Paving the Way to Success
Matthew Tosiello, Director of Marketing, Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute

The Year in Review and What’s to Come 

In recent years the segmental concrete paving industry has maintained significant growth.  This was especially true for 2003 and the first half of 2004, which showed an increase in overall paver sales in North America.  Adding to this was dramatic growth in the number of contractors gaining paver installation certification. Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) offers the following report.

North American Sales Growth…

ICPI’s annual sales survey showed a total sales increase of, 8.8% increase over 2002  “This growth shows the continued strength of the segmental concrete pavement market in North America,” said Steve Berry, ICPI Chairman, “especially in the residential and municipal markets.”
 
Enhanced by an increase in Certified Concrete Paver Installers

A record number of concrete paver installers in the U.S. and Canada sought certification through ICPI from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004.  The ICPI and its members sponsored 56 courses and awarded certification to 1,759 participants. The number of courses increased 12.5% from the same time period from 2002 to 2003. In addition, the total number of participants increased by 6.8% and the number receiving certification increased by 10% during that time. 

"ICPI takes its role seriously in helping installers pursue a high standard of knowledge and proper installation," Mr, Berry went on to say. "The increase in attendance at ICPI Concrete Paver Installer Certification courses demonstrates that contractors are seeing the value of ICPI certification."

Continued Growth Forecast for 2005

The picture for 2005 looks good with continued strong housing growth, low interest rates, and baby boomers with disposable income appearing to be the big influencers. Most manufacturers are making their products look like natural stone. Homeowners prefer the look they provide without incurring the costs typically associated with natural stone products. They also want the permanent look stone gives. The short and long term outlook for the industry is good since North Americans consume less than 2 square feet per person annually.  North America has barely scratched the surface when compared to the United Kingdom, which consumes five or six square feet per capita annually, or Germany where consumption is well over 15 square feet.

Permeable interlocking concrete pavements will see strong growth thanks to national and state laws mandating control of stormwater runoff. Permeable interlocking concrete pavements can practically eliminate runoff from frequent rainstorms by infiltrating and returning some of all of the water to soil. State and local stormwater agencies have an interest in reducing runoff, not just to conform to regulations, but to reduce taxpayer costs associated with expansion of storm sewers.

Annual growth of permeable interlocking concrete pavement is in the double digits. The ICPI will begin to track sales of this product in future marketing surveys. It will play a part in development of stormwater controls across the U.S. and Canada. Given new opportunities with permeable pavements and residential paving, the concrete paver industry is likely to see continued growth in the foreseeable future.  

For more information or to purchase any publications referenced please visit CHBC member Oldcastle or ICPI. [ return to top ]