Roofing and construction represent one of the largest durable markets for nonwovens, where these materials serve as critical components in residential and commercial buildings. Known for their durability and versatility, nonwovens are used in housewraps, roof underlayments, window flashing, flooring and insulation, among other applications.

The global market for durable nonwovens used in building and roofing in 2025 consumed 1.1 million tons or 30.7 billion square meters, valued at $4.2 billion, according to a new report from Smithers, The Future of Global Nonwovens to 2030. Growth rates (2025–30) are projected at 7.7% (tons), 14.4% (square meters) and 8.8% (value). While these appear strong, building/roofing dropped significantly in 2020–21. Projections before Covid were for about 100,000 more tons in 2020 than were realized. By 2030, projections are for a recovery in this market to growth rates similar to pre-2020 levels.

“Growth rates for the building/roofing nonwovens segment are directly tied to new housing starts, which are projected to grow slowly globally due to inflation, global economic health, slow/no population growth and slowing rural-to-urban migration,” reports Phillip Mango, industry specialist and report author at Smithers. “Still, emerging markets like Middle East/Africa, Eastern Europe and South America will lead this market’s growth through 2030. While growth rates appear high, absolute consumption will still be about 135,000 tons less than pre-Covid expectations.”

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Magnera Expands Offerings

Magnera’s portfolio of nonwoven technologies in the roofing and construction market centers on Typar technology, which is widely used for its strength, moisture management and long-term protection across demanding building applications. Its building envelope offering includes nonwoven housewraps and flashings designed to support air and water management while improving energy efficiency and jobsite performance.

Magnera has expanded the Typar Weather Protection System with innovations that aim to improve jobsite efficiency and installation confidence. Most recently, the company introduced Typar FlangeFlash, a high-performance flashing solution engineered for doors and windows without flanges, helping streamline installation while enhancing water management at critical transition points. This product is composed of a commercial-grade spunbond polypropylene nonwoven facer combined with an advanced block copolymer adhesive.

The company’s DrainableWrap and DrainableWrap Peel & Stick housewraps feature integrated drainage and simplified installation to better manage bulk water and moisture in today’s high-performance wall assemblies. Magnera utilizes spunbond polypropylene technology, which delivers high performance in strength, durability and breathability. The advanced drainability comes from an integrated layer of randomly oriented fibers, providing an effective drainage gap that gives it the ability to shed excess moisture faster than conventional housewraps.

In addition to housewrap systems, Magnera produces geosynthetics and Fabrene materials used across construction, roofing and civil applications, where they provide reinforcement, separation and protection. This portfolio is further strengthened by spunlace and spunbond-based solutions designed for sealing membrane and roofing membrane uses, supporting both functional performance and overall system durability.

Andrew Irvine, Magnera’s director of Product Line Management – Infrastructure & Specialties, says growth in the roofing and construction category is being driven by a convergence of stricter building codes, increased focus on resilience and the need for greater jobsite efficiency. “As wall assemblies become more complex, builders are looking for integrated systems that reduce risk and deliver consistent performance across all components,” he explains.

Magnera is also seeing continued demand for solutions that improve moisture management, particularly in regions experiencing more extreme weather patterns. “Products with integrated drainage, enhanced adhesion and proven long-term durability are becoming essential—not optional,” he adds.

At the same time, labor constraints are pushing the industry toward faster, easier-to-install products, including peel-and-stick systems and multi-function materials like liquid flashing. Given these trends, Magnera sees strong growth potential in its expanding Typar peel-and-stick portfolio, as well as in its system-based approach that serves both residential and commercial applications. “By helping builders achieve better, smarter builds through durable materials, simplified installation and proven system performance, we believe Typar technology is well-positioned to support the next phase of growth in the housewrap market,” Irvine says.

Looking ahead, Typar’s pipeline is focused on continued expansion of its peel-and-stick portfolio, with solutions tailored to both residential and commercial applications. The latest addition is Typar Commercial Peel & Stick, which combines the ease of peel-and-stick installation with the enhanced durability required for commercial projects. The product adheres easily to a variety of substrates, installs in any direction and delivers the same UV resistance and tear strength as Typar’s other commercial-grade offerings.

Freudenberg Highlights Opportunities in Green Building

According to Federico Pallini, SVP Division Building & Construction at Freudenberg Performance Materials, the use of nonwovens in construction applications is increasing, with the market continually developing products that add value for the end user. “This growth is driven by continuous innovation and new ways to apply nonwovens in the construction industry, leveraging their diverse features,” he says. “A new generation of composite technology is finding new applications to enhance the protection of buildings and improve the quality of life in living spaces.”

Rapid urbanization and infrastructure development, especially in emerging markets, represent a major opportunity for nonwovens, which can meet the need for versatile and durable construction materials. “Nonwovens are well-suited to meet these demands due to their adaptability and performance,” Pallini adds.

Freudenberg’s nonwoven technologies are designed to meet the evolving needs of the construction industry, providing high-performance, sustainable solutions that enhance building quality and efficiency. Pallini says Freudenberg works closely with customers at a strategic level in order to help them meet their specific application needs with new value-added solutions.   

An increasingly important application is the implementation of green roof systems. In this application, Freudenberg nonwovens are used to support vegetation, manage water drainage and improve urban biodiversity. In addition, the company recently developed specialties like nonwovens and composites for underlayment. 

There is also growing demand for sustainable materials, such as recycled content and biodegradable options. These materials help reduce environmental impact and are in line with green building practices, Pallini says. Additionally, innovations such as green roof solutions enhance thermal performance and reduce energy consumption.

“Overall, the demand for nonwoven materials in construction is expected to continue to grow, driven by sustainability, urbanization and technological advancements,” he says.

RadiciGroup Incorporates Recycled Materials

RadiciGroup’s Tessiture Pietro Radici (TPR) division develops semi-finished materials designed to improve the resistance, durability and efficiency of membranes for modern building construction. TPR nonwovens find applications in breathable membranes, vapor barrier membranes, heat insulation, adhesive backing, flexible sealing, bituminous membranes, and roof and façade insulation.

In the roofing sector, the Dylar brand offers a range of high-performance spunbond nonwovens featuring high tenacity and resistance. These properties are supported by anti-UV, flame-retardant and thermoresistant formulations for applications requiring long-term robustness and stability. Dylar also offers surface uniformity, making it particularly suitable for molding, lamination and gluing processes.

TPR’s Radimelt meltblown nonwovens are distinguished by high permeability and breathability, especially suited to the production of breathable and vapor barrier membranes.  

More recently, TPR launched Respunsible, a spunbond made of pre-consumer recycled polypropylene, up to 100% certified by SCS Global Services. It combines technical performance and attention to sustainability with CO2 abatement percentages exceeding 50%, calculated using LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) methodology. This product line is aimed at addressing the growing demand for more eco-friendly and circular textile solutions. 

“Sustainability is increasingly influencing product development,” says Stefano Frione, CEO of Tessiture Pietro Radici. “The shift towards more eco-friendly products, like Respunsible, is driven by both consumer demand for greener options and growing environmental regulations.”

However, the focus on sustainability also presents some challenges, particularly in relation to cost. “While there is growing interest in sustainable products, the demand is still weak compared to traditional products,” he adds. 

DuPont Introduces Peel-and-Stick Underlayment

Earlier this year, DuPont introduced Tyvek Protec PSU, a peel-and-stick underlayment engineered to help guard homes from ice dams, wind-driven rain and high-temperature applications. The product is designed for use under asphalt shingles, concrete tiles, all metal panels, shakes, synthetic shingles and primed cedar shakes.

It has a synthetic slip-resistant walking surface and a polymer modified bitumen adhesive, which can provide excellent steep slope walkability for installers and all-season performance.
Meeting ASTM and Miami Dade standards, Tyvek Protec PSU can be used with DuPont Tile Bond One-Component Roof Tile Adhesive in certain applications to streamline assembly and reduce steps.

“Residential roofers want solutions that let them install faster without compromising durability,” says Alan Hubbell, residential marketing leader, DuPont Performance Building Solutions. “With Tyvek Protec PSU and DuPont Tile Bond, we’re delivering a simplified, high-performance system for steep-slope tile roofing—backed by the code awareness and technical support contractors expect from DuPont.”

Tyvek Protec PSU can be applied in temperatures as low as 40°F and has a maximum service temperature of 240°F for applications under metal roofing or other high-temperature applications.