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According to the results of a survey conducted by Accountability Information Management (AIM) for the Vinyl Institute, music is not the only industry to recently experience a renewed interest in vinyl. The survey states use of vinyl in design and construction has increased from 76 percent in 2010 to 82 percent in 2015, with a similar increase in user satisfaction with vinyl products.
More specifically, the survey reveals satisfaction with vinyl has increased in various areas, including:
- sustainability, by 30 percent;
- environmental impact, by 29 percent;
- meeting client needs, by 24 percent;
- health and safety considerations, by 20 percent;
- effect on indoor air quality (IAQ), by 17 percent;
- energy efficiency, by 16 percent;
- design and aesthetic appeal, by 16 percent;
- ease of maintenance, by 15 percent;
- durability and long-term performance, by 14 percent;
- method of product manufacture, by 13 percent; and
- life cycle cost, by eight percent.
Designers are also 28 percent more satisfied with vinyl than they were in 2010, and architects 15 percent more satisfied.
Statistics were also recorded for use of vinyl in specific applications. Between 2010 and 2015, use of vinyl increased in:
- flooring, from 76 percent to 82 percent;
- wallcovering, from 51 percent to 63 percent;
- furniture, fabric, and film, from 44 percent to 57 percent;
- windows and doors, from 32 percent to 45 percent;
- fencing, decking, and railing, from 25 percent to 35 percent;
- siding, from 23 percent to 33 percent;
- roofing, from 20 percent to 32 percent; and
- electrical, from 18 percent to 19 percent.
The top four factors contributing to these increases, according to the survey, are vinyl’s durability, easy maintenance, low cost, and resistance to rust and corrosion.
