Polski
Roofs Are Booming, Foundations Are Waiting: What September's Market Data Shows
In the first half of 2026, Poles built noticeably fewer new homes, but replaced roofs on a massive scale - orders in the roofing industry jumped by almost 100 percent. A similar, if more muted, optimism is visible across the Atlantic, where the market for specialty roof coatings is growing, driven by aging infrastructure and increasingly strict energy regulations. We take a look at what these numbers mean for contractors, manufacturers, and investors planning renovations in the coming months.
01 · Roofing Market
Roof Replacement Instead of New Construction [1]
The latest report on the Polish construction market paints a picture that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago: the number of newly started home builds fell by as much as 42 percent in the first half of 2026, yet the roofing industry is enjoying one of the best periods in its history - orders grew by 94 percent. Poles are apparently putting off the decision to lay new foundations, while happily investing in what they already have - and roof covering is one of the first elements to be replaced wholesale, rather than patched hole by hole.
The renewable energy sector looks interesting against this backdrop. Heat pumps and photovoltaics, until recently the driving force behind home modernization, are now going through an unexpected slump - largely due to uncertainty surrounding the reform of the Czyste Powietrze programme. Investors are holding off on decisions, waiting for new subsidy rules instead of starting installations right away. This is a significant signal for roofers and roofing contractors, since some of the budget that would previously have gone to renewable energy installers may now be flowing into roof renovations instead - meaning more orders and potentially longer waiting lists for trusted crews in the coming quarters.
02 · Roof Coatings
Roof Coatings: A Small Segment with Big Potential [2]
Data coming in from across the Atlantic points to a different but complementary trend. The North American market for specialty roof coatings is expected to reach a value of around $0.48 billion in 2026. Growth is being driven by aging commercial infrastructure and increasingly strict building energy-efficiency regulations - roof coatings are one of the cheapest ways to improve insulation and extend the life of an existing roof without a costly and time-consuming full replacement.
Interestingly, although as many as 59 percent of contractors say they offer coating services, these still account for only about 9 percent of their revenue. That's a sizeable gap between how widely available the service is and how much it actually contributes to the business - a clear sign that the segment still has plenty of room to grow before it reaches its full potential. In the context of the Polish market, where flat roof renovation - especially on commercial, industrial, and warehouse buildings - is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to full roof replacement, this data is worth watching as a preview of a trend that will sooner or later make its way to Poland as well.
03
Two Markets, One Direction
Both reports, though they cover different markets, point to a similar conclusion: the future of the roofing industry increasingly rests on the renovation and modernization of existing roofs, not solely on new construction. In Poland, this shows up in the hard numbers of roof-replacement orders; in North America, in the growing but still underappreciated protective coatings segment. For contractors, materials manufacturers, and technology suppliers, this is a clear signal of where to look for new customers in the coming quarters - and which skills are worth investing in now.
We'll be discussing how to put these trends into practice - which materials, technologies, and solutions work best for roof renovations and replacements - very soon at the Międzynarodowe Targi Dachów - Roof Expo 2026. It's the best opportunity to meet suppliers, see new products live, and get inspired by the solutions driving the entire roofing market today.
Invitation
Roof replacement is breaking popularity records, and roof coatings are gaining importance as a fast way to modernize existing roofs - these trends will be a topic of conversation at Roof Expo 2026. Meet manufacturers of roofing materials and protective coatings, see new products live, and talk to experts about how to meet the growing demand for renovations. Book your spot today.
Roof Expo 2026