Feb 9 2009
GREAT STUFF™ Insulating Foam Sealant manufactured by The Dow Chemical Company, found a silver lining to the stormy 2008 economy. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there was a 1% decrease in new orders for manufactured durable goods in November following an 8.4% decrease in October. Additionally, home construction in November was down 23.4% from a year ago. As energy prices rose and large scale housing renovations declined, foam sealants have remained popular among do-it-yourselfers and professionals in the repair and remodeling industry.
“The increase in energy costs, the economic downturn, and the struggling housing market have created the perfect storm for the product. People are looking for inexpensive ways to save money on their energy bills and for easy ways to upgrade their homes,” explains Jeff Fancher, Brand Manager. With the slowdown of the housing market, sellers are making home improvements to peak buyer interest. Additionally, many people who would be in the market for a new house if it weren’t for the poor economy have opted instead to remodel their existing home.
The economy has influenced consumers to focus on home improvement projects that provide practical benefits, such as energy savings. The U.S. Department of Energy identifies air leakage through holes, gaps, and cracks as the single largest cause of residential heating and cooling loss, accounting for approximately 30-50% of the energy used. “Consumers are not only becoming more money conscious, they are becoming more environmentally conscious as well,” states Fancher. “This increased awareness has helped GREAT STUFF sales.” GREAT STUFF is available at home improvement retailers and comes in five varieties: Gaps & Cracks, Window & Door, Fireblock, Pond & Stone, and Big Gap Filler.