In recent months, the global supply chain crisis has become a major cause for concern for those eager to build a new home or structure. With everything from windows and doors to dimensional lumber experiencing long lead times, many homebuyers are finding it difficult to jumpstart their construction with several of their key building components severely backlogged. Though analysts predict supply chain shortages will continue well into 2022, there are numerous ways that clients can expedite their project timelines while saving time and money in the process. If you’re considering investing in a pre-engineered building kit from DC Structures, here’s what you need to know about the materials shortages we’re currently experiencing and how you can move through our process quickly.

Supply Chain Shortages Impacting DC Structures

As with every building kit producer here in the U.S., we’ve had to adjust our pricing to meet the demands of the market and then some. On top of lumber prices hitting all-time highs this year, we’ve also seen lead times for several other building materials increase exponentially over time, with some being six months to a year out from the job site. Of the materials shortages we’re experiencing at DC Structures, the most prominent by far are windows, entry doors, pre-finished siding, and garage doors.

While it may be disappointing or concerning to think of how this can affect your project timeline, there are a few things clients can do to maneuver around long lead times. For example, buying products locally can significantly reduce lead times, as local products are transported over shorter distances than those shipped internationally. At DC Structures, we purchase most of our building materials here in the Pacific Northwest to help minimize delays and ensure better overall quality for our building kits. However, we can also custom quote windows, doors, siding, and more from materials suppliers in your area if you prefer to buy them locally.

Ways to Expedite Your Building Process

Aside from materials shortages, there are many other factors that can significantly extend the time it takes to start building your structure, including delays in permitting, site preparation, and selections. Here’s how you can avoid unnecessary setbacks in the building process by taking a proactive approach to your construction project.

Communicate Design Changes As Soon as Possible

Design changes are an inevitable part of crafting a new home or building. From minor changes like swapping out standard windows for an available upgrade to making major structural modifications to your pre-engineered building model, our clients are bound to tweak a few or more details of their design to better suit their needs. At DC Structures, we view this as a perfectly normal aspect of the design phase and are always happy to help clients tailor their structures according to their tastes. However, where this starts to affect your project timeline is in the communication breakdown, as design changes that are communicated right away help us move you through our process that much faster than those that are submitted days or weeks later.

It is worth noting that clients may need more time to evaluate their design plans, which is okay! It is more important to us that you feel completely confident in your design, as we want to be sure you love the result of your partnership with us. If you need more time to review your model, we simply recommend that you continue to share your thoughts and ideas with our designers so they can help you form a design that aligns with your vision. By keeping us in the loop, we can guarantee the best results for your building and help facilitate an efficient, collaborative design process.

Plan for Permitting

If there is anything that can stop your project dead in its tracks, it is permitting. Obtaining a building permit is a necessary part of constructing a new residential or commercial building, considering nothing can happen on your job site without one. Knowing this, it is important to do your research on local standards for zoning, land use, and construction early in the planning stage, so you have a better understanding of what you will need to submit to your local building office. Typically, this will include schematic design with floor plans and elevations and construction documents with structural calculations. However, depending on your location, you may need additional consultants and engineers to submit stamped drawings of your building plans, which could include civil drawings and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) plans. Because these requirements can vary drastically by location, we recommend that clients contact their county building office in advance to discuss their project details and determine the next steps for acquiring a building permit.

Lock Down Your Contractor Early

Collaborating with an experienced contractor who can carefully plan and execute your construction is a must for any client, as is partnering with a designer you can trust to carry out your vision. If you plan to build a new home or structure this coming year, it is best to start your search for the right contractor as soon as possible so you have time to evaluate your options and choose the best person for the job. If you do not already have someone in mind for your project or feel you need help with the process, we offer a nationwide builder network comprised of trusted contractors across the country and can help connect you with the perfect builder for your project.

Learn more about our nationwide builder network by clicking here.

Finalize Your Selections Before Procurement

One of the most enjoyable yet difficult aspects of designing a structure from scratch is selecting the features that will go into your home or building, considering there are hundreds, if not thousands, of options to choose from for your design. While it is completely understandable that clients may need extra time to research their options, it is important to note that any selections made or changed after procurement will undoubtedly extend the time it takes to finish your structure. For this reason, we recommend that clients have their selections squared away before procurement to ensure a smooth construction process. Doing so also allows our team to get ahead of long lead times, as any selections that are severely backlogged can be addressed in advance and potentially swapped out for a similar item.

Prepare Your Site for Delivery

Site preparation is a crucial step in the building process. When done correctly, your project can move quickly and accurately through construction, as your contractor is made aware of any anomalies on your site and can maneuver around these issues more carefully. While the process of site clearing, surveying, soil testing, and site planning are all necessary prior to delivery, it is also important to ensure your site is properly staged and designed to allow for an easy delivery process. For example, our pre-engineered building packages arrive on a forty-eight-foot semi-truck. Because of this, we ask that clients make sure their properties are accessible and allow our semis to easily turn around after drop-off. It is also imperative to ensure your job site is set up in a way that keeps your materials clean and organized. For more information on how you can effectively prepare your site for delivery, watch our DC Best Practices video to learn more about DC Builders’ approach to creating a clean and efficient staging area on your job site.

Design in Winter, Build in Spring

Just as the title suggests, clients that design their structures in winter and start construction in spring are bound to experience fewer delays associated with weather on their job sites, considering snow, hail, and frequent rain can significantly impact the time it takes to get your project off the ground. If you do plan to start construction in spring or summer, we recommend contacting contractors early in the year – even as early as January if possible – to start the process of finalizing your builder. This is because seasonal demand usually increases in the summer months, making it difficult to lock down a contractor or subcontractors during this time. By planning ahead for spring or summer construction, you can determine a schedule and budget that works well for you and your contractor and anticipate a much faster construction process than one that begins in the wintertime.

There are many ways to spruce up your outdoor space, but arguably none as striking as adding a timber frame pavilion or pergola kit to your backyard. With a heavy timber pavilion or pergola kit, you not only have the opportunity to elevate the look of your outdoor space but also the ability to enjoy your backyard in any season. At DC Structures, we partner with America’s best suppliers of outdoor living accessories to provide our clients with everything they need for their pavilion and pergola kits. If you’re looking for an all-inclusive outdoor living space, our designers can incorporate your chosen features into a pavilion or pergola design that’s just right for you.

Learn more about some of the outdoor living accessories we offer through Weber, Necessories, Cal Flame, Timber Pro UV, and many more.

Fireplaces & Fire Pits

Bring the charm of a cozy campfire into your backyard space with an elegant fireplace or fire pit from one of our trusted suppliers. Whether you plan to roast marshmallows with the family or keep extra warm in the winter months, a fireplace or fire pit makes an exciting and practical addition to any pavilion or pergola kit.

BBQ Grill Islands

No summer party is complete without traditional barbecue, whether that be hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, or the classic corn on the cob. Make your pavilion or pergola kit the perfect barbecuing area with a BBQ grill island or stand-alone grill.

Outdoor Kitchens

Add some utility to your pavilion or pergola kit with a complete outdoor kitchen built into your space. With refrigerated storage for your food and drinks and prep center cabinets for easy kitchen tool access, you can truly make the most of your outdoor entertainment area.

Patio Heaters

Pavilion and pergola kits aren’t just useful for the spring and summer months – they’re meant to be enjoyed year-round! If you’re looking for ways to keep your outdoor space cozy and comfortable in any season, consider investing in patio heaters for your selected kit.

Natural Wood Stain & Finishes

If you have a certain aesthetic in mind for your wood framing elements, we offer a variety of natural wood stain and finish options from Timber Pro UV to help you achieve your vision. From transparent options to heavily pigmented colors that make a bold statement, you can choose from dozens of premium color selections to create your desired appearance.

Ready to get started on your pavilion or pergola project? Request a free quote today or give us a call at (888) 975-2057 for more information.

Like every home builder, DC Structures has had to adjust its pricing to match supply and demand as a result of the lumber surge. However, there are a few unique ways we’re able to keep costs reasonable for clients while adhering to desired timelines and ensuring our clients have only top-quality lumber for their projects.

One of the most important things to note about the lumber surge is that the materials in high demand right now are dimensional lumber and engineered wood products. This includes several lumber products that we use in our pre-engineered building kits, including:

• OSB Plywood: Otherwise known as oriented strand board, OSB plywood is a conventional sheathing material we often use for our subfloors, roof, and wall sheathing
• TJI Floor Joists: These are lightweight joists, or structural components used to create a rock-solid floor framing system, made from engineered wood.
• LVL Joists: Similar to TJI floor joists, laminated veneer lumber is an engineered wood joist used for floor framing. We frequently use LVL joists in our building kits, especially when a building has multiple floors.
• Architectural Glulams: These are engineered wood products designed with an appearance-grade surface. This material is not as in demand as the others.

While these lumber products are driving up the cost of our pre-engineered building kits, we don’t experience the same problems as other home builders when it comes to supply. This is the case for a few reasons.

For starters, a lot of home builders buy from retail lumber yards, which are currently experiencing major shortages in dimensional lumber and engineered wood products. Because they purchase lumber as needed, this means many builders are facing lengthy delays in the material acquisition process. This leaves their clients in a less than favorable position, with many forced to extend their project timelines past their desired move-in date.

At DC Structures, however, we benefit from buying large quantities from our mill-direct suppliers. Due to the volume we purchase, we can get in-demand lumber products that other home builders simply can’t and with quick turn-around times. We’re also fortunate because we have a huge lumber market here in the Pacific Northwest and we have several ways to acquire premium quality lumber for every project. To put it plainly, we don’t have the shortages we’re seeing in other markets and can continue business as usual when it comes to procuring material.

Another thing that’s unique about us is that we primarily rely on FOHC Select Grade Douglas fir timbers to frame our pre-engineered building kits. Our heavy timbers are considered to be a niche item in most conventional structures, with standard homes utilizing faux or box beams instead. The size of our timbers is also uncommon for light-frame construction. Because the most in-demand wood products right now are dimensional lumber and engineered wood products, this puts us in an extremely favorable position with lumber mills here in the Pacific Northwest and allows us to source the finest heavy timbers at competitive pricing for clients.

Lastly, our prefabrication method makes it possible for our team to save clients time and money during construction, as every piece of framing lumber is prepared ahead of time to facilitate a lightning-fast assembly process. Our prefabrication process also takes far less labor than any conventional build and results in less noise, waste, and dust on your job site.

So while there’s no telling when lumber prices are going back to normal, our team can ensure our clients have the best deals on the market and the best results for their dream home.

If you’re interested in learning more about our commitment to keeping costs down during this time, get in touch with one of our design specialists today!

You don’t have to be a market analyst to recognize that lumber prices are at an all-time high. One trip to your neighborhood hardware store will show you that the price of a single 4’ x 8’ plywood board is on par with hand sanitizer at the start of the pandemic. Although the dramatic climb in lumber prices is nothing new, and demand for lumber has consistently increased since April 2020, the sudden surge in pricing over the past few months is something of an anomaly and one that shows no signs of slowing down.

(Photo: Nasdaq)

The good news is that lumber prices won’t stay this high forever, but we don’t know when they’ll drop or if it will happen within the year. In the meantime, the team at DC Structures is doing everything we can to keep costs reasonable for clients as we adjust our pricing to meet the demands of the market. While starting prices on our building kits are subject to change, our clients can rest easy knowing that we offer a steady supply of premium quality lumber for our projects and will always honor agreed-upon timelines.

If you’re interested in investing in one of our pre-engineered building kits, but feeling anxious about the surge, don’t worry. We’re here to help you make the best and most informed decision for your build. In this two-part series blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the surge, including its origin and how the current market affects homeowners and homebuyers, as well as what our company is doing to sidestep challenges caused by the surge.

Read below for a brief overview of the circumstances that caused the lumber surge and what this means for homeowners and homebuyers in general.

Why Lumber Prices Are Skyrocketing

When the pandemic hit, no one could have predicted lumber prices would soar as a result of nationwide stay-at-home orders. In bracing for the economic impact of the shutdown, sawmills halted their operations across the country and lumber suppliers eliminated much of their inventory. New home construction also plummeted, with the expectation that buyers would be tight on money and reluctant to invest in a brand-new building for their property.

Then something else happened a few weeks later—the pandemic fueled the biggest housing boom since 2006, followed by a historic surge in lumber prices.

(Photo: Mortgage News Daily) 

The reasons are complex and driven by the unique nature of 2020’s stay-at-home orders. City dwellers who were able to work from home started looking elsewhere for housing, realizing paying for a rental in the city wasn’t worth the extra money if they didn’t have to commute anymore. Mortgage rates also dropped significantly, hitting record lows as a result of the Federal Reserve lowering rates at the onset of the pandemic. This drove increasing demand for new and existing suburban housing, as city dwellers flocked en masse to the suburbs, exurbs, and rural areas in search of more space for less money.

During this time, homeowners hunkered down in their homes also started renovating their spaces, buying up lumber in large quantities from their local home improvement stores. Restaurants faced with the task of creating safe but comfortable outdoor dining also bought lumber for outdoor structures. Lumber began flying off the shelves at increasing rates while inventory remained relatively low. This created the initial surge in lumber prices, as supplies couldn’t keep up with the spike in demand.

What we’re seeing now is an accumulation of these factors mixed with a serious housing shortage, a lack of dimensional lumber and engineered wood products, labor force issues, and an insatiable demand for new housing and renovation work. This week, prices reached an all-time record high, with the price per thousand board feet of lumber up more than 300% since the beginning of the pandemic. This means lumber is now priced at more than four times its cost as of last May. Imagine going to an auction where everyone relentlessly bids on items until the price is driven much higher than the actual value. This is what’s occurring at the present moment, with supplies limited and analysts predicting demand will increase in upcoming months.

What This Means for Homeowners and Homebuyers

Homeowners planning to remodel would be advised to wait if possible. With dimensional lumber priced at nearly $60 a sheet in most markets, the cost to renovate parts of your home is more expensive than many homeowners are prepared for. You might also focus on renovating parts of your home that don’t require lumber. This can include everything from your backyard landscaping to simply repainting.

Homebuyers, on the other hand, have a bit more flexibility with their decision-making. With mortgage rates at historic lows, there’s never been a better time to buy. However, homebuyers seeking existing homes have limited inventory to choose from and may compete with dozens of other buyers. For those interested in building their dream home from scratch, however, the challenge is finding a company that can develop their vision and guarantee the best results for their project on their timeline and budget. This is where DC Structures comes into play.

Stay tuned for Part II of this series, where we discuss what DC Structures is doing to keep costs down on our pre-engineered building kits and what clients can expect when partnering with our company.