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.
Happy at home
The flurry of real estate activity driven by a hot market in the past couple of years seems to have helped homeowners land their dream home and location. The survey found that 79 percent of respondents currently love both their neighborhood and their house.
The garage door is now the most used exterior door to enter the home, according to the JELD-WEN Perfect Home Survey.
Making noise about noise
Noise is the number one neighborhood complaint in U.S. cities, according to the U.S. Census. The Perfect Home Survey supports this finding as 49 percent of respondents say their home is not quiet and would benefit from sound reducing products, like JELD-WEN interior doors with ProCore The Quiet Door® technology that are up to 50 percent quieter than hollow, flush doors. In addition, JELD-WEN laminated glass windows achieve an STC rating of 35, which can reduce even loud construction and traffic noise.
Remodeling in 2007
While 51 percent of respondents have no plans to remodel in the next 12 months, 45 percent say they are going to change elements in their home within the same time frame.
The survey results also revealed a few interesting disparities between men and women when it comes to remodeling. Both genders agree that the kitchen is the one room they want to change the most, however men are almost three times as likely to want to remodel a child's room, while more women single out the master bedroom and small closets as top remodeling priorities. In addition, more than twice as many men as women say they are planning to change the garage door in the next 12 months.
Perfect Home Survey methodology
Nearly 1,000 qualified homeowners nationwide participated in the online survey. The sample group contained representatives from five age groups, all U.S. geographic regions, and a wide variety of income levels. The study was conducted in October 2006.
JELD-WEN Perfect Home Survey Facts & Findings:
About JELD-WEN
JELD-WEN, inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors. Based in Klamath Falls, Ore., JELD-WEN began as a small Oregon millwork plant in 1960 and has grown into a company with more than 150 divisions and more than 20,000 employees worldwide. JELD-WEN is the official window, door and millwork provider of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, Proud Partner of THE PLAYERS and title sponsor of the JELD-WEN Tradition. JELD-WEN was the only window or door manufacturer to be named 2003 ENERGY STAR® "Partner of the Year" by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. Eleven JELD-WEN® product lines and all windows and doors constructed with AuraLast® wood have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal. JELD-WEN® windows and doors have been honored by numerous consumer and industry publications. In 2005, JELD-WEN® Aurora™ Custom Fiberglass exterior doors received a Consumers Digest Best Buy rating. For more information about the exceptional value and reliability of JELD-WEN products, or to find a dealer near you, please visit www.jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482.
Contact:
Darcie Meihoff
APR, CMD on behalf of JELD-WEN
503-274-7006