Lumber Prices

[Josh702]

Hello, I mentioned in my other post that I'm taking on a home build. We're doing this without a general, direct with the subs.... I got sideswiped by this lumber market.

Anyone have any theories or predictions they care to share about the immediate future of the lumber market?

We're ready to buy our lumber package anytime between now and the next few months and the prices have gone through the roof!!!

 

[Steve Frazier]

Your lucky if you can find the materials you need at this point, here in NY building materials are in very short supply and as you mentioned very expensive.

 

[Josh702]

Your lucky if you can find the materials you need at this point, here in NY building materials are in very short supply and as you mentioned very expensive.

What other building materials are hard to get besides lumber?

 

[Old Doug]

I want to replace some windows last time i checked 2 place had them but now the said i would have to order them. There are 3 places near me 2 said 4 weeks one said a week 1 nope there right. They said prices hadnt gone up on them. I have been told treated lumber is very hard to get. My brother just did a big remodel and he had problems getting stuff. I think the framing lumber isnt a problem but the other stuff could be.

 

[colson04]

Treated lumber is in tight supply because some of the producers quit running when everything shut down due to Covid earlier this year. Our local lumber yard has treated in stock, but it all reserved for complete building packages like houses, barns, etc. If you aren't buying an entire package, you're on a waiting list.

 

[Josh702]

I think the framing lumber isnt a problem but the other stuff could be.

Framing lumber prices have tripled since earlier this year. Our framing bid increased by $25K in one month. I'm about to have a heart attack or go try to smuggle in a full load from canada. j/k

 

[Old Doug]

A buddy was going to build he put in a driveway had the basement guy ready to go and the virus struck he backed out for now.

 

[Raildudes dad]

I track inbound lumber cars for a truss plant. The buyer told me a month ago his price has gone up 80% since April. Some waybills show the value of the load. Last car I saw was a 90% increase.

 

[CM1995]

I am in the same boat. Wife and I have owned our 2 acre lot for 2 years now. We were going to break ground in March of this after the winter rains subsided and we all know what happened. Also during March we were blessed to get the largest contract in our company's history.

Fast forward to last week when I started getting lumber bids - $50K increase, double what I estimated. Talking to a friends father who owns a building supply and he flat out told me that if he was in our shoes he wouldn't build right now and he makes his living selling lumber.

He told us the southern yellow pine mills which supply most of the stock for framing and treated lumber normally run 3 shifts but they are only running 1 at the moment. They can't find workers to fill the shifts is the reason.

Engineered wood such as I-joists are still running the same price. Actually it's cheaper at the moment to use I-Joists instead of sawn 2x SYP. Fiber cement is available as well as other non-dimensional forest products.

He further told us that European dimensional lumber is hitting the US market with the prices up and that should help ease the price some. Another issue is the tariffs on Canadian lumber driving the price up in a supply poor market.

The wife and I's plan is to do the site work ( we've been so busy I haven't had a machine or crew free since March), put in the foundation, basement slab and underground utilities then see where lumber prices are. If lumber is still through the roof we'll wait until it comes down as we don't have to move.

The problem is a house built right now with the high lumber prices is worth the same as the one next door built a year ago. Basically pissing money away if you build right now.

 

[skata]

Hopefully we'll get our winter time price decrease. Suppliers may also be hesitant to stock up now at record prices, because then they'll lose if prices drop.

 

[Bumpsteer]

Hava a large lumberyard near me, they serve a multistate area with their commericial accounts.
They really got screwed during the pandemic shutdown, selling building materials only they had to close.

Will be interesting to see what they do..

Ed

 

[suladas]

Framing lumber prices have tripled since earlier this year. Our framing bid increased by $25K in one month. I'm about to have a heart attack or go try to smuggle in a full load from canada. j/k

You guys are causing our prices to go up because so much lumber from Canada is going to the States!

I know a few big builders here bought massive amounts of lumber before the prices hit the roof, helping making the shortage a lot worse. Other then pressure treated being in short supply, everything else is ok prices are just really high.

 

[southernman13]

We’re in same boat. We need a good amount of treated wood and we’re at a stage that it’s not good to let it sit
Weather wise. I guess know one has a clue when this could correct itself. Would be nice if a lumber guru could give us some inside info lol

 

[dirty4fun]

Doing a room addition for a customer, I bought everything when the crazy increases started. They wondered why I would buy it so early, once I explained it he was quite happy.

 

[southernman13]

Yep. I heard of the increase coming but unfortunately didn’t do anything about it. My own fault fosho

 

[DMiller]

Lumber pricing here is NUTS IF can find decent supply. Truss orders are on backlog, some taking three months for delivery and Very Pricey at that. Local that builds barns shut his operation down for now as materials either non existent or so expensive he cannot make sales. He is only doing small rehab repairs currently.

 

[Tugger2]

Here in BC lumber mills are are shutting down all over and have been for a number of years now. On the coast our logs are going directly on ships to who knows where. I think this spells trouble for all of us in North America.

 

[Spud_Monkey]

Here in BC lumber mills are are shutting down all over and have been for a number of years now. On the coast our logs are going directly on ships to who knows where. I think this spells trouble for all of us in North America.

Same is going on here in Peoples Republic of Washington State, being shipped overseas and all lumber mills are closed except one. Still have one paper mill in Little California ( I mean PT Townsend ) but give it time it will be shut down by the Californians ( local residents ) just like all the shooting ranges.

 

[DMiller]

Pulp mills down south have been closing over the years, West Monroe LA was a BIG one and I believe is down to minimal output.

 

[CM1995]

I haven't heard of any mills in our area closing down and paper products are once again plentiful in our local stores.