Familiarity breeds success. The top spots in our annual Brand Index belong to companies that are, in some cases, literally household names. Eighty percent of the winners this time are “the big guys,” in part because they have the ability to get the word out about their products. But there are newcomers that made their mark, thanks to budget friendly and always welcome word of mouth.
To identify the winners, results in three distinct categories—our traditional survey data, market visibility or “mentions,” and public sentiment—are averaged to create a Brand Index Score and derive a company’s final ranking among its peers.
Overall, our survey shows where a company is doing well, and which improvements it might need to make to move up the ranks or keep its grip at the top.
Word of mouth will get you far. GE takes the top spot, likely because of the energy- and water-saving features in several product lines. Three-time (and now former) champ LG is as popular as ever—it finishes in the top 3 for the sixth straight time—but GE edged out the top slot.
It was a wild year for wrap makers, with everybody but chart topper DuPont jockeying for position in the Building Wrap category. The manufacturer of Tyvek and Weathermate continues to be the first one that comes to mind in this key product category.
A continual trend toward do-it-yourself remodeling keeps IKEA at the forefront of consumers’ minds, although it’s not the most respected of our surveyed cabinets and shelving manufacturers. Cabinetworks Group, with its diverse product line, and American Woodmark, with a high-end but more-affordable cabinetry, are applying sales pressure like never before.
Strong marketing can make all the difference. Cosentino moves from middle of the pack in 2025 to the top in 2026 by merely getting the word out about its fashionable merchandise. Runner-up Cambria keeps doing its thing, with mixed success: thumbs up from the public for selection but less-than-stellar reaction for the company overall.
Yet again—16 straight years and counting—it’s Trex, then everybody else. The company’s reputation as a top-notch recycled decking provider keeps it well ahead of competitors in our survey. Along with runners-up Fiberon and Azek, they have a largely positive reputation online, along with strong brand appreciation.
The top 3 here continue to dominate the three survey categories. Simpson, Therma-Tru and Masonite regularly produce items that the public appreciates in terms of design, quality and pricing. That’s going to make it hard for any of the other companies on our list to move up, but the path forward is clear.
There’s not a lot of year-to-year movement here, possibly because not a lot has changed, and there are not many players. But that also means no one is truly doing badly. Generac once again sets the bar pretty high, but the space between its Brand Index Score and that of fifth-place Jinko has decreased by 50 percent since 2025.
Mohawk remains the industry’s most-respected flooring maker, but it also remains a mystery for consumers. But that’s the case for most of the top 5. Although a decline in the residential market has slowed the industry as a whole, a continually growing interest in hard surface products is keeping everybody afloat.
Demand for smart technology and controls continues to grow, and by extension, so does a need for smart garage doors. The same gang from our inaugural recognition of this category in 2025 is at it again, and the results are just as positive.
The fact Rheem finished at the top of this category for a second year is no surprise. The true mystery is what happened to runner-up Bosch, which is usually a public favorite but this time ended up last in public sentiment. Third-place Rinnai experienced the opposite. But these quirks aside, the hot water product makers are happily chugging along.
Trane has a solid lead over the industry’s other HVAC products. High-performance heat pump systems dominate online conversations, reflecting growing consumer demand for efficiency, electrification, and long-term cost savings. As expectations rise, performance and innovation are becoming key differentiators in the category.
Owens Corning is king of the hill yet again, but its lead has been steadily shrinking. Some of that may come from Millennials, who are now homebuyers and might not see a difference in the available products. The company and its top competitors are all doing the right thing.
Same year, same result: Philips finishes atop our survey, a favorite in all categories. GE Lighting is the runner up, gaining popularity and staying on the leader’s heels. Both front runners are being propelled by an increased interest in LED lighting, especially in North America.
An almost-perfect rating in our survey makes Sherwin-Williams the brand to beat. That may continue in 2026, although the industry could be close to flatlining due to slower market growth stemming from higher interest rates, fewer home purchases and continued labor shortages.
Our top 3 plumbing manufacturers ratcheted up public relations efforts in 2025, and they’ve paid off. Kohler, Moen and Delta Faucet are breaking away from the pack, although things could get dicey in the coming year if the economy continues to stall and actions such as home remodeling become luxuries.
Being second best is usually not the greatest—except for First Solar, which swept the runner-up totals but is at the top of our list because of consistently good quality, public acceptance and word of mouth. The photovoltaic category in general is becoming more appreciated, with every company’s scores improving by at least 20 percent from 2025.
GAF has improved its personae steadily over the past few years and is now the roofing industry’s No. 1 provider. There’s still some hesitancy among consumers, but that’s true for all of the top 3. Recycled and durable products such as metal Atlas Roofing and EcoStar continue to capture the attention of contractors for their sustainable narrative.
For a fourth year, James Hardie, LP Building Solutions, and Westlake Royal Building Products are the industry’s most highly regarded siding manufacturers, as well as the most widely talked about. The continued success of all three shows that there is still room for wooden and wood replacement siding among homeowners.
The market war continues between Amazon and Google, which both have well-known smart home products—Alexa and Nest, respectively—that are losing steam with consumers. These smart tools, as well as those from competitors, continue to sell, and the market is still growing. But the survey results hint at a loss of identity.
“The Big Four” is now “The Big Six,” with Eaton and ABB joining an already tight field and making most of it a tossup within the industry and among consumers. Schneider Electric leads the pack thanks to a balanced domination in all survey fields, while former frontrunner Leviton could use a PR boost to push it back to the top.
In the Structural field, there’s LP Building Solutions and Boise Cascade, and then there’s everybody else. Given this category’s revolving door—no company has retained high popularity with the public for more than one year over the past decade—the two pack leaders should focus on consumer sentiment to stay out of the identity crisis-based lower level.
You can’t argue with stability—if you’re at the top of the list. Most of the eight Thermostats category contenders have retained their chart positions for three years, with virtually the same Brand Index Scores. Google certainly isn’t complaining too loudly, as it continues to gain kudos from the industry and consumers.
Panasonic and its Healthy Indoor Living Solutions—energy recovery ventilators, smart controls, atmosphere and inline fan solutions, and ventilation and purification—remain first choice within the Ventilation industry. New building codes have pushed mechanical solutions deeper into the mainstream construction flow.
Andersen took last year’s survey results seriously and greatly improved its public image, moving from dead last (18th) in public sentiment in 2025, to first place this year. Combined with its already rock-solid industry appearance and word of mouth scores, the windows giant now has a stranglehold on the market.
An almost perfect industry rating, combined with top-level public sentiment and marketing, has made Ford No. 1 on our Work Vehicles list. The company’s promotion of vehicle capability and brand loyalty—to capitalize on an ongoing “Made in America” sentiment—has given it a narrow lead over Toyota. Expect more of the same in 2026.