When the government allows people to take a voluntary lay-off in the name of Covid fears, then boosts their unemployment to $4400/month, there are a lot of workers missing from the workforce. This includes the mill where they turn logs into lumber and plywood. Market forces kick in, supply and demand. This is especially obvious in any small lumberyard (other than the big chains and home centers), where there's only a fraction of the usual amount of stuff to buy, no matter how high the price.
Why the cost increase?
I went to buy materials for a speaker project. I also priced some T-111 siding on 8" centers, 5/8 thick, Ship lap.
I hadn’t picked up any sheets or anything in over 18 months.
48" x 96 x 5/8 wood siding was 19-26.00 and on sale 15-20.00 per sheet, NOW 74-84.00 per sheet.
MDF 3/4" 48 x 96" if you can find it. 45-55.00 per sheet it was 22.00 to 27.00 per sheet.
2x4x8 DF stud grade 1.99-3.00 per. Now 4-6.00 per stud,
There is no shortage but there sure is a LOT of price gouging. NOTHING changed. Just the price..
The quality is worse. The workers aren’t paid worth a crap...Why the increase?
I’m getting ready to finish my home out. WOW.. I might have to rethink this a bit..
The price all most tripled in 12-18 months.. This kind of stuff is NOT cool at ALL.
Just my opinion of course. Any projects you’re doing get put on hold or STOPED?
YES I’m very frugal. Money never came easy, and it leaves the same way..
I hadn’t picked up any sheets or anything in over 18 months.
48" x 96 x 5/8 wood siding was 19-26.00 and on sale 15-20.00 per sheet, NOW 74-84.00 per sheet.
MDF 3/4" 48 x 96" if you can find it. 45-55.00 per sheet it was 22.00 to 27.00 per sheet.
2x4x8 DF stud grade 1.99-3.00 per. Now 4-6.00 per stud,
There is no shortage but there sure is a LOT of price gouging. NOTHING changed. Just the price..
The quality is worse. The workers aren’t paid worth a crap...Why the increase?
I’m getting ready to finish my home out. WOW.. I might have to rethink this a bit..
The price all most tripled in 12-18 months.. This kind of stuff is NOT cool at ALL.
Just my opinion of course. Any projects you’re doing get put on hold or STOPED?
YES I’m very frugal. Money never came easy, and it leaves the same way..
Showing 3 responses by builder3
nonoise7,463 posts07-28-2021 8:43pmWhen the government allows people to take a voluntary lay-off in the name of Covid fears, then boosts their unemployment to $4400/month, there are a lot of workers missing from the workforce.How does $300/wk work out to $4,400 a month? Maximum unemployment is $500/week, at least here in Oregon. The Federal add-on is another $600. That's how. |
nonoise, I know too many people that were on it, including my brother, for a year. I also know business owners that watched their employees evaporate. Beyond that, I can't address what you've posted. Nor is it my intention to "pick on the workers". When they can make more sitting home, than they did at work, few could resist. As far as bilking the taxpayers goes, I'm in agreement with you, except my position is that it started at the government, and ran downhill from there. The hundreds of billions of dollars that have been squandered and "diverted" during the last year+ are staggering, and there's a fair chance we'll never recover from it, as a nation. |