Increased interest in new patios, decks leads to shortages
Lots of folks are dreaming of grilling out on that new backyard deck these days, and that has led to problems: There’s a run on the lumber and composite decking that is the stuff of such summer dreams, with material prices doubling in some cases in the Pittsburgh area.
Contractors specializing in patio and deck construction say their season usually peaks in August or September, but material shortages may stretch the window late into the cooler months this year.
“It’s an ongoing fight for lumber every day,” said Dave Dickson, president of Quaker State Construction in Carnegie. His company is booked through November with orders to build 80 decks. “We use a lot of treated lumber. The prices have escalated by 30% and more.”
A COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdown in the spring stunned the home improvement industry in Pennsylvania for several weeks. But consumer demand for decks has remained strong for years, and, once businesses geared up again, contractors went back at it.
The number of new single-family homes with decks in the U.S. spiked 40% between 2010 and 2017, according to the U.S. Census, and Malvern, Pa.-based consultant Principia Consulting projected 4.2% growth in deck construction through 2022.
Increased demand has meant higher prices, said Nancy Musselwhite, decking industry analyst at Principia Consulting, which advises the building materials and
construction industries. Companies that treat lumber used in decks cut production with the new coronavirus outbreak, not thinking demand would rebound so quickly.
“In some cases, we’re looking at a doubling of prices in one year,” Ms. Musselwhite said. “The build quarter will extend into the fourth quarter. I don’t think anybody expected the uptick in demand.”
In one example, edge decking that had cost between 50 cents to 55 cents per foot is now selling for 83 cents to $1.12 per foot, she said.
Material price hikes are occurring throughout Pennsylvania and large swaths of the country, Ms. Musselwhite said, and strong demand is expected for some time to come as consumer preferences shift to suburban living in the COVID-19 era and backyard decks become a place to meet friends while keeping proper social distance.
Dave Meyers, an owner of Paul Lumber and Supply in Bloomfield, said the reason for material shortages is simple: Government stimulus checks of $2,400 for couples, which were handed out starting April 24, combined with an extra $600 per week for the unemployed starting April 5, and fewer places to spend the money.
“You want to go out for a nice dinner, but you really can’t go to those places,” Mr. Meyers said. “We can’t go anywhere. What do you do all summer? We’ll build a deck, buy a trampoline.”
Backyard decks are made from pressure-treated lumber, and decking made of composite materials are among the most popular because of durability, contractors say. Composite decking costs 2 to 2.5 times more than wood, but it virtually eliminates maintenance costs, Ms. Musselwhite said.
Trex Co. Inc., based in Winchester, Va., makes a popular brand of decking made from synthetic materials that seemed to flourish during the COVID-19 construction shutdowns in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. The share price for Trex, which announced a $200 million plan in 2019 to increase manufacturing capacity, jumped 77% to $133.62 between March 2 and July 23.
Low maintenance has also made deck railings made of aluminum instead of wood popular with consumers.
The joists decks are built atop are often made of wood specially treated to withstand weathering and rot. Although some contractors reported difficulties getting decking planks, most said pressure-treated wood had grown scarce.
“Anything deck-related is up 50%,” said Robb Ciotti, general manager, South Side-based Allegheny Millwork and Lumber Co. “The prices are rising so quickly, some people feel like you’re price gouging.”
Christina Cornell, spokeswoman for Atlanta-based home improvement store giant Home Depot, referred questions about material availability to lumber yards, adding in a written statement: “Our merchandising and supply chain teams are working hard to replenish in-demand items, like some building materials, as quickly as possible.”
For some contractors, the surging demand for backyard decks has also aggravated longstanding labor shortages.
“We build tons of decks, and I could use two or three more laborers right now, and I can’t find them,” said Jon Hodgkiss, owner of Robinson-based Hodgkiss Construction, which employs 10 people.
Finding decking has not been an issue for the company, he said, but pressuretreated lumber supplies have dried up. “Two-by-10s and two-by-12s are gone everywhere,” he said. “The problem is they don’t know when they’ll come in.”