As the price of board lumber reaches an historic high, the National Association of Home Builders has increased pressure on the Biden Administration to rein in lumber costs.
The recent jump in prices has added nearly $36,000 to the price of an average new single-family home and $119 a month to rent a new apartment, according to NAHB estimates. NAHB officials recently met virtually with White House staff from the Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council, and the Office of the Vice President.
The discussion included mill capacity issues, mill worker shortages, and the impact of lumber prices on the housing affordability crisis. NAHB said the Biden Administration was noncommittal on the requests, but open to future discussion.
NAHB previously held discussions with congressional leaders and administration officials, and the organization has encourage local chapters to lobby on a grassroots level. The lumber shortage and high costs are expected to persist until new sawmills come online and existing mills re-open and ramp up to full capacity.
Related Stories
| Mar 15, 2012
New Florida building code establishes flood and storm surge provisions
The new 2010 code establishes minimum design and construction requirements to protect buildings from wind, rain, floods, and storm surges.
| Mar 15, 2012
Illinois city rejects international code due to home sprinkler requirement
Macomb, Illinois aldermen voted to recommend that the city not adopt 2012 international building and residential code standards requiring the installation of overhead sprinkler systems in newly constructed one-family and two-family homes.
| Mar 15, 2012
Tenant advocates propose licensing landlords in New York City
With thousands of New York City rental units posing potential dangers to tenants, city advocates are proposing measures to make landlords improve building safety.
| Mar 15, 2012
Construction industry a big winner in federal small disadvantaged business procurement
Last year, only 5% of federal contract dollars went to small disadvantaged businesses. Construction and facilities support firms were the biggest beneficiaries.
| Mar 15, 2012
ANSI approves new fall protection standards
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved two American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) standards addressing fall protection.
| Mar 8, 2012
Engineering innovation provides new option for meeting seismic codes in skyscrapers
Two University of Toronto engineers have developed “viscoelastic-energy-dissipating dampers” to replace many of the heavy concrete beams used in tall structures.
| Mar 8, 2012
CSI webinar on building code compliance March 22
A March 22 webinar will provide an overview of a 28-step process during the design of a building to ensure compliance with building codes.
| Mar 8, 2012
Federal silica dust rule caught in bureaucratic limbo
A federal rule meant to protect the lungs of workers has been caught in bureaucratic purgatory for more than a year.
| Mar 8, 2012
New LEED-EBOM rating has requirements for specific project types
Several key changes are proposed for the LEED-EBOM Rating System in 2012.
