Increasing cost of imported wood is giving a smooth road for alternate material for window frames application in metro and big cities. A recent survey in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Chennai, Surat, Pune etc found that the builders started preferring other materials such as Aluminium, UPVC, LVL, Steel, etc for window frames. Builders say that imported wooden window frames prices are fluctuating every day, and prices are going beyond their budget, so they have started preferring alternate options.
Some builders also opine that Aluminum and UPVC materials are easy to install, precise in work, with less time of installation and maintenance free, so customers prefer these materials. Plywood made LVL sheets are also taking share in these applications because it’s cost-effective and having similar mechanical properties as well as ready to install feature. Although these trends are visible in urban areas presently, and wood still maintains its charm in suburb and rural market but spiralling prices of wood is a challenge for its future growth.
Growing trend to offer a complete doors solution on aggressive prices by many doors supplying companies is another challenge of high-cost wooden material in door frame purpose. Although, wood is the most preferred material for door frames LVL and ready to fit pre-finished engineered doors solution is taking its market share slowly, says a Mumbai based leading builder.