Strategies For Reducing Construction Costs

The average home takes 16,380 board feet for framing alone, meaning an increase from $400 results in a $16,380 increase in lumber costs for a home. This does not even account for the lumber that is used as plywood for sheething, subfloors, and lumber used throughout the house in cabinetry and flooring.

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 Framing Offers Attractive Solution

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.

Engineered Products

More Efficient Floorplans

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.

Focus on Renovations

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