Tools & Equipment
Brand Use Study for BUILDER INSTRUMENTS
Survey Years:Quality Rating
Awareness & Use
About the Study
Quality Rating
How do you rate the QUALITY of each brand you are familiar with?
| Census Region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Northeast | Midwest | South | West | |
| base: BUILDER builders | |||||
| DeWalt | 4.1 | 4.0* | 4.1 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| Berger | 4.0 | 4.2* | 3.8* | 4.0* | 3.9* |
| David White | 4.0 | 4.3* | 4.0* | 4.0 | 3.8* |
| Laser Tool | 4.0 | 4.2* | 3.7* | 4.1* | 4.0* |
| LS Starrett | 4.0* | 4.1* | 4.1* | 4.2* | 3.3* |
| Sokkia | 4.0* | 4.0* | 3.8* | 4.2* | 4.0* |
| Topcon | 4.0 | 4.3* | 3.9* | 4.1* | 4.0* |
| Calculated Industries | 3.9* | 4.3* | 3.9* | 4.0* | 3.6* |
| Spectra Physics | 3.9 | 4.3* | 4.0* | 4.0* | 3.8* |
| Zircon | 3.9 | 3.8* | 4.0* | 3.8* | 3.9* |
| Laser Alignment | 3.8 | 4.0* | 3.8* | 3.8* | 3.8* |
| Levelite | 3.7* | 3.8* | 4.0* | 3.5* | 3.8* |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 3.6* | 5.0* | 3.5* | 3.5* | 3.5* |
| Toolz | 3.2* | 3.5* | 3.7* | 2.6* | |
| CheckPoint | 3.1* | 3.0* | 3.0* | 3.7* | 2.8* |
| Average Sale Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $125K | $125K-$199K | $200K-$349K | $350K+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | ||||
| DeWalt | 4.2* | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Berger | 4.0* | 4.0* | 3.8* | 4.1 |
| David White | 4.3* | 4.0* | 3.8* | 4.1 |
| Laser Tool | 4.0* | 4.3* | 3.7* | 4.1 |
| LS Starrett | 4.0* | 4.6* | 4.3* | 3.5 |
| Sokkia | 4.0* | 4.5* | 3.6* | 3.8 |
| Topcon | 4.5* | 4.1* | 3.9* | 4.1 |
| Calculated Industries | 4.0* | 3.5* | 4.1 | |
| Spectra Physics | 4.5* | 3.8* | 3.7* | 4.1 |
| Zircon | 4.0* | 3.7* | 3.7* | 4.1 |
| Laser Alignment | 4.5* | 3.6* | 4.0* | 3.8 |
| Levelite | 5.0* | 3.7* | 3.5* | 3.7 |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 3.0* | 4.3* | 3.0* | 3.9 |
| Toolz | 3.6* | 2.5* | 3.3 | |
| CheckPoint | 3.0* | 2.8* | 3.5 | |
| Units Built | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 5-49 | 50+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | |||
| DeWalt | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1* |
| Berger | 4.1* | 3.8 | 3.7* |
| David White | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.1* |
| Laser Tool | 4.2* | 3.9* | 3.7* |
| LS Starrett | 3.8* | 4.2* | 4.0* |
| Sokkia | 4.2* | 3.4* | 4.5* |
| Topcon | 4.0* | 4.0* | 4.4* |
| Calculated Industries | 4.2* | 3.7* | 3.8* |
| Spectra Physics | 4.2* | 3.4* | 4.3* |
| Zircon | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0* |
| Laser Alignment | 3.9* | 3.8* | 4.0* |
| Levelite | 3.8* | 3.6* | 3.8* |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 3.6* | 3.4* | 5.0* |
| Toolz | 3.7* | 3.1* | 2.5* |
| CheckPoint | 3.5* | 2.8* | |
Select Detail Statistics:
Brand Familiarity
Which brands have you HEARD OF?
| Census Region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Northeast | Midwest | South | West | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 402.0 | 62.0 | 104.0 | 148.0 | 88.0 |
| DeWalt | 70.0% | 60.0% | 70.0% | 69.0% | 78.0% |
| David White | 41.0% | 34.0% | 46.0% | 41.0% | 40.0% |
| Zircon | 29.0% | 23.0% | 38.0% | 24.0% | 33.0% |
| Berger | 24.0% | 39.0% | 24.0% | 21.0% | 20.0% |
| Laser Tool | 20.0% | 13.0% | 17.0% | 23.0% | 22.0% |
| Laser Alignment | 18.0% | 13.0% | 18.0% | 22.0% | 16.0% |
| Topcon | 17.0% | 19.0% | 13.0% | 20.0% | 16.0% |
| Spectra Physics | 15.0% | 15.0% | 13.0% | 13.0% | 24.0% |
| LS Starrett | 14.0% | 19.0% | 12.0% | 14.0% | 15.0% |
| Calculated Industries | 12.0% | 13.0% | 13.0% | 9.0% | 14.0% |
| Levelite | 12.0% | 11.0% | 10.0% | 13.0% | 13.0% |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 11.0% | 10.0% | 13.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% |
| Sokkia | 8.0% | 8.0% | 7.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% |
| CheckPoint | 7.0% | 8.0% | 4.0% | 9.0% | 8.0% |
| Toolz | 6.0% | 6.0% | 7.0% | 5.0% | 8.0% |
| other | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| indicated at least one | 83.0% | 74.0% | 86.0% | 82.0% | 90.0% |
| no answer | 15.0% | 24.0% | 13.0% | 17.0% | 10.0% |
| none | 1.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| multiple answers | |||||
| Average Sale Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $125K | $125K-$199K | $200K-$349K | $350K+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 26.0 | 90.0 | 122.0 | 152.0 |
| DeWalt | 77.0% | 76.0% | 74.0% | 64.0 |
| David White | 62.0% | 36.0% | 41.0% | 41.0 |
| Zircon | 31.0% | 32.0% | 32.0% | 26.0 |
| Berger | 15.0% | 30.0% | 26.0% | 22.0 |
| Laser Tool | 19.0% | 27.0% | 19.0% | 17.0 |
| Laser Alignment | 19.0% | 24.0% | 16.0% | 18.0 |
| Topcon | 19.0% | 18.0% | 18.0% | 16.0 |
| Spectra Physics | 19.0% | 17.0% | 14.0% | 16.0 |
| LS Starrett | 8.0% | 18.0% | 15.0% | 14.0 |
| Calculated Industries | 12.0% | 16.0% | 10.0% | 12.0 |
| Levelite | 12.0% | 14.0% | 11.0% | 11.0 |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 27.0% | 16.0% | 11.0% | 7.0 |
| Sokkia | 12.0% | 13.0% | 7.0% | 5.0 |
| CheckPoint | 4.0% | 10.0% | 8.0% | 7.0 |
| Toolz | 8.0% | 10.0% | 7.0% | 4.0 |
| other | 8.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.0 |
| indicated at least one | 88.0% | 88.0% | 84.0% | 80.0 |
| no answer | 12.0% | 10.0% | 15.0% | 18.0 |
| none | 0.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 1.0 |
| multiple answers | ||||
| Units Built | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 5-49 | 50+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 149.0 | 202.0 | 45.0 |
| DeWalt | 72.0% | 73.0% | 60.0% |
| David White | 46.0% | 39.0% | 38.0% |
| Zircon | 33.0% | 29.0% | 20.0% |
| Berger | 29.0% | 24.0% | 13.0% |
| Laser Tool | 19.0% | 21.0% | 20.0% |
| Laser Alignment | 20.0% | 17.0% | 18.0% |
| Topcon | 18.0% | 17.0% | 16.0% |
| Spectra Physics | 20.0% | 12.0% | 18.0% |
| LS Starrett | 22.0% | 11.0% | 7.0% |
| Calculated Industries | 12.0% | 11.0% | 16.0% |
| Levelite | 12.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 13.0% | 12.0% | 7.0% |
| Sokkia | 8.0% | 6.0% | 13.0% |
| CheckPoint | 7.0% | 8.0% | 4.0% |
| Toolz | 7.0% | 6.0% | 7.0% |
| other | 5.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| indicated at least one | 89.0% | 83.0% | 76.0% |
| no answer | 11.0% | 16.0% | 20.0% |
| none | 1.0% | 1.0% | 4.0% |
| multiple answers | |||
Brand Innovation
Which ONE brand is leading this category in the area of INNOVATION?
| Census Region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Northeast | Midwest | South | West | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 402.0 | 62.0 | 104.0 | 148.0 | 88.0 |
| Owens Corning (Pink Wrap) | 4.0 | 4.1* | 4.0* | 4.1 | 3.7* |
| Reemay (Typar) | 3.9 | 3.8* | 3.8* | 3.8* | 4.5* |
| Johns Manville (Performance Seal) | 3.8 | 4.0* | 3.5* | 4.0* | 3.8* |
| Pactiv GreenGuard (Amowrap) | 3.6 | 3.2* | 3.7* | 3.8* | 3.5* |
| Protecto Wrap | 3.5* | 3.2* | 3.7* | 3.6* | 3.0* |
| Simplex (Barricade) | 3.5 | 2.8* | 4.1* | 3.4* | 3.6* |
| Average Sale Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $125K | $125K-$199K | $200K-$349K | $350K+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 26.0 | 90.0 | 122.0 | 152.0 |
| Owens Corning (Pink Wrap) | 4.3* | 3.9* | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| Reemay (Typar) | 5.0* | 4.1* | 3.9* | 3.9 |
| Johns Manville (Performance Seal) | 4.0* | 3.9* | 3.8* | 3.8 |
| Pactiv GreenGuard (Amowrap) | 3.7* | 3.6* | 3.6 | |
| Protecto Wrap | 3.7* | 3.8* | 3.3 | |
| Simplex (Barricade) | 2.0* | 3.7* | 3.6* | 3.6 |
| Units Built | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 5-49 | 50+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 149.0 | 202.0 | 45.0 |
| Owens Corning (Pink Wrap) | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.1* |
| Reemay (Typar) | 4.1* | 3.8 | 3.9* |
| Johns Manville (Performance Seal) | 3.9* | 3.8 | 3.6* |
| Pactiv GreenGuard (Amowrap) | 3.6* | 3.5 | 4.0* |
| Protecto Wrap | 3.7* | 3.3* | 4.3* |
| Simplex (Barricade) | 3.6* | 3.5* | 3.6* |
Brands Used the Most
Which brand(s) does your firm USE THE MOST?
| Census Region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Northeast | Midwest | South | West | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 402.0 | 62.0 | 104.0 | 148.0 | 88.0 |
| DeWalt | 25.0% | 19.0% | 30.0% | 22.0% | 30.0% |
| David White | 8.0% | 11.0% | 8.0% | 9.0% | 5.0% |
| Zircon | 6.0% | 6.0% | 10.0% | 3.0% | 5.0% |
| Berger | 5.0% | 13.0% | 8.0% | 1.0% | 5.0% |
| Topcon | 5.0% | 3.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
| Calculated Industries | 4.0% | 5.0% | 3.0% | 4.0% | 3.0% |
| Spectra Physics | 4.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Laser Tool | 3.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 3.0% | 5.0% |
| Laser Alignment | 2.0% | 0.0% | 4.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| LS Starrett | 1.0% | 5.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 1.0% | 2.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Sokkia | 1.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 2.0% |
| Toolz | 1.0% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% |
| CheckPoint | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Levelite | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| other | 1.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 3.0% |
| indicated at least one | 46.0% | 48.0% | 50.0% | 41.0% | 47.0% |
| did not indicate | 37.0% | 26.0% | 36.0% | 41.0% | 42.0% |
| no answer | 13.0% | 21.0% | 11.0% | 14.0% | 7.0% |
| none | 4.0% | 5.0% | 4.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
| multiple answers | |||||
| Average Sale Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $125K | $125K-$199K | $200K-$349K | $350K+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 26.0 | 90.0 | 122.0 | 152.0 |
| DeWalt | 23.0% | 28.0% | 24.0% | 25.0 |
| David White | 12.0% | 9.0% | 7.0% | 9.0 |
| Zircon | 4.0% | 3.0% | 7.0% | 7.0 |
| Berger | 8.0% | 4.0% | 3.0% | 6.0 |
| Topcon | 0.0% | 2.0% | 5.0% | 7.0 |
| Calculated Industries | 4.0% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 5.0 |
| Spectra Physics | 4.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 4.0 |
| Laser Tool | 0.0% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 5.0 |
| Laser Alignment | 0.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0 |
| LS Starrett | 0.0% | 2.0% | 0.0% | 2.0 |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.0 |
| Sokkia | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.0 |
| Toolz | 0.0% | 2.0% | 0.0% | 1.0 |
| CheckPoint | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.0 |
| Levelite | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.0 |
| other | 4.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.0 |
| indicated at least one | 50.0% | 49.0% | 39.0% | 47.0 |
| did not indicate | 38.0% | 39.0% | 45.0% | 32.0 |
| no answer | 12.0% | 9.0% | 13.0% | 14.0 |
| none | 0.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 6.0 |
| multiple answers | ||||
| Units Built | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 5-49 | 50+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 149.0 | 202.0 | 45.0 |
| DeWalt | 23.0% | 27.0% | 24.0% |
| David White | 8.0% | 7.0% | 16.0% |
| Zircon | 7.0% | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| Berger | 9.0% | 3.0% | 0.0% |
| Topcon | 4.0% | 6.0% | 2.0% |
| Calculated Industries | 3.0% | 4.0% | 2.0% |
| Spectra Physics | 7.0% | 1.0% | 4.0% |
| Laser Tool | 4.0% | 3.0% | 0.0% |
| Laser Alignment | 4.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| LS Starrett | 3.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 1.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| Sokkia | 1.0% | 0.0% | 2.0% |
| Toolz | 1.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| CheckPoint | 1.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Levelite | 1.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| other | 3.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| indicated at least one | 50.0% | 45.0% | 36.0% |
| did not indicate | 38.0% | 37.0% | 40.0% |
| no answer | 9.0% | 13.0% | 18.0% |
| none | 3.0% | 5.0% | 7.0% |
| 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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Northeast | Midwest | South | West | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 402.0 | 62.0 | 104.0 | 148.0 | 88.0 |
| DeWalt | 50.0% | 47.0% | 56.0% | 47.0% | 51.0% |
| David White | 22.0% | 21.0% | 25.0% | 24.0% | 18.0% |
| Zircon | 18.0% | 15.0% | 23.0% | 14.0% | 20.0% |
| Berger | 12.0% | 24.0% | 17.0% | 7.0% | 6.0% |
| Topcon | 9.0% | 5.0% | 10.0% | 11.0% | 7.0% |
| Laser Alignment | 7.0% | 5.0% | 10.0% | 6.0% | 9.0% |
| Laser Tool | 7.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 5.0% | 13.0% |
| Calculated Industries | 6.0% | 8.0% | 9.0% | 5.0% | 6.0% |
| Spectra Physics | 6.0% | 6.0% | 8.0% | 4.0% | 9.0% |
| LS Starrett | 5.0% | 10.0% | 7.0% | 4.0% | 3.0% |
| Levelite | 4.0% | 3.0% | 5.0% | 3.0% | 6.0% |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 3.0% | 2.0% | 5.0% | 4.0% | 1.0% |
| Sokkia | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 3.0% |
| Toolz | 2.0% | 0.0% | 4.0% | 2.0% | 3.0% |
| CheckPoint | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| other | 2.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 2.0% | 3.0% |
| indicated at least one | 70.0% | 68.0% | 78.0% | 67.0% | 69.0% |
| no answer | 15.0% | 23.0% | 13.0% | 17.0% | 10.0% |
| did not indicate | 13.0% | 6.0% | 8.0% | 15.0% | 20.0% |
| none | 1.0% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| multiple answers | |||||
| Average Sale Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $125K | $125K-$199K | $200K-$349K | $350K+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 26.0 | 90.0 | 122.0 | 152.0 |
| DeWalt | 42.0% | 54.0% | 53.0% | 47.0 |
| David White | 35.0% | 22.0% | 20.0% | 24.0 |
| Zircon | 23.0% | 17.0% | 16.0% | 20.0 |
| Berger | 8.0% | 13.0% | 14.0% | 10.0 |
| Topcon | 8.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0 |
| Laser Alignment | 8.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 9.0 |
| Laser Tool | 8.0% | 8.0% | 6.0% | 7.0 |
| Calculated Industries | 4.0% | 10.0% | 3.0% | 7.0 |
| Spectra Physics | 8.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 7.0 |
| LS Starrett | 4.0% | 7.0% | 5.0% | 6.0 |
| Levelite | 4.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 5.0 |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 8.0% | 4.0% | 2.0% | 3.0 |
| Sokkia | 0.0% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 2.0 |
| Toolz | 0.0% | 6.0% | 2.0% | 2.0 |
| CheckPoint | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0 |
| other | 8.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.0 |
| indicated at least one | 77.0% | 73.0% | 70.0% | 68.0 |
| no answer | 12.0% | 10.0% | 15.0% | 18.0 |
| did not indicate | 12.0% | 14.0% | 14.0% | 13.0 |
| none | 0.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 2.0 |
| multiple answers | ||||
| Units Built | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 5-49 | 50+ | |
| base: BUILDER builders | 149.0 | 202.0 | 45.0 |
| DeWalt | 51.0% | 54.0% | 36.0% |
| David White | 23.0% | 23.0% | 20.0% |
| Zircon | 21.0% | 18.0% | 9.0% |
| Berger | 15.0% | 11.0% | 4.0% |
| Topcon | 7.0% | 9.0% | 11.0% |
| Laser Alignment | 11.0% | 5.0% | 9.0% |
| Laser Tool | 8.0% | 7.0% | 4.0% |
| Calculated Industries | 6.0% | 6.0% | 9.0% |
| Spectra Physics | 9.0% | 3.0% | 11.0% |
| LS Starrett | 7.0% | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| Levelite | 3.0% | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| Macklanburg-Duncan | 3.0% | 4.0% | 0.0% |
| Sokkia | 3.0% | 0.0% | 9.0% |
| Toolz | 3.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| CheckPoint | 1.0% | 0.0% | 2.0% |
| other | 3.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| indicated at least one | 77.0% | 71.0% | 51.0% |
| no answer | 10.0% | 16.0% | 20.0% |
| did not indicate | 12.0% | 11.0% | 24.0% |
| none | 1.0% | 1.0% | 4.0% |
| 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.
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.
