The Rising Cost of Construction Materials: What We’re Doing About It

There is no part of the economy that has been left untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic. From toilet paper to timber, car parts to cardboard, everything and everyone has been affected by both raw material and finished product shortages. And the construction industry is no exception.

Two fundamental materials used in construction – wood and steel – have both experienced dramatic changes in availability and pricing. Over the past year, lumber prices have skyrocketed approximately 130 percent and areas of the country are facing shortages of the most basic construction lumber, such as 2x4s, plywood sheeting, and more. This is especially alarming for contractors building traditional stick-built structures in which framing lumber alone can be as much as 20 percent of the building’s material costs.

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Steel has fared a little better – overall, it still costs less than wood. But there have been spot shortages, availability, and transportation issues, and price spikes that have all affected the steel industry and the companies relying upon it in some way. The good news is the steel industry is responding and turning the furnaces back on to produce more raw steel and steel products as the global economy continues to recover.

Now, more than ever, fabricated buildings are the way to go.

Fortunately, pre-engineered, fabricated steel buildings are proving to be the saving grace for commercial and industrial construction while the industry is still addressing the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Here at D.R. Poulin Construction, we’re doing our part to keep costs low by maximizing the cost-efficiency of the high-quality, pre-engineered buildings we erect for our customers. Every step of manufacturing, transporting, and erecting a manufactured steel building is designed to cut costs while boosting building quality, versatility, and longevity.

Manufacturing a pre-engineered building in a controlled environment using proven manufacturing methods reduces the cost of labor and the waste associated with traditional on-site construction, helping offset any rising material costs. In addition, it typically costs far less to transport partial assemblies from a manufacturing facility than to hire workers to transport and securely store materials at a construction site.

If you’d like to know more about choosing a cost-efficient, high-quality, pre-engineered steel building for your next project, contact us here at D.R. Poulin Construction. We’re experts at controlling costs and exceeding expectations.

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