Also, the recent hurricanes on the gulf coast have destroyed and damaged thousands of homes. Contractors are busy and it is challenging to get the materials. This happened in 2005 and 2008 after Rita and Ike hit our area, prices went way up for all materials and the wait for a contractor and delivery of materials was long.

I remember the sheetrock shortage after Katrina. I was working in Milwaukee and a co worker was building a new home. The builder called him and was forced to move the estimated closing date out by X number of weeks. "Can't find sheetrock, and even if I could, all the installers have gone South because of the demand".

So do yall think some species of lumber are more affected than others? Like cedar vs pine? Or is it all just up about the same?

from the early 90s to about 99 it was cheaper for us to buy mahogany for decks than redwood, ever hear of the spotted owl?

all our decks in colorado were redwood due to customer demand, we did do 3 homes with mahogany due to no redwood even available.

western forest management sucks and can affect national pricing really quick when their fires and bs do what they are doing now.

Southern yellow pine is the prime framing material and every house built from Texas east and north to the Mason Dixon will use this. That's the majority of building.

I remember back in the 80's there was a lot of Canadian fir/spruce (?) dumped in US markets by the Canadian gubmint subsidized Canadian timber industry. Don't think that is the case anymore. That stuff was light and easy on saw blades because it was just not as dense as our pine lumber.

Cedar, I think is more a trim material with some siding.

I'm sure the production of board feet is down on everything but I'd think because of more severe COVID restrictions out west that would really affect western Cedar.

Hops, correct me on my assumptions above. You'd know more than I would!

Not necessarily! Refinances or home purchases are nearly double or triple the amount of new home constructions. Cant speak for all markets, but I know that's the case for my market.

fir is preferred due to how light and easy to work with it is, not quite a stout in horizontal as syp but still a great wood to build with.

right on the saw blade thing too, I have seen syp dull a new blade before lunch, it splits bad if nailed wrong, is heavy as can be when wet and most comes out wet due to where it is stored.


and cedar is a trim wood, worthless structurally except in certain circumstances like a pergola rafter etc.