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So....Whats the Deal With Lumber?

Updated: May 17, 2021


So...what is the deal with lumber prices lately? I've spoken to industry experts that say " Prices are up because of COVID-19." Others say, we are in a drought and lumber suppliers are unable to log as much, and then others say the "lumber companies are getting rich because they are opportunists like the oil companies" Who's right?


So, if you have had any "DIY" projects as of late, you've probably noticed that lumber prices have gone up. Oh who am I kidding, they have skyrocketed! In fact, I had my own DIY in my home this year that included the need for a purchase of lumber. I compared that 2 years ago when I had a similar need with almost the exact amount of materials. 2 years ago I paid $1,100.00 for about 1000 s.f. of material. This month, I needed 1000 s.f. of "treated 2x4, dimensional lumber 2x4's and some 2x6 materials. Total cost this time around...$3300.00!


Well, because the proverbial chickens started roosting on my door step, I made a call not to my local supplier but to my West Coast Supplier that is closer to the lumber mills in Oregon, Washington and Canada. The Following is a screenshot of my conversation with him.


So, for me this quick conversation was enough for me to know that #1- Prices wont return to normal for a while. #2-Covid-19 was just a cover for the lumber mills in the short term but now we now that #3- The mills are charging more and like the way things and aren't currently up-ing their production game to match demand. They could if they wanted, they just aren't hiring the manpower.


So, what is Inception Homes doing about this cost in their own bidding process? There are a number of things we can do to freeze the inflation and raising cost of Lumber. Here are a few of the "Alternatives" to traditional "framing" materials as per the suggestions from the SF Gate Contributor from the website on the SFgate:


Cold-Formed Steel

Cold-formed steel (CFS) and its use in residential framing date back to the mid-1800s. Considered one of the best alternatives to stick-built homes, CFS is cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. It is made of recycled heavier-gauge steel that comes from buildings and old cars.

The Steel Framing Alliance reports that there is only 2 percent waste when using steel to frame a 2,000 square-foot home, versus 20 percent when using traditional lumber. Along with being easy on the wallet and the planet, CFS is resistant to pests, water damage and fire.

Using Logs For Framing

Using logs as lumber alternatives for framing is still using wood, but it is cost-efficient for two reasons. Despite the fact that standard lumber is made from wood as well, logs are significantly less processed than traditional lumber, drastically reducing the cost per square foot of using this material versus others. In addition, using logs as a framing material cuts down on the other materials needed to build the house – siding, drywall, and insulation is typically not required.

Home Framing With Concrete

Concrete is used around the world as one of the most popular lumber alternatives for framing. Concrete is strong and works in earthquake-prone areas, says AZO Build. Concrete is also fire and flood-resistant. One common home building and framing method include using insulating concrete forms, which are foam blocks filled with concrete that stack together like Lego bricks.

Framing with Recycled Materials

In general, the most cost-efficient framing materials are recycled materials that have little to no use aside from their intended purpose. The world uses millions of shipping crates every year, and these can either be reused in the shipping industry or repurposed and used to build a home. After two decades of being used to haul goods, containers are typically not sturdy enough to move around while maintaining their integrity.

However, if used correctly, they can make for a strong, durable and cost-effective housing material. Architects have also been known to build homes with everything from tires to old bottles. While not always a feasible option for most people, the premise is still the same: In many cases, reusing something for construction is much easier on the wallet than using new materials.



https://homeguides.sfgate.com/alternative-costefficient-materials-framing-house-33389.html

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