The price of lumber soars to unprecedented level – WKRN News 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn., (WKRN) If you are in need of lumber, then it is likely you are on a long waiting list with others.

Demand is high and supply is low for lumber. Meaning, prices will continue to soar. If you are planning to build a deck, fence or house this fall, you may want to think twice.

Theyre basically at historic levels across the bar, Chris Lewis said, Vice President of Sales at Rogers Manufacturing Corporation. Its all through the roof.

Lewis said due to COVID-19 production at lumber mills has slowed down. Their production now sits around 60% to 70% of what it should be in relation to the demand.

Theyre all saying were trying, we just cant,' Lewis said in addition to high prices they are also struggling with availability issues.

Amid the onset of coronavirus lumber production slowed, and experts thought demand would drop. But instead, it soared.

[People] are at home bored. Theyre going to build an addition; fix something on their house; build a dec; redo this; or redo that, Lewis said.

According to Random Lengths weekly report on North American forest products markets, the price of framing lumber topped $800 p/bdft last week. Thats a 130% increase since mid-April.

The price last year was just $350 p/dbft.

According to my suppliers, weve seen a two almost two and a half times of cost increase, Jeff Checko said, broker with The Ashton Real Estate Group. Youre going to see impact in the delivered asking prices from builders and quoted pricing for custom homes and home renovation projects.

The recent spike is causing the price of an average new single-family home to increase by $16,000 since late April, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

These builders that have these houses for $350,000-$550,000 now instead of paying $30,000-$40,000 for their framing package theyre spending $75,000-$90,000 for their framing package. So, when does that kill the deal? Lewis asked.

Unfortunately, Lewis doesnt see anything changing anytime soon. Unless, demand drops and supply grows. If prices continue to rise, Lewis said it may be hard for customers to find lumber on store shelves.

We have problems pricing something because we dont know where our cost will be next week, Lewis said. When does it stop, where is the top.

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The price of lumber soars to unprecedented level - WKRN News 2