Adhesives, sealants, and caulks are an integral part of construction, relied on for a wide variety of products, materials and processes used for building and remodeling activities.
The necessity of these products for construction and building applications sustains a steady demand among homeowners and professionals in the U.S. Meanwhile, increasing demand for green building practices, better energy efficiency, and improved indoor air quality (IAQ) influences the market, driving new innovations and advancements in adhesives, caulks, and sealant products.
When it comes to purchasing caulks, sealants and adhesives for building and construction purposes, customers develop a taste for particular brands, highlighting the opportunity for manufacturers to foster a positive and long-lasting relationship with their customer based by developing products to suit their evolving needs and preferences.
A few of the leaders in the industrial adhesives and sealants market include 3M, Henkel, Bostik, PPG, Sashco, RPM, Sika, and H.B. Fuller Company. The market is typically segmented by product, including acrylic adhesives, epoxy adhesives, silicone adhesives, and polyurethane adhesives. While these materials and products are often designed for distinct applications or use with substrates, this category often faces blurred lines with DIYers and Pros using a single product for multiple applications. Whether it's intended for those uses or not.
What are Key Adhesives, Caulks, and Sealants Market Trends in 2025
As the construction and home improvement industry continues to expand in the U.S., so will the market for adhesives, caulks, and sealants, which are used in nearly every aspect of the trade.
Here is a look at some of the customer purchase behaviors, product innovations, and industry trends that are shaping the market:
1. Forecasted Annual Spending on Home Improvement Products
Data from the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) forecasts small gains in home improvement product spend over the next year, which could influence the construction adhesives market. The total home improvement market expanded by 3.7% to $574.3 billion in 2024, and it is projected to grow by an additional 3.4% in 2025. In 2026, the total market is projected to grow by 3.5%, based on HIRI's June 2025 Size of Market reporting. Among trade professionals, we saw modest growth in 2024, but forecasts are showing a softer 2025, and predicting a more substantial uptick in revenue from 2026 onwards.
2. Brand Awareness Doesn’t Necessarily Translate into Use
Many adhesives, caulk, and sealant brands boast significant brand awareness among professionals and DIY homeowners. According to our research, several brands have strong aided awareness (70% or more), but that doesn’t coincide with brand use—meaning conversion rates fall for many brands as they get to mid or bottom of the sales funnel. Manufacturers must be intentional about not only fostering brand awareness, but also targeting the right audience and delivering products that motivate trial use and repeat purchases.
3. Environmental Regulations and Health Concerns Challenge Manufacturers
Sealants and adhesives can emit hazardous chemical gases that are subject to stringent environmental regulations and standards. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put limits on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in sealants and adhesives. Additionally, homeowners possess a growing awareness about their health and well-being as it relates to their surrounding environment, putting pressure on manufacturers to develop products that aren’t harmful to inhabitants. Evolving regulations and consumer concerns can present a challenge for industry stakeholders, but there is also an opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers to work to develop construction adhesives and sealants that are VOC-free, promote sustainability, and alleviate health and environmental concerns. That is part of what has driven growth in the water-based adhesives segment, and is likely to continue doing so in the coming years.
4. Energy Efficiency Concerns on the Rise
About a third of homeowners have concerns about their home’s environmental or energy performance, with energy costs and wasteful energy use being the primary concerns, according to data from our study on Healthy & Safe Home and Environmental Energy Performance Attitudes, prepared with the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS). Worry about increasing utility bills and home-operating costs has influenced the type of improvements and upgrades homeowners have completed or are planning to do in the future. Adhesives, caulks, and other sealants are a critical part of properly sealing a building, which impacts the overall energy efficiency of the structure. There is demand among homeowners for general or advanced air sealing and insulation, and this was among the top completed projects in the past year for contractors, according to the study.
5. Demand for Green Buildings Drives Emulsion Adhesives Market
Green building and demand for energy efficiency shape the adhesives market in other ways, as well. The building and construction industry is embracing a trend toward tighter building envelopes with reduced air flow to limit VOC levels and improve indoor air quality (IAQ)—which remains the top concern among homeowners who have worries about the health and safety of their home. As a result, manufacturers and suppliers are moving to offer more emulsion acrylic products. There have been significant advances in the capabilities of emulsion coating, resulting in adhesive solutions that provide comparable quality and performance to traditional products—such as butyl rubber adhesive—and at a relatively low cost, compared to solvent adhesives. Perceived as an environmentally friendly alternative, industry leaders expect the use of solventless adhesives for building and construction applications to grow over the coming years.
6. Technological Advances Focus on Improved Performance
Along with an emphasis on sustainability, there is a demand for increasingly more robust sealing and adhesive capabilities to keep up with modern construction practices. While polyurethane adhesives and sealants are expected to remain a popular choice, because of their notable durability, the market is constantly evolving, spurred by advancements in material technology. Manufacturers are exploring hybrid adhesives, combining the strengths of separate materials—such as silicones and epoxies—to maximize strength and flexibility for construction and building applications. Other recent innovations include advancements in bio-based adhesives and nano-adhesives. Additionally, digitalization is also spurring innovation in the production and operations of adhesives and sealants manufacturing, according to Adhesives & Sealants Industry magazine. It enables more precise resource management and accelerates the development of new materials and chemicals.
Gaining Deeper Insights with Custom Market Research
While there is consistent demand for adhesives, caulks, and sealants for construction and building applications, manufacturers and suppliers have to look beyond surface trends to develop and market products that will meet the shifting demands of their particular audience, especially when competing in a low-growth or no-growth market environment.
The Farnsworth Group specializes in providing customized research solutions to building products manufacturers to help you compete well. We will work with you to study even hard to reach customer segments to get the data and insights you need to pave the way for more effective business strategies. Don't make the mistake of sitting on your hands in an uncertain market; take action to understand and respond to shifting customer demands, new technologies, and disruptive competitors.
