Paul Duffy, Managing Director of Onduline Building Products, discusses the challenges and opportunities shaping the roofing market over the past year, and where the sector is heading in 2026.
The UK roofing and construction sectors faced another challenging year in 2025, particularly across commercial and non-residential construction.
Slow new project starts, higher business taxation, building regulation delays and persistent labour shortages continued to affect timelines and investment confidence across the building envelope and roofing supply chain.
Multiple commercial categories, including offices, retail and industrial, saw reduced activity throughout the year as developers paused decision-making and funding constraints delayed projects.
Yet the resilience of the sector remained clear. Commercial refurbishment and maintenance continued to provide consistent opportunity, driven by ageing public and private building stock, tightening energy performance standards and increased emphasis on extending the lifespan of existing assets. Sustainable and technology-led roofing specification expanded further, including solar-ready roofing, sub-roof solutions and higher performing insulation systems that support long-term operational efficiency and compliance.
2025 sector performance highlights
While some segments were slowed by cost pressures and programme delays, the longer-term pipeline remains encouraging. The Glenigan Construction Industry Forecast indicates a significant return to activity across commercial, public sector and infrastructure projects. Civil engineering and infrastructure output is forecast to grow strongly, with a 17% increase expected in 2026 and a further 15% in 2027, driven by greater investment in utilities, road and rail networks, renewable energy and water infrastructure.
Industrial and logistics construction is also expected to strengthen as online retailing and planning reforms create additional demand. Public sector capital spending is forecast to pick up from mid-2026, with increased investment across health and education estates.
Residential markets are projected to recover at a steady pace, with private housing starts forecast to increase by 6% in 2026 and 18% in 2027, and social housing development rising in parallel. Taken together, these trends point towards a healthier construction landscape and a more stable outlook for the roofing industry.
What to expect in 2026
As we move into 2026, market conditions are expected to improve. Lower inflation, easing interest rates, resumed public investment and the release of postponed development pipelines are forecast to create a more active construction environment. For roofing contractors, this is likely to result in increasing tender volumes across commercial property, warehousing, logistics and education projects, alongside a continued rise in reroofing and refurbishment work as building owners prioritise extending asset life rather than new build.
Contractors are also likely to see a growing focus on energy efficiency, building performance and specification-led systems. Roofing projects will continue to be closely tied to wider carbon-reduction and operational-cost strategies, placing greater importance on materials innovation and long-term performance. At the same time, higher demand for sub-roof solutions, solar-compatible roofing, hybrid waterproofing systems and modular installation approaches will continue as clients look for solutions that accelerate build programmes and mitigate the impact of labour shortages.
Despite short-term pressure points, the commercial and infrastructure markets remain the strongest source of opportunity for roofing firms. The sector heads into 2026 with stronger market fundamentals, a healthier pipeline and growing confidence across the construction industry, setting the stage for a more buoyant period for contractors and suppliers alike.
