Large custom, multifamily and starter homes are the drivers in the market, and the soft spot is still the mid-priced home. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders says there were significant gains in both the single-family and multifamily segments in June. Nationwide housing starts rose 14.6 percent, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department in mid-July.
The cost of lumber materials for a typical two-story house is nearly identical to this time last year, and is slightly higher than last month. According to Random Lengths, July’s lumber sales were better than expected, particularly in the middle of the month. Prices were up and down, but predominantly trending upward; the Framing Lumber Composite Price has shown strength over the last few weeks with OSB leading the way. Thin inventory levels at both distribution and pro dealer levels has forced some lumber lards to reevaluate their current level of inventory and make sure they have enough product to account for the increase of business.
As always, please keep us updated on your work projects and community events. We’re glad to feature our customers on our website and social media sites! We’ll also be sharing a “featured product” every month, starting with Georgia-Pacific Vinyl Siding in August. Let us know if you have suggestions for products you’d like to learn more about going forward.
