and value growth considerably above the market average for the overall floorcovering market.”
The report estimates that 70% of total domestic wood and laminate flooring sales are to DIY customers, with 20% accounted for by the new housebuilding sector.
The contract market is also showing healthy growth.
