Results are in: Homeowners tell all in new JELD-WEN survey

April 3, 2007 -- KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Homeowners are turning their attention toward improving overall energy efficiency and boosting their homes' curb appeal, according to a recent home improvement study commissioned by JELD-WEN, a leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors.

Many JELD-WEN Premium Fiberglass doors are ENERGY STAR qualified.

Many JELD-WEN® Premium Fiberglass doors are ENERGY STAR® qualified. The new Perfect Home Survey is an inside look at current homeowner attitudes toward their houses, remodeling activity, and windows and doors. Independent research firm Knowledge Wave International conducted the nationwide online study on behalf of JELD-WEN.

Managing energy costs is going to be a priority for homeowners, especially those with older homes. The survey found that nearly a quarter of respondents have windows (22.6 percent) and doors (23.6 percent) that are drafty and inefficient. Using the same percentages, roughly 13 million single-family homes in the United States are wasting energy resources.

That's no surprise, according to Rod Clark, a product marketing manager at JELD-WEN, due to the fact that the average age of U.S. homes is 32 years old.

"Energy efficiency is going to be a big topic in 2007 as fuel costs continue to rise and homes continue to get older," said Clark. "Our survey shows that many homes would benefit from energy efficient windows and doors, which can save homeowners hundreds of dollars per year.

"Energy efficiency technology has also come a long way since the 1970s," he added. "For example, JELD-WEN® windows and doors made with AuraLast® wood are guaranteed to resist moisture for 20 years, and come standard with Low-E glass to help keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer."

According to the survey, it's likely that many homeowners will take action in 2007 to enhance the energy efficient performance of their homes, and take advantage of a federal tax credit for installing energy efficient products that expires at the end of the year. Fifty percent of respondents are aware of the tax credit, and 43.1 percent will either definitely or probably undertake projects to take advantage of the tax break before it ends.

Overall, 13 percent plan on upgrading windows and exterior doors in the next 12 months.

Wanted: curb appeal
The Perfect Home Survey also gauges other attitudes related to windows and doors. The study found that curb appeal is a hot topic among homeowners, and that they recognize the role that doors play in enhancing exterior appearance. More than 87 percent feel a new front door definitely or probably adds value to overall curb appeal, while slightly more than 70 percent say the same about garage doors.

The garage door is now the most used exterior door to enter the home, according to the JELD-WEN Perfect Home Survey. JELD-WEN discovered in the survey that most homeowners inherited their front door along with the house, and a majority say their current door does not reflect their personal style. When asked if they selected their front door, an overwhelming 65 percent said they had not, and 58 percent said they would have chosen something different.

"Owners want to be proud of how their homes look, and the survey clearly shows that front doors are a matter of personal taste," said Shane Meisel, product marketing manager at JELD-WEN. "This finding is a great opportunity for builders and remodelers to reach out to homeowners and offer an upgraded front door that better reflects the buyer's personal style."

Other notable findings from the JELD-WEN Perfect Home Survey include:
Rise of the ranch
Given a choice between eight architectural styles, 26.2 percent of respondents said ranch was the type of home in which they would most like to live. Contemporary (20 percent) was the second most popular style. Other choices, ranked in order, were Old World Mediterranean, craftsman, cottage, colonial, and Victorian. Tudor was the least popular design.

Garage is now most common entrance
When asked to identify which exterior door they use the most when entering the home, the garage door was the number one answer among both men (42 percent) and women (41 percent). The front door was close behind as the second most used entrance.