Should you wait to build a fence and deck project, or should you start now? Leif talks through the pros and cons of waiting out the current high prices.
How long are you willing to wait? If you're in a time crunch, waiting for lumber prices could be a losing game. As of April 2021, the construction industry is bracing for more price increases through June.
If you're willing to wait longer you may be able to outlast the high lumber prices, but this introduces the possibility of other price increases due to labor costs, inflation, etc.
How much are current prices affecting the cost of your project? The media is reporting lumber prices jumping 200%, but material is only one portion of the overall cost. How much do the increased prices add to your project? We ran some numbers comparing project prices from Spring 2021 to prices from 2019 and found cost increases between 4-6% for most projects.
If lumber prices are not a major factor, is there anything else you should take into account?
This year the main problem homeowners will face is contractor availability, as the abnormally high demand means most contractors are scheduling out months in advance. June through September is normally the busiest season of the year for fences and decks, so if you're hoping to complete a project this year you should start right away.
Another problem that will hit homeowners this year is product availability. Rising lumber prices are a reflection of the low supply, which is catching up to contractors nationwide. If you have specific products or materials that you'd like to use for your project, talk to your contractor now to find out whether they will be available for your project.
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Cascade Fence & Deck is an outdoor living contractor serving the Portland Metro area.
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