By Rob Fanjoy
Rising energy costs and another severe storm season has had the usual effects on the building materials market: price hikes and scarcity. In fact, even before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the roofing industry, for one, was facing shortages. Many builders and remodelers are getting frustrated looking for enough of some materials, and their clients are getting even more frustrated with higher than expected prices.
In some cases, there's no avoiding extended job times and higher prices. But contractors aren't entirely powerless in the face of market forces. Here are some tips and advice for getting what you need to get your jobs done.
Get in with the dealers
A solid relationship with a reputable materials dealer is invaluable in times like these, but that doesn't mean you should forget all the other dealers in your area. "It's always good to have sources and back-up sources for materials," says Shawn Martin, director of applied technology at the National Association of Home Builders Research Center. "And sometimes you can order ahead and lock in prices."
Shawn also advises that contractors keep an eye on some of the more unconventional supply outlets, such as salvage yards and recycling centers. "Some organizations such as Habitat for Humanity also sell leftover building materials and sizeable scraps from their jobs," says Shawn.
Alternative methods
Sometimes you can stretch the materials you have or that are available by altering your building methods. "Advanced framing techniques can save a lot of lumber on just one job," says Shawn. By framing studs at 24" on-center instead of 16", right-sizing headers, using a single top plate, and other "optimal value" framing techniques, you can quickly save enough lumber for another entire job.
Those framing techniques are part of what is called value engineering, and to be most effective it has to be considered very early on in the job, preferably in the early design stages. Other techniques to consider are:
- Making sure designed dimensions optimize material usage and minimize waste (i.e., wall sections in units of four feet to maximize sheet lumber dimensions).
- Using frost-protected shallow foundations, which can use up to 20 percent less concrete than traditional slabs.
- Right-sizing HVAC equipment using Manual J heat loss calculations.
- Optimizing duct runs using Manual D (which can sometimes actually result in more material used, but less energy wasted).
- A waste reduction plan, where many scrap materials are used on the job or recycled as opposed to going to a landfill.
Another strategy for dealing with shortages is to use modular and panelized components. If you go with a modular or panelized vendor, then the vendor has to buy the material, build the components off-site, truck them to the site and guarantee the cost up front.
This method could be the only alternative for some roofing contractors who are waiting out shortages in the Gulf Coast region, where sheathing (plywood and OSB) and shingles of nearly all materials are scarce–and expensive. "In some areas of the country, panelized roofing systems are far more readily available than traditional roofing materials," says Shawn.
This could also be an opportunity for contractors to up-sell clients on a higher quality roof of a more expensive material, such as various metal products or composite shakes. Of course, make sure each material is approved by area building codes.
Alternative materials
For those times when there simply aren't enough traditional building materials to go around and you have to get the job done, you might have to consider some alternatives. Shawn recommends looking at oriented-strand board instead of plywood, but admits that even that material has seen its share of price and availability issues recently.
"Concrete additives such as fly ash and alternative aggregate materials such as rice hulls can also help alleviate cement shortages," says Shawn. "If your normal concrete supplier doesn't offer such things, check around and see if any others will."
He also suggests that contractors look into offering decorative concrete finishes for flooring options. If used on top of a frost-protected shallow foundation, there would be no lumber required for the floor structure at all.
Other alternative materials technologies show materials-saving promise as well, such as air-admittance valves that can reduce the amount of PVC required in plumbing installations. Shawn recommends contractors visit the Partnership for Advanced Technology in Housing and the Research Center's ToolBase Services websites for more information on these methods and materials.
"These can often be a tougher solution for contractors, as many local codes haven't been amended to allow them yet," says Shawn.
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