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Countertop Materials

Brand Use Study for SOLID SURFACE COUNTERTOPS/SURFACING

Survey Years:
Quality Rating
Awareness & Use
About the Study
SOLID SURFACE COUNTERTOPS/SURFACING-2004-Quality Rating

Quality Rating

How do you rate the QUALITY of each brand you are familiar with?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders
Corian (DuPont)4.44.74.44.34.3
Formica (Surell)4.14.1*4.24.0*4.1*
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)4.14.1*4.0*4.2*3.9*
Nevamar (Fountainhead)4.1*4.9*3.5*4.3*4.0*
Swan4.03.8*3.9*4.1*4.2*
Formstone (Avonite)3.93.9*4.0*3.9*3.8*
Staron (Samsung)3.9*3.5*3.5*4.0*4.0*
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)3.8*5.0*4.0*3.5*3.5*
SSV (Wilsonart)3.83.8*3.8*3.6*4.0*
Transolid3.3*4.0*3.0*
LG HI-MACS3.9*5.0*3.5*4.2*3.5*
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders
Corian (DuPont)4.0*4.44.54.4
Formica (Surell)4.2*4.2*4.24.0
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)4.0*4.3*4.0*3.9
Nevamar (Fountainhead)4.4*4.1*3.8
Swan4.0*4.4*4.2*3.8
Formstone (Avonite)3.9*4.1*3.7
Staron (Samsung)4.5*4.1*3.4
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)3.0*5.0*3.6
SSV (Wilsonart)3.5*4.0*3.8*3.7
Transolid3.0*4.0*3.0
LG HI-MACS5.0*3.5*3.8
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders
Corian (DuPont)4.34.44.5
Formica (Surell)3.9*4.24.1*
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)4.0*4.14.0*
Nevamar (Fountainhead)3.6*4.4*4.2*
Swan3.9*4.1*4.0*
Formstone (Avonite)3.8*3.9*4.2*
Staron (Samsung)3.6*4.0*4.0*
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)4.0*3.3*4.0*
SSV (Wilsonart)3.5*3.9*3.9*
Transolid3.0*3.0*4.0*
LG HI-MACS4.0*3.9*4.0*
SOLID SURFACE COUNTERTOPS/SURFACING-2004-Brand Familiarity
Select Detail Statistics:

Brand Familiarity

Which brands have you HEARD OF?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders445.068.0120.0174.083.0
Corian (DuPont)82.0%87.0%88.0%80.0%76.0%
Formica (Surell)51.0%54.0%60.0%44.0%49.0%
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)41.0%40.0%46.0%41.0%35.0%
Formstone (Avonite)23.0%24.0%27.0%20.0%25.0%
Nevamar (Fountainhead)21.0%18.0%28.0%19.0%19.0%
SSV (Wilsonart)21.0%13.0%29.0%21.0%18.0%
Swan21.0%21.0%34.0%12.0%19.0%
Staron (Samsung)12.0%12.0%11.0%11.0%14.0%
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)8.0%7.0%10.0%7.0%8.0%
Georgia-Pacific Dens-Shield4.14.2*4.14.03.9*
James Hardie4.14.2*3.9*4.24.0*
Weyerhaeuser4.14.1*4.14.04.1
Gypcrete4.04.0*3.6*4.1*4.1*
Boise Cascade3.94.1*3.93.93.9
LP3.94.3*3.7*3.9*4.0*
Grace3.74.4*3.5*3.2*4.0*
Willamette3.73.9*3.3*3.6*4.0*
Homasote3.63.8*3.1*3.8*3.6*
Champion3.53.5*2.8*3.7*3.9*
Fibre Chem3.3*3.6*2.9*3.4*3.2*
Transolid3.0%3.0%7.0%1.0%1.0%
other8.0%4.0%7.0%11.0%6.0%
LG HI-MACS7.0%3.0%8.0%6.0%8.0%
multiple answers
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders28.0111.0146.0148.0
Corian (DuPont)71.0%73.0%89.0%85.0
Formica (Surell)46.0%48.0%55.0%51.0
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)29.0%35.0%41.0%47.0
Formstone (Avonite)11.0%20.0%25.0%26.0
Nevamar (Fountainhead)4.0%13.0%23.0%28.0
SSV (Wilsonart)7.0%19.0%25.0%23.0
Swan14.0%14.0%24.0%23.0
Staron (Samsung)4.0%8.0%13.0%16.0
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)7.0%8.0%8.0%9.0
Georgia-Pacific Dens-Shield4.0*4.34.04.0
James Hardie4.0*4.1*4.04.2
Weyerhaeuser3.9*4.24.14.0
Gypcrete5.0*3.9*3.84.1
Boise Cascade3.8*3.84.03.8
LP4.0*4.0*3.93.8
Grace4.0*3.4*3.5*4.1
Willamette4.0*3.6*3.6*3.9
Homasote5.0*3.1*3.5*3.8
Champion3.0*3.4*3.4*3.7
Fibre Chem3.5*3.1*3.3
Transolid0.0%3.0%4.0%3.0
other0.0%7.0%7.0%10.0
LG HI-MACS4.0%5.0%8.0%7.0
multiple answers
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders138.0231.071.0
Corian (DuPont)88.0%81.0%76.0%
Formica (Surell)56.0%51.0%41.0%
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)41.0%42.0%37.0%
Formstone (Avonite)23.0%23.0%23.0%
Nevamar (Fountainhead)27.0%21.0%11.0%
SSV (Wilsonart)25.0%19.0%21.0%
Swan25.0%22.0%8.0%
Staron (Samsung)11.0%13.0%13.0%
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)11.0%8.0%4.0%
Georgia-Pacific Dens-Shield4.04.14.1*
James Hardie4.14.04.4*
Weyerhaeuser4.14.14.2*
Gypcrete3.93.84.4*
Boise Cascade3.83.94.2*
LP3.93.84.4*
Grace3.7*3.8*3.8*
Willamette3.9*3.7*3.3*
Homasote3.7*3.5*3.5*
Champion3.4*3.6*3.5*
Fibre Chem3.5*3.2*3.0*
Transolid2.0%3.0%6.0%
other6.0%8.0%11.0%
LG HI-MACS7.0%8.0%4.0%
multiple answers

Brand Innovation

Which ONE brand is leading this category in the area of INNOVATION?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders445.068.0120.0174.083.0
Corian (DuPont)21.0%35.0%24.0%16.0%14.0%
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)2.0%0.0%3.0%2.0%2.0%
Formica (Surell)1.0%1.0%2.0%1.0%0.0%
Formstone (Avonite)1.0%0.0%0.0%2.0%0.0%
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Nevamar (Fountainhead)0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
SSV (Wilsonart)0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%
Staron (Samsung)0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Swan0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%
Transolid0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
other0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%
no answer73.0%62.0%68.0%76.0%83.0%
answered multiple1.0%1.0%1.0%2.0%0.0%
LG HI-MACS0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%
none0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders28.0111.0146.0148.0
Corian (DuPont)14.0%14.0%24.0%24.0
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)0.0%3.0%3.0%1.0
Formica (Surell)4.0%1.0%1.0%1.0
Formstone (Avonite)0.0%2.0%1.0%0.0
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0
Nevamar (Fountainhead)0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0
SSV (Wilsonart)0.0%1.0%0.0%1.0
Staron (Samsung)0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0
Swan0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0
Transolid0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0
other0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0
no answer82.0%77.0%71.0%70.0
answered multiple0.0%1.0%1.0%1.0
LG HI-MACS0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0
none0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders138.0231.071.0
Corian (DuPont)21.0%19.0%24.0%
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)3.0%2.0%0.0%
Formica (Surell)1.0%1.0%1.0%
Formstone (Avonite)0.0%1.0%0.0%
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)0.0%0.0%0.0%
Nevamar (Fountainhead)0.0%0.0%0.0%
SSV (Wilsonart)0.0%1.0%0.0%
Staron (Samsung)0.0%0.0%0.0%
Swan0.0%0.0%0.0%
Transolid0.0%0.0%0.0%
other0.0%0.0%0.0%
no answer73.0%72.0%75.0%
answered multiple1.0%2.0%0.0%
LG HI-MACS1.0%0.0%0.0%
none0.0%0.0%0.0%

Brands Used the Most

Which brand(s) does your firm USE THE MOST?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders445.068.0120.0174.083.0
Corian (DuPont)32.0%49.0%32.0%30.0%24.0%
Formica (Surell)9.0%10.0%12.0%7.0%7.0%
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)7.0%7.0%7.0%7.0%8.0%
Swan2.0%6.0%2.0%2.0%2.0%
Formstone (Avonite)1.0%3.0%0.0%1.0%1.0%
Nevamar (Fountainhead)1.0%3.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%
SSV (Wilsonart)1.0%0.0%2.0%1.0%2.0%
Staron (Samsung)1.0%1.0%0.0%2.0%0.0%
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%
Transolid0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
other4.0%1.0%3.0%6.0%2.0%
indicated at least one47.0%57.0%45.0%50.0%34.0%
did not indicate40.0%34.0%42.0%40.0%43.0%
none8.0%7.0%10.0%7.0%10.0%
no answer5.0%1.0%3.0%3.0%13.0%
LG HI-MACS1.0%1.0%2.0%1.0%1.0%
multiple answers
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders28.0111.0146.0148.0
Corian (DuPont)14.0%29.0%33.0%39.0
Formica (Surell)14.0%11.0%8.0%7.0
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)0.0%8.0%9.0%7.0
Swan4.0%4.0%2.0%2.0
Formstone (Avonite)0.0%1.0%1.0%2.0
Nevamar (Fountainhead)0.0%0.0%1.0%1.0
SSV (Wilsonart)0.0%1.0%2.0%1.0
Staron (Samsung)0.0%0.0%3.0%0.0
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0
Transolid0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0
other0.0%5.0%4.0%3.0
indicated at least one29.0%48.0%47.0%49.0
did not indicate50.0%32.0%45.0%40.0
none14.0%13.0%6.0%7.0
no answer7.0%8.0%2.0%5.0
LG HI-MACS0.0%2.0%1.0%2.0
multiple answers
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders138.0231.071.0
Corian (DuPont)27.0%34.0%37.0%
Formica (Surell)8.0%10.0%7.0%
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)5.0%8.0%8.0%
Swan1.0%3.0%4.0%
Formstone (Avonite)1.0%1.0%1.0%
Nevamar (Fountainhead)0.0%1.0%1.0%
SSV (Wilsonart)1.0%1.0%1.0%
Staron (Samsung)0.0%1.0%3.0%
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)0.0%0.0%0.0%
Transolid0.0%0.0%1.0%
other1.0%5.0%6.0%
indicated at least one39.0%50.0%52.0%
did not indicate50.0%37.0%31.0%
none9.0%9.0%6.0%
no answer2.0%4.0%11.0%
LG HI-MACS1.0%2.0%0.0%
multiple answers

Brands Used in Past 2 Years

Which brands has your firm USED IN THE PAST 2 YEARS in the homes you've built (including brands you subcontracted with others to install)?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders445.068.0120.0174.083.0
Corian (DuPont)58.0%75.0%62.0%56.0%43.0%
Formica (Surell)22.0%32.0%26.0%17.0%16.0%
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)18.0%24.0%18.0%20.0%12.0%
SSV (Wilsonart)7.0%7.0%6.0%7.0%6.0%
Formstone (Avonite)6.0%7.0%9.0%5.0%1.0%
Swan6.0%12.0%8.0%2.0%5.0%
Nevamar (Fountainhead)4.0%7.0%5.0%5.0%0.0%
Staron (Samsung)3.0%4.0%1.0%5.0%1.0%
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)1.0%0.0%1.0%1.0%2.0%
Transolid0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
other5.0%3.0%5.0%6.0%6.0%
indicated at least one71.0%84.0%70.0%74.0%57.0%
did not indicate17.0%9.0%19.0%17.0%22.0%
no answer8.0%7.0%7.0%5.0%16.0%
none4.0%0.0%4.0%3.0%6.0%
LG HI-MACS2.0%1.0%2.0%2.0%2.0%
multiple answers
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders28.0111.0146.0148.0
Corian (DuPont)29.0%52.0%61.0%66.0
Formica (Surell)25.0%23.0%22.0%20.0
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)0.0%21.0%19.0%19.0
SSV (Wilsonart)0.0%8.0%8.0%6.0
Formstone (Avonite)0.0%5.0%5.0%7.0
Swan4.0%6.0%6.0%5.0
Nevamar (Fountainhead)0.0%5.0%3.0%5.0
Staron (Samsung)0.0%2.0%3.0%3.0
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)0.0%2.0%0.0%1.0
Transolid0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0
other0.0%6.0%5.0%5.0
indicated at least one46.0%69.0%75.0%74.0
did not indicate32.0%14.0%18.0%16.0
no answer11.0%14.0%4.0%7.0
none11.0%3.0%3.0%3.0
LG HI-MACS0.0%2.0%3.0%2.0
multiple answers
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders138.0231.071.0
Corian (DuPont)55.0%60.0%58.0%
Formica (Surell)17.0%26.0%17.0%
Gibraltar (Wilsonart)14.0%21.0%17.0%
SSV (Wilsonart)5.0%6.0%13.0%
Formstone (Avonite)4.0%6.0%7.0%
Swan5.0%6.0%4.0%
Nevamar (Fountainhead)1.0%6.0%4.0%
Staron (Samsung)1.0%3.0%4.0%
Acrystone (Aristech Acrylics)1.0%1.0%0.0%
Transolid0.0%0.0%1.0%
other4.0%6.0%6.0%
indicated at least one70.0%73.0%72.0%
did not indicate22.0%16.0%11.0%
no answer4.0%8.0%15.0%
none4.0%4.0%1.0%
LG HI-MACS1.0%3.0%0.0%
multiple answers
Purpose

The findings cited in this report are based on a survey sponsored by Hanley-Wood, LLC, on behalf of their publication, BUILDER.

The purpose of this research project was to provide the editors and advertisers with a profile of the brands used by builders in the BUILDER audience. Specific areas of inquiry included:

  • The number and average sale price of residential units built by respondents' firms in 2004.
  • Respondents' familiarity with, use of, and opinions about brands in 69 product categories.
  • The one brand within each category respondents feel is best at communicating with them.
Method

The survey sample of 6,250 was selected in systematic fashion by Palm Coast Data, Inc., and Readex from BUILDER's domestic, qualified "builder" circulation of approximately 125,000 recipients at the time of sample selection.

Five versions of an 8-page questionnaire were designed jointly by BUILDER and Readex. Each version contained two questions common to all versions, with the remaining brand-specific questions unique to each.

Data was collected via mail survey from October 18 to December 11, 2000. To ensure the value of this brand use data to manufacturers, the findings cited in this report are based on the 2,247 respondents who indicated their firms built residential units in 2000 (36% of the survey sample).

The margin of error for percentages based on all 2,247 usable responses is ±2.0% at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error for percentages based on smaller sample sizes—census regions, for example— will be larger.

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