Q: What are some of the biggest trends you’re seeing among homeowners regarding outdoor living design right now?
Nail: Regarding railing materials, aluminum has become very popular for residential projects because of its durability, aesthetics and minimal maintenance requirements.
Color is always an important element in outdoor designs, often shaped by current trends and regional preferences. For railing, black is very popular as an accent color, with the rising demand for black railing solutions and other outdoor products. Black is a great color for more modern designs and offers more contrast, especially when paired with lighter tones. Additionally, we are continuing to see demand for mixed materials, which supports the growth in aluminum, but you may commonly see it paired with a wood grain or softened with greenery to bring in the biophilic elements alongside the modern touch of black and metals.
Decking is embracing premium finishes, like composite PVC blends that mimic natural wood textures and finishes. These materials balance durability with high-end aesthetics, meeting the growing demand for outdoor spaces that are just as sophisticated as indoor spaces.
Decking colors are shifting to align with broader architectural trends. Warm neutrals, earthy tones like sand and clay, and even rich rusts and dark greens are replacing the cooler grays of the past. We also have been tracking the design trend of architectural black for several years and are seeing the demand grow across all outdoor living product lines, from pavers to railing to privacy panels and other backyard features.
Q: Which aspects of the business are doing really well right now?
Nail: We are continuing to see significant demand for outdoor living and a desire to phase the project, which we are supporting with our “Outdoor Rooms” concept. This allows homeowners to easily visualize and prioritize which spaces they want first, from outdoor kitchens to dining spaces to living rooms.
The demand for high-functioning outdoor spaces continues to increase while manufacturers run in parallel to deliver innovative solutions that can bring the design and features of, for example, an indoor kitchen to the outdoors.
Shade and privacy are a growing category as well, driving demand for fencing solutions, decorative screen panels, screening and pergolas. Lot sizes are smaller, yet consumers still want privacy in their backyard spaces, so these solutions can help deliver privacy and aesthetically pleasing solutions with our range of products and materials.
Q: Moving forward, what key trends will shape the future of outdoor living design and technology?
Nail: Some overarching outdoor design trends will continue to shape how contractors work with their clients, specifically on residential projects.
Homeowners are investing in their outdoor spaces as extensions of their homes, with bold designs that highlight creativity and include more value-added features, such as built-in seating, to maximize their space.
They also prioritize health, wellness and privacy, seeking additions to their space that allow them to relax and indulge in self-care. Modern conveniences, like lighting, heaters and WiFi are also more important in helping extend the season for outdoor living as people spend more time in their outdoor spaces.
Consumers are requesting larger format solutions to achieve cleaner lines and foundational elements in their outdoor living spaces that can be accessorized by furniture and decorative accents. Because of this, we are partnering with a variety of equipment manufacturers to bring to market solutions like a vacuum lift, exoskeletons and more to help our contractors successfully install the products consumers want.
Q: What tech platforms and tactics are Oldcastle APG prioritizing right now and moving forward?
Nail: We believe there are consumers who desire to have an outdoor living space but aren’t sure where to start. We leverage social media and augmented reality tech to help inspire potential customers but felt there was a missing link to turn that aspiration into reality.
Most recently, we acquired a company called Yardzen, which partners with the homeowner to understand what they want while delivering a finished design for their space. From there, they help match to local contractors so they can have their design installed. Yardzen delivers a simple user interface backed by complex design to ensure homeowners know how and what can be achieved with outdoor living spaces.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges the company is facing now, and what do you foresee having to overcome moving ahead?
Nail: Labor shortages will remain a challenge, but there are several key focuses to help:
- Leveraging design to reduce the number of site visits and time invested designing and selling so that those hours can be redeployed to labor hours installing.
- Use of equipment to help with jobsite efficiency and safety. For example, the use of a vacuum lift for large format pavers speeds up the installation time, mitigates injury to employees and improves the accuracy of placement on the project.
- Bilingual training is a requirement across our product teams to ensure all know how to safely and accurately use our products – helping reduce the frustration and time on a job site while delivering a better and higher quality install.
- Recruitment into the trade. We are partners with many organizations and work locally with trade universities to ensure we are aiding in the awareness, training and recruitment to the trades. Additionally, the more we leverage technology and equipment, the more attractive our industry becomes to younger generations.
Q: What business objectives are you aiming for in the short- and long-term?
Nail: Continued education and increased awareness on the benefits of connecting with nature from a mental and physical well-being perspective.
Organizationally, we believe in the power of “living well outside” and are in the process of adding outdoor living spaces known as “recharge stations” to our over 250 manufacturing sites.
The importance of outdoor connection also translates to our contractors, our homeowners and our communities. We are committed to making it easier to visualize, design, experience and enjoy outdoor living. This means continued investment in technology with solutions like Yardzen, product innovations across our outdoor living categories, delivering high-quality products, aiding in seamless installation and connecting the dots for consumers to take their dreams to reality so all can safely “live well outside.”
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