Buying 2x4's for 9.00 dollars each at Lowes. (prices, construction, contractor)

[JD59]

Who can afford building a house now? Someone told me a sheet of plywood costs 70.00 dollars at Lowes.

[Flamingo13]

Who builds a house out of plywood??

[JD59]

Your right about the plywood but it takes 2x4's to build a house. There is building contractor here that has quit building till the building materials go down.

[adjusterjack]

2x4x8 or 2x4x92 5/8 are $6.98 at Home Depot.

OSB is $45 to $55 for a 4x8 sheet depending on thickness. That's what homes are being built with.

[Lockdev]

They're $7 at my local Lowe's. That's up 300% from pre-pandemic pricing.

I still think the alternative construction materials industry is a billion dollar industry waiting to happen.

[Danbo1957]

Use metal studs or consider post and beam. Higher timber prices for studs are a good indication of social discomfort, in this case Covid-19.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Danbo1957

Use metal studs or consider post and beam. Higher timber prices for studs are a good indication of social discomfort, in this case Covid-19.

We have a local builder converting over to the steel framing and SIPS (Structural Insulated Panels) because of the cost of lumber and labor costs.

[NORTY FLATZ]

7 posts, and nobody has the courage to say what the real reason is?

I'm impressed.

(And, no, I'm not going to say it either.)

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

We have a local builder converting over to the steel framing and SIPS (Structural Insulated Panels) because of the cost of lumber and labor costs.

I'm looking at SIPs for a potential future home and they make a lot of sense. The up-front cost is higher, but the labor costs are far lower and the time to get the home closed up is crazy short, like 2-4 days in some cases.

I'm trying to locate people who have gone this route that can offer some direct experience so I can learn more about the pros and cons.

RM

[dontaskwhy]

Originally Posted by NORTY FLATZ

7 posts, and nobody has the courage to say what the real reason is?

Law of supply and demand is the first thing that comes to mind. Supply is down and demand is up, and as a result price is up. Any chance that is what you were thinking ? If not, please enlighten us.