flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

New Consigli poll tracks subs’ material and labor pricing risks

Contractors

New Consigli poll tracks subs’ material and labor pricing risks

Most trades confident they can find workers to hire to meet demand.


By John Caulfield, Senior Editor | October 9, 2020

HVAC and electrical subcontractors could be most vulnerable to COVID-19 related increases in materials and labor pricing, according to a Consigli poll. Image: Pixabay

The contractor Consigli Construction has released its latest breakdown of predictions about materials and labor pricing for 21 categories, based on the firm’s survey of more than 200 subcontractors working in the Northeast.

From that polling, Consigli considers HVAC and electrical trades to be at the greatest risk for price increases, based on their projected percentage of a project’s total cost. The firm elaborates that there is potential for price hikes in copper tubing and small-bore pipe, as well as lighting fixtures, copper and PVC, and distribution equipment.

Consigli breaks down pricing risks by 21 categories. Image: Consigli

 

The good news is that 56% of the subs polled said they were experiencing no major increases in lead times as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. That being said, “subcontractors are continuing to place focus on ordering materials as soon as possible to prevent schedule delays,” says Peter Capone, Consigli’s Director of Purchasing.

The firm singles out glass and aluminum, lumber, distribution and transportation issues, electrical lighting/PVC, and custom fabricated materials as “risks to watch for” in the future. Concerning lumber, which has been in short supply across North America, the report states that suppliers “should catch up” with demand by this winter and next Spring, when homebuilding shifts into a higher gear.

WORKER AVAILABILITY SHOULDN’T HAMPER PROJECTS

 

More than half of the subs polled weren't having lead time problems. Image: Consigli Construction

 

Consigli notes that, lately, it has experienced “better than normal” bid coverage and aggressive pricing in nearly every trade. Despite their healthy backlogs, subs are still looking to book work for next year and beyond. And most of the subs polled—93%—are confident they will be able to hire more workers to meet work demand.

“There is potential when the COVID-19 vaccine is developed, the construction market may start trending back toward pre-COVID-19 levels of activity,” which could add product and labor costs. “Therefore, now is the time to move forward with upcoming projects,” writes Capone.

Related Stories

| Mar 6, 2014

Must see: Tour Seinfeld's apartment with virtual reality headset

Fans of the show can now explore a virtual 3D model of the iconic New York residence, thanks to one Web designer's painstaking effort.

| Mar 5, 2014

5 tile design trends for 2014

Beveled, geometric, and high-tech patterns are among the hot ceramic tile trends, say tile design experts.

| Mar 4, 2014

How EIFS came to America

Design experts from Hoffmann Architects offer a brief history of exterior insulation and finish systems in the U.S.

| Mar 4, 2014

CENTRIA Demonstrates Commitment to Contractors

New Brochure Highlights Architectural Metal Panel Manufacturer’s Products, Expertise and Experience

| Mar 3, 2014

Engineering and construction CEOs are cautiously optimistic about the global economy, says PwC

Firm leaders remain leery about the availability of skilled workers, the state of government debt and deficits, and rising material prices, according to PwC’s 2014 Global CEO Survey.

| Feb 27, 2014

Target converts former prison dump into latest big-box store

Target's new San Rafael, Calif., location was built on the site of the former San Quentin prison dump. 

| Feb 27, 2014

12 facts about heat-treated glass: Why stronger isn’t always better

Glass is heat-treated for two reasons: the first is to increase its strength to resist external stresses such as wind and snow loads, or thermal loads caused by the sun’s energy. The second is to temper glass so that it meets safety glazing requirements defined by applicable codes or federal standards. 

| Feb 27, 2014

Metal Construction Association introduces two Environmental Product Declarations

Two Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), one for Metal Composite Material Panels and one for  Roll Formed Steel Panels for Roofs and Walls, are now available free of charge from the Metal Construction Association (MCA) on its website.

| Feb 27, 2014

Bluebeam Software launches Revu 12 for better field-ready document management and project collaboration

The latest version of the company’s flagship solution better enables users in document-intensive industries to digitally collaborate on project documents and more easily connect the office to the field.

| Feb 27, 2014

PocketCake lunches CPU designed for virtual reality simulations

The company's Virtual Reality Simulation Converter Assembly is three times more powerful than the average high-performance computer and allows for up to eight people to experience a virtual reality simulation at the same time.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Construction Costs

Data center construction costs for 2024

Gordian’s data features more than 100 building models, including computer data centers. These localized models allow architects, engineers, and other preconstruction professionals to quickly and accurately create conceptual estimates for future builds. This table shows a five-year view of costs per square foot for one-story computer data centers. 


Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.



Healthcare Facilities

Watch on-demand: Key Trends in the Healthcare Facilities Market for 2024-2025

Join the Building Design+Construction editorial team for this on-demand webinar on key trends, innovations, and opportunities in the $65 billion U.S. healthcare buildings market. A panel of healthcare design and construction experts present their latest projects, trends, innovations, opportunities, and data/research on key healthcare facilities sub-sectors. A 2024-2025 U.S. healthcare facilities market outlook is also presented.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021