As we round the corner into fall, Westlake Royal Building Products released its Annual Trends Report that looks ahead and makes predictions of what we'll see in the coming year. From innovation in sustainable design to satisfying homeowners' desires to relocate to Europe, their predictions for 2025 are strikingly aligned with the times.

More Mixed Textures, More Dimension

Shakes, shingles, and their vinyl lookalikes will be used more and more as homeowners seek the warmth of cedar. Stone veneers are also evolving to meet changing interior design interests. Farmhouse style homes aren’t as popular as they were five years ago, but for homes that do emulate that style, new textures are now used to spotlight spaces that may previously have been ignored. You'll see more and more large format tile and stone installations, for example, within a refreshed stairwell or as a floor-to-ceiling wall in your living room. Sarah Lograsso, Director of Marketing and Portfolio Management at Westlake Royal Building Products describes it as a way to "embrace European flair," just like the stucco and timeless stone you'd experience from San Sebastian to Oslo.

A wall treatment that feels very European with whitewashed stone.
Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products Interior textures can transform new construction.
A stone wall and plants add biophilic appeal in a showroom.
Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products A stone wall and plants add biophilic appeal in a showroom.
A restaurant with a stone wall feels European.
Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products A stone wall gives European vibes.

Timeless Architectural Roofing

DaVinci Roofscapes went over big at IBS earlier this year, so it's no surprise that builders are gravitating to asphalt alternatives. Its shingles are composite but present more like natural slate and wood shake. The report predicts that clay roofing will continue to be popular among homeowners looking to marry its distinctive style and impact resistance. 

A stone look-alike roof on a house.
Slate look-alike roof. Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products
Roof that looks like slate, but isn't.
This isn't actually a slate roof. Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products

In addition to traditional clay, Unified Steel offers an alternative for homeowners who are — once again — chasing that European vibe but want an ultra-lightweight alternative to clay. Its Barrel-Vault Tile in Sunset Gold gives a home the classic red-tile roof look with the high-tech engineering of modern asphalt shingles.

Brick house with steel roof that looks like red clay tiles.
Unified Steel manufactures a roof that looks like clay tiles. Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products

Biophilic Design

Consumers are demanding elements that guide wellness both indoors and out. Yes, they're seeking out green roofs and living walls, but they're also challenging builders and interior designers to consider larger windows and natural stone details for, as Lograsso puts it, "tactile diversity." Commercial spaces have been gravitating to these details for longer, but we love that homeowners are increasingly welcoming of natural materials and textures.

Stacked stone details in an outdoor kitchen.
Stacked stone details in an outdoor kitchen. Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products
Zuri wood decking creates contemporary backyard.
Zuri wood decking creates contemporary backyard. Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products

Complementary Outdoor Features

Homeowners didn't always consider the connection between indoor and outdoor, but they are now. In tandem with their affixation on biophilic design, they're putting their budgets into establishing the perfect outdoor living space. Importantly, they look to bond their outdoor area as an extension of the indoor environment. This may present as premium decking, wherein the outdoor deck is matched to the interior wood grain, outdoor kitchen cabinets that coordinate with interior details, and stone veneers that carry from the outdoors in.

Mixed stone and roofing materials on a modern house.
Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products Consumers gravitate to mixed stone and roofing materials.
PVC trim and railing on a southern home.
Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products PVC trim and railings are ideal in areas that experience severe storms.
Contemporary, black home siding and a modern six-paned window.
Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products Resilient siding is in.

Extreme Weather

In the face of ever-intensifying climate events, builders and homeowners look to using resilient building materials that'll stand up to anything:

  • Stone veneers designed to withstand freeze/thaw cycles
  • Concrete tile roofing that offers Class A Fire Rating and Class 3/4 Hail Ratings
  • Exterior siding that can stand up to extreme weather, ground, and masonry contract (California Wildland Urban Interface [WUI] is also a plus)
Slate roof lookalike on a rustic house.
The DaVinci roof is a durable solution that enhances the architectural details of a home. Credit: Westlake Royal Building Products

Low-maintenance and Sustainable Alternatives

Since Westlake Royal Building Products last report in 2021, there has been an uptick in overall interest in sustainable home upgrades and the availability of materials to meet this need. From PVC trim that won't split, crack, or warp to vinyl siding that leaves 1/3 the impact of fiber cement, consumers look to alternative products that will hold up for longer, and benefit Mother Earth. "Manufactured stone goes beyond beauty," shares Steve Booz, VP of Marketing & Product Management at Westlake Royal Building Products. "It’s crafted from recycled materials and uses lower energy in production, minimizing environmental impact from quarrying. Lightweight, durable, and sustainable, it’s the smarter choice for a greener future."