Painting & Wall Covering Contractors
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 37,000 painting and wall covering contractors in the US apply paint, stain, coatings, and wall coverings to walls, buildings, bridges, and other structures. Companies may specialize in a particular type of application, such as residential, industrial, or decorative painting. Other services include pressure washing, deck finishing, wood staining, drywall finishing, and exterior waterproofing/sealing.
Risk Of Injury And Illness
Workers are constantly working at heights that require ladders, scaffolding, lifts, or harnesses.
Dependence On The Construction Industry And Economy
Demand for painting and wall covering services is closely tied to the health of the construction industry, which is influenced by the state of the economy.
Industry size & Structure
The average paint and wall covering contractor operates out of a single location, employs 6 workers, and generates about $676,000 annually.
- The paint and wall covering contractor industry consists of about 37,000 establishments that employ about 205,000 workers and generate about $25 billion annually.
- The industry is highly fragmented; the majority of firms are small, independent operators. Many painting and wall covering contractors are self-employed.
- Large companies, such as the Brock Group, offer industrial painting as part of a larger portfolio of services.
Industry Forecast
Painting & Wall Covering Contractors Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 18, 2024 - Home Builder Sentiment Rises
- Home builder confidence in the single-family market increased in November, marking the third consecutive month of sentiment improvement, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home builder sentiment, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), rose three points to 46 in November 2024. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. The NAHB said builders are generally upbeat about the election outcome, and future sales expectations improved in November. The HMI survey also showed that 31% of builders reduced home prices in November, and the average price reduction fell slightly to 5% from 6% in October.
- Multifamily developers’ confidence was mixed in the third quarter of 2024, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) latest Multifamily Market Survey. The Multifamily Production Index (MPI) rose two points in Q3 2024 to 40 compared to the third quarter of 2023. The Multifamily Occupancy Index decreased by seven points to 75 over the same period. An MPI or MOI reading of 50 or more indicates that multifamily production or occupancy, respectively, is growing. Multifamily developers’ headwinds include a tight lending environment, higher borrowing costs, regulations, and land availability. The NAHB forecasts that multifamily construction activity will remain weak for about another year amid a significant volume of projects under construction. Multifamily construction is expected to return to more robust growth near the end of 2025.
- Home improvement industry observers expect remodeling spending to rise in 2025 as more homeowners borrow against the rising equity they have in their homes, according to The Wall Street Journal. After a significant uptick during the pandemic, as people were stuck at home, remodeling spending has been lackluster. Higher interest rates also made it more expensive to finance major renovations. In September 2024, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in four years. Rates are expected to continue dropping, which could prompt many homeowners to leverage the value locked in their homes and take out loans for improvements.
- The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) decreased by 5.3% in October 2024 to 197.2 (2000=100), down from the revised September reading of 208.2. The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which has been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. On a monthly basis, the institutional planning component fell by 2% in October, and commercial planning declined by 6.7%. Dodge’s associate director of forecasting, Sarah Martin, said, “In addition to data center planning normalizing, a moderate pullback in the number of planning projects for several other nonresidential sectors also contributed to the decline in the Dodge Momentum Index for October. Regardless, owners and developers remain confident in next year’s market conditions, and the planning queue remains poised to spur stronger construction activity in 2025, following deeper rate cuts by the Fed.”
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