Lumber As A % Of Total Home Cost?

Hambone

Just wondering as on my jobs it seems like lumber is always more than I think it should be. I know prices fluctuate from region to region and time of the year .... but what range do you usually end up in? Thinking of lumber only (not windows, garage door, roof shingles, etc) once the home is dried in.

My last project ended up at 16%. Seems like it should be more in the 10% range. Granted, the last project had some enexpected engineering issues which required larger beams and so that can explain some of the higher percentage.

What do you usually see as far as ranges for lumber?

Joe Carola

It's hard to make a comparison unless every house or addition you do is the same. I can frame a 5000s/f house and the lumber can be 60k and I can frame another 5000s/f house and the lumber be 80k.

It has to be figured on the complexity of the framing and what lumber is going into it. You can have a 800 s/f addition without using any microlams and come in at $8,000 or you can have a 800 s/f addition using 5-1/4x16" gluelams and all microlam headers and send the cost up 20% bringing the cost up to $9600 compared to another job.

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Joe Carola

woodmagman

I think the concept of labor, material percentages are an interesting way to look at the stats. Lumber is such a broad phrase.
It might be better if the powers that be were to post a poll on individual areas, painting, drywall, carpentry and so on, requesting this same info as labor compared to material, having labor cover all salaries, commisions, wages and material cover every thing else. Or something to that effect.