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The sharp decline in the U.S. housing market caught up with kitchen and bath product manufacturers and marketers in the first half of 2023. Dollar manufacturer sales (shipments minus exports plus imports) could have declined by 5.6 percent in the first half. Unit sales declined about 2.0 percent in the first half. Price increases, however, moderated along with inflationary pressures. The dollar sales decline this year compared to a 10.8 percent gain for all of 2022. First half 2023 sales declined along with the drop in new home construction and existing home sales as the Federal Reserve increased interest rates. Rising rates caused housing demand – new and existing – to drop sharper over the past year. Read More

After a robust year in 2021, 2022 was a tough year for soft surface flooring. Carpet and area rug sales could have declined by 2.6 percent in dollars and 11.1 percent in square feet in 2022, pushing sales down to $12.7 billion and 11.5 billion square feet, according to Catalina Research. Read More

Laminate dollar, square footage sales see uptick Although square footage sales were somewhat sluggish in contrast to the previous couple of years, the laminate flooring category benefited from rising prices as well as product innovation in 2022. According to Catalina Research, laminate flooring sales could have increased by 9.7 percent to $1.2 billion, while square footage sales ticked up by 0.3 percent to 978 million. Read More

What Is the Average Size of a Tile? When it comes to size, tile knows no limits: Tiles come in sizes ranging from mosaic tiles measuring less than nine inches squared to expansive gauged porcelain panels/slabs. That means no standard size of a tile exists, although specific ceramic tile sizes have trended over the years. In general, tiles have gotten bigger over time, with the largest options now measuring up to 10 by 15 feet. How Tile Size Can Influence Your Space Read More

The official term for thin tile is gauged porcelain tile (GPT). These thin porcelain tiles can be manufactured in panels/slabs (GPTPS) that measure up to 10 x 15 feet, making them perfect to show off unique designs and looks that are mostly uninterrupted by grout lines. There are two categories of GPT and GPTPS, 3.5-4.9mm thick and 5.0-6.5mm thick. Both are defined by the industry standard ANSI A137.3. Because of their reduced thickness, gauged porcelain tiles are also lighter than traditional thickness tile, typically less than 4 lbs/ft2. The unique combination of large size and thin depth — plus porcelain’s inherent strength and durability — make ultra thin tile uniquely suited for a wide range of residential and commercial projects. Read More

Simply put, vertical tile is tile that’s laid vertically rather than horizontally. Vertical tile layouts have been trending, initially as a creative use for subway tile. Laying subway tile vertically is more than a new approach to the classic look. It also draws the eye upward to create the illusion of higher ceilings. All sorts of shapes can work in a vertical layout. If a tile is laid vertically, you can consider it a vertical tile — whatever the tile shape. Pro Tip: Vertical rectangle tiles that are not staggered are often referred to as vertical tile grids. Read More

Ceramics possess distinctive properties that allow it to become an enduring and versatile cladding material. Exceptional in both quality and design, Spanish manufacturers offer collections in a variety of finishes, colors, graphics and formats, enabling homeowners to flawlessly fuse tiles of different styles in the same space. There are numerous possible combinations of ceramic tile that can help you to discover the decorative style that best suits your home. Continue reading to explore five different ceramic combinations: Read More

According to Catalina Research, total dollar sales for ceramic and porcelain tile in 2022 could have increased by 14.2 percent compared to the previous year. Aside from LVT, tile is the only category to see double digit gains from 2021. Catalina Research estimated that tile accounted for 12.1 percent of all floor covering sales in 2022, earning approximately $4.8 billion in sales. The natural stone category too saw growth this year and earned $2.1 billion in sales, Catalina reported Read More

At first glance, the hardwood numbers in this year’s Catalina Report appear to indicate a softening in the wood market, with square footage sales declining a reported 4.5 percent to 1.6 billion in 2022 despite dollar sales increasing 7.3 percent to $4.6 billion. Read More

As the industry growth leader for several years now, resilient flooring’s sales continued its upward trajectory in 2022. The category was further innovated with new technology during the pandemic and, as consumers remodeled their homes, resilient was in high demand because of its easy installation and DIY capabilities. As well, advancements in technology and design along with its price point continued to resonate with consumers, making the luxury vinyl tile (LVT) category specifically the second largest flooring segment after carpet at 28 percent of total dollar sales. Read More