remodeling: Building material prices continue to rise
- 01/31/11 12:08 PM
Single-family housing starts in 2010 totaled 475,000 - a 7 percent increase over 2009 but still substantially below the 1,256,000 average starts per year from 1995 through 2003. .Think the decrease in demand for new home construction has resulted in lower prices for building materials. Think again. Prices for materials used in construction actually increased 5.4 percent in all of 2010. Prices increased at double-digit rates over the year for four key construction materials. Diesel fuel prices climbed 28 percent in 2010; steel mill product prices rose 12.5 percent (think rebar, nails, kitchen sinks, appliances, etc.); copper and brass mill shape … (1 comments)
remodeling: Where are the jobs?
- 08/16/10 08:20 AM
Two of the biggest issues facing this country today are unemployment and energy. Our elected officials seem to think that the solution to both is developing emerging renewable energy technology. I disagree. In a blog in February 2009 titled "Home Remodels, Retrofits Are Key To An Energy-Efficient Future" I noted that "Industry research indicates that even the most aggressive efficiency goals for new homes won't make a dent in overall energy consumption." And that "remodeling and retrofitting the nation's older homes is by far the more efficient solution." Today, McKinsey Quarterly arrived in my inbox. The subject "Where are the jobs?" … (0 comments)
remodeling: May is National Remodeling Month
- 05/16/10 02:36 PM
Did you know that May is National Remodeling Month? Since the downturn in new residential construction that began in 2007, the media has been focusing on the number of new starts as the key indicator of the health of the residential construction industry. But focusing on the number of starts ignores an increasingly important component of residential construction - remodeling. Not only is May National Remodeling Month but, according to David Crowe, Chief Economist for the National Association of Home Builders, depending upon how you measure it, remodeling has taken over first place in total residential construction expenditures. There are two … (0 comments)
Single-family housing starts in 2010 totaled 475,000 - a 7 percent increase over 2009 but still substantially below the 1,256,000 average starts per year from 1995 through 2003. .Think the decrease in demand for new home construction has resulted in lower prices for building materials. Think again.
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