Keeping the volatility and current high prices of lumber in mind, it is now an attractive option to consider ways to reduce lumber costs when building a new home, addition, or significant renovation.
When prices were lower, there used to be less incentive to optimize for lumber usage as the lumber package was not as large of a percentage of the total build’s cost as it is today.
The best time to think about what options you have to keep costs under control is when you are designing and planning your home. Here are three options for saving money on lumber to consider.
Steel studs can save on both material cost and labor. The lower labor costs are partially because they weigh less for the same applications. In addition, they come pre-drilled for running wires.
Using less traditional lumber materials can reduce the overall cost of a new build. SIPs, or Structural Insulated Panels, offer a great alternative to traditional studs, sheeting, and insulation.
You can optimize the floor plan to have less circulation space and be more efficient overall. By doing this, we have built houses that have similar amenities as other homes while having 20% less square footage.
With lumber prices being sky high, renovations are comparatively more affordable than new construction. This is because renovations utilize existing framing and mostly focus on remodeling interior framing.