For more than 25 years, the annual BUILDER Brand Use Study—conducted by The Farnsworth Group on behalf of BUILDER—has measured the current product choices and attitudes of U.S. builders, contractors, and developers. From one survey to the next, the industry’s responses paint a picture of how those opinions have shifted over the years, from brand to brand preferences up to broad attitudes and influences on product choice.

More than 1,000 respondents from across the country weighed in to share their brand choice preferences and practices for the coming year. The list includes single-family builders, builder-developers, general contractors, and multifamily builders, both public and private, with product volumes ranging from less than five to over 50 new homes each year.

Given the opportunity to name brands across 51 building product categories, respondents are asked which building product brands they are most familiar with; which do they consider the highest quality; which brands have they used in the past two years; and which ones do they use the most, overall? At the category level, they are also asked whether performance, warranty, or reputation influence their product selection most, and whether those responses change across price points.

Many of these brands remain strong in their categories from one year to the next. A sampling of the survey’s leading choices for most-used building product brands include: Trex for composite/PVC decking; LiftMaster for garage door openers; Sherwin-Williams for paints, stains, and varnishes; CertainTeed for vinyl siding; Tyvek by DuPont for housewrap; and Trus Joist by Weyerhaeuser for engineered I-joists.

Still, more than 65% of builders are more willing to try new products and brands in their projects. The majority of survey respondents are looking for new or advanced product features—a preference consistent across all regions and average sales prices. Price, quality, and green/sustainable components are among the strongest factors in the final decision, followed by availability, building new and different housing types, style, warranty, and brand reputation.

Click here to view the BUILDER Brand Use Study’s full results, which include response breakdowns by region, unit volume, and average sales price, overall and within each of the product categories.

BATH FIXTURES & ACCESSORIES
Brand Familiarity: Delta
Used in the Past 2 Years: Kohler
Used the Most: Moen
Highest Quality: Kohler
BATHROOM VENTILATION/FANS
Brand Familiarity: NuTone
Used in the Past 2 Years: Broan
Used the Most: Broan
Highest Quality: Panasonic Life Solutions
CABINETS: SEMI-CUSTOM, CUSTOM & STOCK
Brand Familiarity: KraftMaid
Used in the Past 2 Years: KraftMaid
Used the Most: KraftMaid
Highest Quality: Crown Point Cabinetry
CARPET
Brand Familiarity: Shaw
Used in the Past 2 Years: Shaw
Used the Most: Shaw
Highest Quality: Mohawk
CAULKS/SEALANTS
Brand Familiarity: Gorilla Glue
Used in the Past 2 Years: Gorilla Glue
CENTRAL VACUUMS
Brand Familiarity: NuTone
Used in the Past 2 Years: NuTone
Used the Most: NuTone
CERAMIC TILE
Brand Familiarity: Dal-Tile
Used in the Past 2 Years: Dal-Tile
Used the Most: Dal-Tile
Highest Quality: Porcelanosa
CLOSET/ORGANIZATION SYSTEMS
Brand Familiarity: California Closets
Used in the Past 2 Years: Rubbermaid
Used the Most: Closet Maid
Highest Quality: California Closets
DECKING: COMPOSITE/PVC
Brand Familiarity: Trex
Used in the Past 2 Years: Trex
Used the Most: Trex
Highest Quality: Trex
DECORATIVE MOULDINGS/TRIM/COLUMNS: EXTERIOR
Brand Familiarity: HardieTrim (James Hardie)
Used in the Past 2 Years: AZEK Trimboards / CertainTeed
Used the Most: AZEK Trimboards
Highest Quality: AZEK Trimboards
DECORATIVE MOULDINGS/TRIM/COLUMNS: INTERIOR
Brand Familiarity: Fypon
Used in the Past 2 Years: Fypon
Used the Most: Fypon
Highest Quality: Versatex Trimboard
DOORS: ENTRY
Brand Familiarity: JELD-WEN
Used in the Past 2 Years: Therma-Tru
Used the Most: Therma-Tru
Highest Quality: Therma-Tru
DOORS: GARAGE
Brand Familiarity: Overhead Door
Used in the Past 2 Years: Clopay
Used the Most: Overhead Door
Highest Quality: Raynor
DOORS: INTERIOR PASSAGE
Brand Familiarity: Masonite
Used in the Past 2 Years: Masonite
Used the Most: Masonite
Highest Quality: TruStile
DOORS: PATIO / WIDE WINDOW OPENINGS
Brand Familiarity: Andersen
Used in the Past 2 Years: Andersen
Used the Most: Andersen
Highest Quality: Andersen
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS/LOAD CENTERS
Brand Familiarity: GE Appliances
Used in the Past 2 Years: Square D by Schneider Electric
ENGINEERED I-JOISTS
Brand Familiarity: Boise Cascade
Used in the Past 2 Years: Trus Joist (Weyerhaeuser)
Highest Quality: Trus Joist (Weyerhaeuser)
EXTERIOR FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING (CONSTRUCTION PHASE)
Brand Familiarity: Tuff-N-Dri
Used in the Past 2 Years: Tuff-N-Dri
Used the Most: Tuff-N-Dri
Highest Quality: Tuff-N-Dri
EXTERIOR WALL SHEATHING
Brand Familiarity: Owens Corning
Used in the Past 2 Years: LP
FAUCETS
Brand Familiarity: American Standard
Used in the Past 2 Years: Kohler / Moen
Used the Most: Moen
Highest Quality: Kohler
FIREPLACES
Brand Familiarity: Heatilator
Used in the Past 2 Years: Heat & Glo
Used the Most: Heat & Glo
Highest Quality: Vermont Castings
FLOORING: LAMINATE, VINYL, WOOD
Brand Familiarity: Armstrong
Used in the Past 2 Years: Armstrong
Used the Most: Shaw
Highest Quality: Shaw
GARAGE DOOR OPENERS
Brand Familiarity: LiftMaster
Used in the Past 2 Years: LiftMaster
Used the Most: LiftMaster
Highest Quality: LiftMaster
GENERATORS
Brand Familiarity: Generac
Used in the Past 2 Years: Generac
Used the Most: Generac
Highest Quality: American Honda
HOUSEWRAP
Brand Familiarity: Tyvek (DuPont)
Used in the Past 2 Years: Tyvek (DuPont)
Used the Most: Tyvek (DuPont)
Highest Quality: Tyvek (DuPont)
HVAC
Brand Familiarity: Carrier
Used in the Past 2 Years: Carrier
Used the Most: Carrier
Highest Quality: Trane
INSULATION
Brand Familiarity: Owens Corning
Used in the Past 2 Years: Owens Corning
Used the Most: Owens Corning
Highest Quality: Roxul
KITCHEN APPLIANCES
Brand Familiarity: Bosch
Used in the Past 2 Years: Whirlpool
Used the Most: GE Appliances
Highest Quality: Wolf Appliance
LAUNDRY APPLIANCES
Brand Familiarity: Bosch
Used in the Past 2 Years: GE Appliances
Used the Most: Whirlpool
Highest Quality: Bosch
LIGHTING
Brand Familiarity: Halo
Used in the Past 2 Years: Halo
Used the Most: Halo
Highest Quality: Kichler
LIGHTING CONTROLS/SWITCHES
Brand Familiarity: Leviton
Used in the Past 2 Years: Leviton
Used the Most: Leviton
Highest Quality: Leviton
LOCKSETS/HARDWARE
Brand Familiarity: Kwikset
Used in the Past 2 Years: Kwikset
Used the Most: Kwikset
Highest Quality: Baldwin
MANUFACTURED STONE
Brand Familiarity: Eldorado Stone
Used in the Past 2 Years: Eldorado Stone
Used the Most: Eldorado Stone
Highest Quality: Eldorado Stone
ORIENTED STRAND BOARD
Brand Familiarity: Georgia-Pacific
Used in the Past 2 Years: Georgia-Pacific
PAINTS/STAINS/VARNISHES
Brand Familiarity: Sherwin-Williams
Used in the Past 2 Years: Sherwin-Williams
Used the Most: Sherwin-Williams
Highest Quality: Sherwin-Williams
ROOFING: ASPHALT/FIBERGLASS SHINGLES
Brand Familiarity: CertainTeed
Used in the Past 2 Years: CertainTeed
ROOFING: CLAY/CONCRETE/SYNTHETIC TILES
Brand Familiarity: CertainTeed
Used in the Past 2 Years: CertainTeed
Used the Most: CertainTeed
Highest Quality: CertainTeed
ROOFING: METAL
Highest Quality: Revere Cooper
SHOWER DOORS/SURROUNDS
Brand Familiarity: American Standard
Used in the Past 2 Years: American Standard
Used the Most: Kohler
Highest Quality: Kohler
SIDING: BRICK & BRICK VENEER
Brand Familiarity: Eldorado Stone
Used in the Past 2 Years: Eldorado Stone
Used the Most: Eldorado Stone
Highest Quality: Pacific City
SIDING: EIFS/STUCCO
Brand Familiarity: Dryvit
Used in the Past 2 Years: Dryvit
Used the Most: Dryvit
Highest Quality: Dryvit
SIDING: ENGINEERED WOOD
Brand Familiarity: LP SmartSide
Used in the Past 2 Years: LP SmartSide
Used the Most: LP SmartSide
Highest Quality: LP SmartSide
SIDING: FIBER CEMENT
Brand Familiarity: HardiePlank (James Hardie)
Used in the Past 2 Years: HardiePlank (James Hardie)
SIDING: VINYL
Brand Familiarity: CertainTeed
Used in the Past 2 Years: CertainTeed
Used the Most: CertainTeed
Highest Quality: CertainTeed
SURFACING: LAMINATE, QUARTZ, SOLID SURFACES
Brand Familiarity: Corian (DuPont)
Used in the Past 2 Years: Corian (DuPont)
Used the Most: Silestone
Highest Quality: Cambria
UNDERLAYMENT
Brand Familiarity: Hardiebacker by James Hardie
Used in the Past 2 Years: Hardiebacker by James Hardie
WALLBOARD
Brand Familiarity: SHEETROCK (USG)
Used in the Past 2 Years: SHEETROCK (USG)
Used the Most: SHEETROCK (USG)
Highest Quality: SHEETROCK (USG)
WATER HEATERS
Brand Familiarity: Rheem
Used in the Past 2 Years: A.O. Smith
Used the Most: A.O. Smith
Highest Quality: Rinnai
WINDOWS: Fiberglass
Brand Familiarity: Marvin
Used in the Past 2 Years: Marvin
Used the Most: Marvin
Highest Quality: Marvin
WINDOWS: VINYL
Brand Familiarity: JELD-WEN
Used in the Past 2 Years: JELD-WEN
Used the Most: JELD-WEN
Highest Quality: Simonton
WINDOWS: WOOD & CLAD-WOOD
Brand Familiarity: Andersen
Used in the Past 2 Years: Andersen
Used the Most: Andersen
Highest Quality: Marvin