Cofer Adams Building Center

Increase Your Home's Value and Energy Savings at the Same Time with New Entry Doors!

2010-10-05T11:28:00.002-04:00

"Looks good on the outside, feels good on the inside." Therma-Tru fiberglass entry doors outperform wood and steel. Therma-Tru doors increase energy efficiency and performance, comfort, AND you will also see an increase in curb appeal. Therma-Tru fiberglass and steel entry doors add security and beauty to homes. You can increase the perceived value of your home just by adding a Thema-Tru entry door system. Cofer/Adams has the doors you need to increase your home's value.

Give people the best first impression when entering your home with Therma-Tru entry doors. They are the perfect front doors to increase curb appeal and save energy.

There are a wide variety of entry door and side light combinations to fit the style and function of your home. There are many panel doors and doors with divided or leaded glass lights to enhance the beauty of your home in the Atlanta-Athens Ga area.

Call us for all of your entry door and entrance frame needs, our helpful staff has answers to your questions. We can help you measure for replacement doors or size doors for new construction.

Check with Cofer/Adams Building Center for lumber and building materials for your new home or remodeling projects.

Have we reached the bottom in new home construction, and if we have, when will we reach the tipping point?

2010-08-15T07:52:00.003-04:00

There have been articles lately that emphasize the possibility of a severe housing shortage next year, as new home supply dwindles and the bargains in foreclosures evaporate.
U.S. May Face Housing Shortage in 2011
Economist Says, Foreclosures Notwithstanding, Housing Inventory Isn't Keeping Up With Population Growth

and
Some Economists Predict Severe Housing Shortage

I often read that housing will not improve until employment improves. An interesting conundrum, since in past recessions, employment increased during housing recoveries. I don’t think that most people, even economists, think through the relationships involved in new home construction. So, which came first, the chicken or the egg? Once new home construction resumes, it should fuel new job creation as construction workers go back to work. How will this affect national homebuilders such as Beazer (BZH), Pulte (PHM) and Hovnanian (HOV)? What about the manufacturing jobs that are created for lumber, appliances and building material products such as roofing, doors and windows? Not to mention electrical and plumbing materials and fixtures. Taking things a step further, what about the technology that goes into new homes? Most people will buy new big screen TV’s, state of the art sound systems as well as computers and printers for their home offices. Many lumber and panel mills have been curtailed, shut down and even dismantled or turned into Biomass Power Plants. An increase in new home construction will provide a boost to the remaining producers, such as Weyerhaeuser (WY), Lousiana Pacific (LPX), and CanFor (CFP). What about the “leg up” for the automotive sector? Construction workers will need new trucks. The American construction workers I see everyday drive Ford (F), GM, and Dodge trucks. Perhaps the taxpayers would be the beneficiaries of a boost in the automotive/truck sector, by virtue of government stock ownership. How about the heavy equipment that is required? The few remaining building material suppliers would have to hire new workers and buy new equipment, since over 80% have closed, and the remaining ones have scaled down. Caterpillar (CAT) would obviously have to add workers to produce the heavy equipment that would be required. What about all of the real estate agents that have been sidelined during the housing slump? Everyone tends to spend freely when their commissions are good. And regional and community banks, of course, would be huge beneficiaries from the loan demand, once they decide that it is safe to lend again. Even the giants Freddie Mac and Fannie May would return to viability (maybe I should buy some FNMA, one share costs less than a postage stamp). How about foreclosures? Less homes will be foreclosed as employment increases, and the inventory of foreclosures should decrease proportionately.
As new home construction increases, employment in all of these areas will have to increase. As employment increases, there will be increased demand for housing as new household creation resumes its pre-2007 “normal” rate of 850,000. Consumer spending and consumer confidence will increase as a result of job creation. It is difficult to take an objective view, since I am immersed in the lumber and building material industry every day. However, in my opinion, it is not a question of “if”, but one of “when” will the increase in new household formation and new home construction reach the “tipping point”, and begin to increase at an increasing rate. It really is an intricate, far reaching puzzle, but there is no question that it will become a self-fueling growth engine again, once the “tipping point” is reached. I guess the most important question is: "How do we reach that tipping point?"

-Reid

New and Replacement Sidings

2010-07-07T06:07:00.005-04:00

Here at Cofer/Adams in Lawrenceville carries many tyoes of sidings for the Atlanta-Athens GA area. We stock a wide variety of wood, fiber cement and hardboard sidings.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Hardboard Siding"][/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Fiber Cement Siding"][/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="452" caption="Plywood Sidings"][/caption]

Visit our building supply in Lawrenceville and see the wide variety of sidings & building materials our store carries, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home. We are open from 7:30 AM until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, 7:30 am -12:00 Noon on Saturday.

Delivery is available to these Georgia cities:
Alpharetta, Athens, Atlanta, Braselton, Buford, Commerce, Conyers, Covington, Cumming, Dacula, Decatur, Duluth, Eatonton, Fairburn, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Grayson, Hoschton, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Lithonia, Loganville, Madison, Marietta, McDonough, Monroe, Newborn, Oakwood, Snellville, Social Circle, Stockbridge, Watkinsville and Woodstock.

Aluminum Window Screens for Wood Windows in the Atlanta Athens GA Area

2010-07-06T16:52:00.004-04:00

Aluminum window screens allow you to save energy and let fresh air in while keeping insects and wind blown debris out. The temperature in the Atlanta-Athens GA area is very nice most of the year, allowing you to open your windows and let fresh air in. You can also reduce energy costs by letting temporate outdoor air circulate naturally through your home.

Our stock screens fit standard wood window sizes and are "mill" finish aluminum with gray fiberglass screening. They include loop latches and top channels. Special order aluminum screens are also available in white, bronze, beige and sandstone frames with charcoal fiberglass, bright aluminum and gray or charcoal solar screening. Screens can be made in irregular polygon shapes to fit existing openings.

Delivery is available to these Georgia cities:
Alpharetta, Athens, Atlanta, Bogart, Braselton, Buford, Commerce, Conyers, Cornelia, Covington, Cumming, Dacula, Dahlonega, Decatur, Duluth, Eatonton, Fairburn, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Grayson, Hamilton Mill, Hoschton, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Lithonia, Loganville, Madison, Marietta, McDonough, Monroe, Newborn, Oakwood, Senoia, Snellville, Social Circle, Stockbridge, Watkinsville, Winder and Woodstock.

We are open Monday - Friday, from 7:30 am until 5:00 pm, and Saturdays, from 7:30 until Noon.
Visit our building material supply at 175 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville, GA. or call us at (770) 995-3900.

Call Cofer/Adams for Exterior Doors and Entry Frames in the Atlanta Athens GA Area

2010-07-06T06:03:00.008-04:00

Are you looking for a new or replacement exterior door in the Atlanta-Athens Georgia area?
Cofer/Adams (770) 995-3900 in Lawrenceville can help.
We specialize in Therma-Tru Entry Doors and Frames.

Therma-Tru doors are the perfect front doors to give people the best first impression when entering your home. There are a wide variety of entry door and side light combinations to fit the style and function of your home. There are many panel doors and doors with divided or leaded glass lights to enhance the beauty of your home in the Atlanta-Athens Ga area.
Call us for all of your entry door and entrance frame needs, our helpful staff has answers to your questions. We can help you measure for replacement doors or size doors for new construction. StyleView® sliding patio doors are a beautiful option for giving a room an appealing focal point. They invite natural light into the room and take advantage of its views.

Entrance frame and door delivery is available to these Georgia cities:
Alpharetta, Athens, Atlanta, Auburn, Bogart, Braselton, Buford, Commerce, Conyers, Covington, Cumming, Dacula, Dahlonega, Decatur, Douglasville, Duluth, Eatonton, Fairburn, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Grayson, Hamilton Mill, Hampton, Hoschton, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Madison, Marietta, McDonough, Monroe, Morrow, Newborn, Norcross, Oakwood, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Senoia, Snellville, Social Circle, Statham, Stockbridge, and Watkinsville.

We are open Monday - Friday, from 7:30am until 5:00pm, and Saturdays, from 7:30 until Noon.
Call us for your entry frame and door needs at (770) 995-3900.

Helping YOU build YOUR LEED Certified American Dream Home

2010-07-06T05:37:00.001-04:00

Let us help you with your LEED certification needs. Cofer/Adams is the leading supplier of building materials that can help you attain LEED certification for your home or wood-framed commercial building in the Atlanta - Athens Georgia area. Extra points can be achieved by using Boise engineered lumber, cut by our computerized, optimized SawTec saw to minimize waste. Huber OSB products, such as Zip-Wall, Zip-Roof and Advantech sub-flooring are part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), do not use any urea-formaldehyde in the manufacturing process, and qualify based on manufacturing proximity in our area. Energy Star doors and windows help with points and energy savings. Masonite's "Safe and Sound" interior doors utilize DorCor™ made from wheat straw, and reduce sound transmission between rooms. Check with us for the sustainable green building products you need to gain points for your LEED certified building.

2010-07-06T05:30:00.003-04:00

Imagine a luxurious stair case that is a focal point in your home. Iron Balusters can add elegance and beauty to your home in the Atlanta Athens GA area.

Easily replace old balusters with The Transformer System balusters from Crown Heritage:

Visit our building supply in Lawrenceville and see the wide variety of Home Improvement, Remodeling and DIY building materials our store carries, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home. We are open from 7:30 AM until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, 7:30 am -12:00 Noon on Saturday.

PVC 4" No-Rot Crown Moulding for the Atlanta Athens GA Area

2010-07-06T05:21:00.003-04:00

Are you looking for a home improvement project that can increase the curb appeal of your home? Why not use PVC crown moulding to replace rotten wood crown moulding? Wood trim on the outside of your house can take a real beating in the Atlanta-Athens GA area, and PVC will not rot or warp.
Call or visit Cofer/Adams in Lawrenceville for the building materials you need for Home Improvement, Remodeling and DIY projects in the Atlanta Athens Ga Area.

Visit our building supply in Lawrenceville and see the wide variety of Crown Mouldings and building materials for Home Improvement, Remodeling and DIY our store carries, or call (770) 995-3900 and let Cofer/Adams help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home.

Marine Plywood for Projects in the Atlanta Athens GA Area

2010-06-18T16:41:00.002-04:00

Do you need a strong plywood suitable for projects in the Atlanta-Athens Georgia area? Marine Plywood is used in boat building and repair, and is an ideal material for other projects where high temperatures and moisture can be a problem. Cofer/Adams has Marine Grade Fir Plywood with an ‘A’ Grade veneer face, a ‘B’ Grade veneer back, and ‘B’ grade veneers for the interior plys, and no core voids. The glue is a special marine glue specifically for exterior use. This plywood is typically used for its strength and durability. It is suitable for many applications, such as boat building and repair.

We are currently stocking the following sizes of Fir 'AB' Marine Plywood:
1/2"x4x8 Marine Plywood
5/8"x4x8 Marine Plywood
3/4"x4x8 Marine Plywood

Delivery of building materials is available to these Georgia cities:
Arcade, Alpharetta, Athens, Atlanta, Auburn, Bethlehem, Bogart, Braselton, Buford, Commerce, Conley, Conyers, Cornelia, Covington, Cumming, Dacula, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Decatur, Douglasville, Duluth, Eatonton, Fairburn, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Grayson, Greensboro, Hamilton Mill, Hampton, Hoschton, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Lithonia, Loganville, Madison, Marietta, Maysville, McDonough, Monroe, Morrow, Newborn, Norcross, Oakwood, Oxford, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Senoia, Snellville, Social Circle, Statham, Stockbridge, Sugar Hill, and Watkinsville.

We are open Monday - Friday, from 7:30am until 5:00pm, and Saturdays, from 7:30 until Noon.
Call us for your outdoor project material needs at (770) 995-3900.

Iron Deck Railing Panels, Pickets and Balusters for the Atlanta Athens GA Area

2010-06-18T16:17:00.003-04:00

COFER/ADAMS (770) 995-3900
Visit the Cofer/Adams showroom in Lawrenceville, Georgia and see the metal deck railing balusters and pre-fabricated iron deck railing panels that you can use to give your outdoor living space a true look of distinction.

We have a variety of styles and sizes of metal deck railings to choose from, both stock and special order.

We can also provide composite deck rails and pickets to match your Trex or TimberTech deck, just ask for one of our deck railing specialists.

Building material delivery is available in the Atlanta-Athens Georgia area.
We are open weekdays from 7:30 am until 5:00 pm, and Saturdays, from 7:30 until Noon. Visit our showroom in Lawrenceville, GA, and see the displays and samples of iron deck rails and pcikets, metal balusters, and composite deck rails you can buy, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help you build your American Dream Home.

Western Red Cedar Lumber for the Atlanta Athens GA Area

2010-06-13T05:53:00.005-04:00

We carry a wide variety of Cedar Lumber for the Atlanta Athens Georgia area. Check with Cofer/Adams to buy these items:
2x Cedar Lumber

4x4 Cedar Lumber

Cedar Lumber Timbers

Cedar Lattice

Cedar Bevel Siding

Call Cofer/Adams at (770) 995-3900 for current pricing.

Call Us for Western Red Cedar Lumber Items in Atlanta Athens GA Area

2010-04-29T05:23:00.003-04:00

Do you have a project in the Atlanta Athens Georgia area that needs wood with the warmth and durability of Western Red Cedar? We have the following Western Red Cedar Lumber items in stock:
1x4 Cedar Lumber S1S2E (Smooth 1 Side 2 Edges)
1x6 Cedar Lumber S1S2E (Smooth 1 Side 2 Edges)
1x8 Cedar Lumber S1S2E (Smooth 1 Side 2 Edges)
2x4 Cedar Lumber S4S (Smooth - Surfaced 4 Sides) STK
2x6 Cedar Lumber S4S (Smooth - Surfaced 4 Sides) STK
2x8 Cedar LumberS4S (Smooth - Surfaced 4 Sides)STK
2x10 Cedar LumberS4S (Smooth - Surfaced 4 Sides)STK
4x4 Cedar LumberS4S (Smooth - Surfaced 4 Sides)STK
8" Wood Cedar Bevel Siding
Call us at (770) 995-3900 for current pricing.

A "V" Shaped Housing Recovery Begins to Take Shape

2010-04-26T05:27:00.003-04:00

With March data from the Census Bureau' s New Residential Housing Index and New Home Sales, we can begin to see the formation of a "V" shaped recovery in the housing market. Our economy is slowly building strength and momentum, and employment will begin to increase. This will lead to increased housing demand from new household formation. As "pent up demand" from young people living with their parents, and divorced couples living together lead to new household formation, "shadow inventory" should be reduced or eliminated. Many of the houses counted in "new homes for sale" are now bank owned, and many are in disrepair or are uninhabitable. Additionally, most of the true bargains are gone, and the prices of homes are going up. People tend to put off purchases as prices fall, and tend to accelerate purchases as prices rise. All of these factors together should combine to give real underlying strength to the housing recovery.

Interior Doors, Exterior Doors and Pressure Treated Lumber for the Atlanta Athens Georgia Area

2010-01-23T20:41:00.003-05:00

Cofer/Adams is the premier Atlanta - Athens GA area source for exterior doors, interior doors, and pressure treated lumber. Check out our new interior door page at www.coferadams.net/interior_doors.html and our new exterior door page at www.coferadams.net/exterior_wood_doors.html. We have also updated our www.coferadams.net/treated_structures.html page. Call (770) 995-3900 for all of your interior door, exterior door, lumber and building material needs, Cofer/Adams' helpful staff has answers to your questions. Cofer/Adams can help you measure for interior doors and exterior doors, and we can help with pressure treated lumber and composite lumber for outdoor projects. Weather in the Atlanta - Athens GA area can be especially pleasing this time of year, a perfect time to enjoy relaxing on your new TimberTech deck! Let the experts at Cofer/Adams help you with your treated lumber and composite deck project needs.
Send a question or call Cofer/Adams today (770) 995-3900 and let US help YOU Build YOUR American Dream Home!

Home Improvement Materials for the Atlanta Athens Georgia Area

2009-12-06T07:15:00.004-05:00

Cofer/Adams is your source for structural home improvement materials and replacement windows and doors. Call us for all of your lumber and building material needs, our helpful staff has answers to your questions. We can help you measure for replacement windows and doors; YKK AP Precedence™ Replacement Windows are designed to easily replace wood windows, and they qualify for the for 2009-2010 Energy Tax Credit. Another good way to beautify and make your house more energy efficient is with Therma-Tru fiberglass doors. Weather in the Atlanta - Athens GA area can be especially pleasing this time of year, a perfect time to enjoy relaxing on your new TimberTech deck! Let our experts help you with your treated lumber and composite deck project needs.
Send us a question or call us today (770) 995-3900 and let US help YOU Build YOUR American Dream Home!

Lumber Futures Fall after CN Railway Strike Ends, Construction Down in the Atlanta Athens GA Area

2009-12-05T17:27:00.001-05:00

The CN Railway strike by 1,700 locomotive engineers that threatened to stall shipments of lumber, building materials and other products to the U.S. is over. E. Hunter Harrison, CN chief executive officer said “CN is pleased that an agreement has been reached to end the strike by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference immediately.” CME lumber futures closed lower yesterday, after being limit down on Wednesday.
New homes for sale in Atlanta are at a low for recent years. Only about 11,000 new homes are for sale in the Atlanta area, surprisingly low considering that about 110,000 were started in Atlanta in 2005. With only November and December numbers left to report, Atlanta is on track to start just over 4,000 new homes in 2009 (a decrease of about 96% from 2005). Home improvements in the Atlanta - Athens Georgia area have become the option of choice for most home owners; re-roofing houses, building decks and upgrading doors and windows have virtually replaced new home buying.

YKK Styleview Vinyl Windows and Doors for the North Georgia Area

2009-11-30T05:36:00.001-05:00

Residential vinyl windows and doors from YKK AP® are beautiful, energy efficient and designed for years of trouble free use. Quality and innovation make YKK AP® windows clearly superior. By incorporating high performance glazing and corrosion-resistant hardware with a more architecturally correct profile design, YKK AP® offers windows with the look of a wood window at a price that delivers more value to you, whether you are a professional builder-remodeler or doing your own home-improvement project.
[caption id="attachment_1417" align="aligncenter" width="261" caption="YKK Styleview Windows and Doors for the Atlanta - Athens Georgia area"][/caption]
Call us at (770) 995-3900 for all of your building material and lumber needs.

Lumber Futures Up Further by Possible Rail Strike on CN

2009-11-30T05:30:00.002-05:00

Train engineers and conductors walked off the job at the Canadian National Railway on Saturday, after talks with the Teamster's Union broke down. CN was using non-union staff and management to continue services.[caption id="attachment_1446" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lumber Prices Bounce Off Bottom in November"][/caption]As if the mill shutdowns and curtailments weren't enough, the strike by the union representing locomotive engineers at the CN railway gives lumber futures another boost, and will decrease available wood in the supply chain. January lumber closed up $8.50 per m $234.80 after trading at the $10.00 limit at $236.30 early in Tuesday's session. Lumber and building material supply in the Atlanta - Athens Georgia area is already thin, with many items actually scarce.

Highest Prices in a Year Reached for Lumber and Building Materials

2009-11-28T13:58:00.002-05:00

People who built a new house this year bought lumber at the lowest prices we have seen in the last 25 years.
[caption id="attachment_1432" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lumber Futures find new Trading Levels"][/caption]If you put off building a new home this year, you missed the lowest lumber prices in a quarter-century (don't worry yet though, mortgage rates are still low). Although lows for lumber typically occur in November, this year, due to a strange twist of supply and demand fate, November marks the highs for 2009. The invisible market forces of ongoing mill shutdowns / curtailments (reduced supply) and increasing new construction sales / starts (increased demand) have caused nearby lumber futures to jump 70% in only 10 months from near lows that haven't been seen since October 1985.
[caption id="attachment_1433" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lumber Futures Monthly Nearest"][/caption]
Quantities of both new and existing homes for sale in the Atlanta Athens Georgia area are also at multi-year lows.

Lumber and Building Materials Prices Pushed Up by Low Inventories

2009-11-28T08:42:00.002-05:00

CME lumber futures were up limit two consecutive days two weeks ago, an increase of 10% that almost pushed prices to levels that would cover production costs. OSB prices went higher and order files moved well into December. At this point, more mills are shutdown than are operating. Even though demand is still weak, plywood and other building materials are marginally stronger due to thin supply. October housing permits and starts fell significantly from September, making unclear whether housing has bottomed at this point. The outlook for construction in the Atlanta - Athens Georgia area continues to be weak, particularly with seasonal slowness ahead. Georgia has lost another 18% of construction jobs since October 2008.

Therma Tru Doors for Atlanta & Athens Georgia

2009-11-28T08:39:00.000-05:00

"Looks good on the outside, feels good on the inside." Therma-Tru fiberglass doors outperform wood and steel. Therma-Tru doors increase comfort, energy efficiency and performance AND you will also see an increase in curb appeal. Therma-Tru fiberglass and steel entry doors add beauty and security homes. You can increase the perceived value of your home by more than $24,000 just by adding a Thema-Tru entry door system. We have the doors you need to increase your home's value.

Check with us for lumber and building materials for your new home or remodeling projects.

October 2009 Housing Permits and Starts

2009-11-20T05:58:00.004-05:00

News from the U.S. Census Bureau that October new residential construction fell to a six month low put intense pressure on CME lumber futures. Near term January lumber futures closed down $9/m and March fell $8/m. Inventory is slim at all levels of the supply chain, and demand for the available building materials is sparse. In our area, Georgia has lost about 310,000 jobs since September 2007, and projects to lose a total of 135,900 jobs this year and 35,000 next year. Unemployment in Georgia has reached 10.2%. Building permits in the Atlanta - Athens area are off about 97% from 2005. According to Rajeev Dhawan, director of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University, permits will drop about 70% this year from 2008. Mortgage applications fell last week, with the index of home purchase applications sinking over 4%to the lowest level since November of 1997.

Housing and the September 2009 New Residential Construction Report

2009-10-30T04:31:00.005-04:00

According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, single family housing permits indicate that future construction activity will fall 28% nationally as compared to September 2008. The data also predicts a huge 74% drop since construction peaked in January 2006. Economists generally agree that annual demand for new housing units is somewhere around 1.8 million. Some economists say that 2 million units are required annually, while others think that the actual demand 1.5 million is. Here's part of how they come up with these numbers. The primary drivers of housing unit demand are new household formation and housing unit destruction. We regularly hear that new households, on average, form at a rate of 850,000 per year. Housing destruction is composed primarily of units destroyed by fire, flood, natural disaster and urban renewal, and is generally considered to be around 750,000 units per year. Fires alone account for almost 450,000 homes destroyed annually. Just watch the news any evening in Atlanta, and you are likely to see or hear about apartment or house fires. Adding just these two demand measures yields a 1,600,000 annual unit demand.

As the U.S. population has continues to rise, just as it has for the last 50 years, new housholds should be forming. For the last three years, new households have not been forming at a normal rate. Single people are moving in with each other, young adults are returning to live with their parents, and immigrants are entering the country at a much slower rate. Housing units, however, continue to be destroyed on a ongoing basis. This year alone, more housing units were destroyed by the floods in the Atlanta Metro Area this year than were permitted through September. Subtract the additional units destroyed by fires (usually the largest part of the destroyed number) and urban renewal, and Atlanta should be with a shortage in housing units. Just as over the last 50 years housing has been cyclical with booms and busts occuring irregularly, we may be setting up for another housing boom, when the next generation begins to form households and destroyed units are replaced.

Home Prices in the US Clearly Headed in Right Direction, Lumber Prices a Little Higher

2009-10-04T16:34:00.002-04:00

Here is some more good news for consumers and for the housing market - home prices in the Case-Schiller S&P Home Price Index increased in July by the most in nearly 4 years. Prices climbed in 18 of the 2o major cities in the index.
CME lumber ends little higher nearby in quiet trade
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lumber futures closed mostly a little higher on Monday amid thin short covering.
Cash lumber & building material prices in the Atlanta - Athens Georgia area showed little change.

Floods Damage & Destroy Thousands of Homes in Georgia, Lumber and Building Materials Needed For Rebuilding

2009-10-01T09:20:00.003-04:00

As a result of flooding from torrential rains, thousands of homes and businesses in Georgia, hundreds in Atlanta alone, suffered some level of damage or were destroyed. 114 homes in the city of Atlanta alone were destroyed by the floods, with many more damaged or destroyed in suburban and rural areas. More homes were destroyed than have been built this year. Athens had more flooding rains over the weekend.
There are fewer new homes for sale than there have been since march of 1983, and there are far fewer existing homes for sale in Atlanta than there has been in several years. As homes are rebuilt and repaired, there will be a greater demand for lumber and building materials. If we use more green home building products for new construction, repair and home improvement, we will make the world we live in a better place.

New Home Sales approach 1 Year High, Lumber Futures Fall, Atlanta Flood Update

2009-10-01T06:21:00.004-04:00

Higher numbers in the New Home Sales report were expected by lumber traders:
CME lumber ends lower amid underlying cash weakness
November lumber closed down $4.80 at $169.10 per thousand board feet and January off $2.90 at $193.10. Both months posted 2-1/2-week lows.
New home sales climbed 0.7% to 429,000, according to data released last Friday. The available supply of new homes for sale dropped to 262,000, the lowest number in over 26 years. This represents a supply of 7.3 months at the current sales rate.
Atlanta, Athens and North Georgia are expecting more rain this weekend. Fourteen counties are now eligible for FEMA disaster assistance.
Atlanta flood update: More FEMA relief, flash flood watch
Building materials are still in adequate supply, with only spot shortages of some items.

Cofer Adams - North Georgia's Professional Lumber and Building Material Supply

2009-09-28T05:45:00.004-04:00

At Cofer/Adams Building Center it is our pleasure to provide free job-site delivery service within a 45 mile radius of our Lawrenceville, Georgia based operation. Exact job placement of lumber, plywood and other building materials can be coordinated through communication with our expert Sales, Dispatch or Driver staff. Each order is accurately pulled and loaded by our veteran pulling staff with attention to top loading the material required first by your sub-contractor. Once loaded, each order is double checked for accuracy, targeting a 100 percent fill rate for all stock items. We have one of the lowest backorder rates in the industry.

With a combined delivery fleet consisting of pick-up trucks, 6 wheel enclosed van trucks, 6 and 10 wheel dump trucks, 10 wheel combination dump trucks, 10 wheel combination flatbed with Moffit and several tractor trailer/Moffit trucks, we are confident that Cofer/Adams Building Supply is equipped to handle all of your delivery requirements

You can count on prompt and courteous delivery of lumber, building materials, engineered wood floor systems, framing lumber, finish lumber, treated lumber, composite lumber, engineered lumber, plywood, OSB, exterior wood doors, exterior metal doors, interior wood doors, interior masonite doors, interior door units, wood windows, vinyl windows, wood molding, hardwood molding, pvc molding, flex molding, columns, stair parts, roofing, roof trusses, floor trusses, hardware and all of the complimentary items necessary for single family home construction.

Our logistics professionals excel in delivering lumber and building materials to the Atlanta - Athens, Georgia area.

We service these cities regularly:

Arcade, Alpharetta, Athens, Atlanta, Auburn, Bethlehem, Bogart, Braselton, Buford, Commerce, Conley, Conyers, Cornelia, Covington, Cumming, Dacula, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Decatur, Douglasville, Duluth, Eatonton, Fairburn, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Grayson, Greensboro, Hamilton Mill, Hampton, Hoschton, Jefferson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Lithonia, Loganville, Madison, Marietta, Maysville, McDonough, Monroe, Morrow, Newborn, Norcross, Oakwood, Oxford, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Senoia, Snellville, Social Circle, Statham, Stockbridge, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Tucker, Watkinsville and Winder.

We offer free delivery of lumber, building materials, engineered wood, treated lumber, composite lumber, wood doors, wood windows, wood molding, roofing, roof trusses, floor trusses, stair parts, green home building products, siding and cornice for qualified orders to these counties: Barrow, Cherokee, Clarke, Cobb, Dawson, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Greene, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Putnam, Rockdale, and Walton.

Whether you are building a new home, remodeling or have a home improvement project, Cofer/Adams Building Supply is equipped to handle all of your delivery requirements.

FHFA Home Price Index Increases

2009-09-26T14:26:00.004-04:00

The July FHFA house price index increase of .3 percent from June provides further evidence that the housing bottom is in place. This makes the third consecutive month over month increase.
Along with the positive news we have seen from other reports, such as New Home Starts and Permits, the NAHB Builder Confidence Index, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, the NAR Existing Home Sales Report and New Home Sales, this adds to the argument that housing has begun to improve. We have an "inflection point" in new residential construction, but we haven't reached the "tipping point" yet. August reports from the NAR on existing home sales will be released today and the new home sales report from the Census Bureau will be released on tomorrow. We will see how things shape up here in Georgia when the ground dries out from all of the flooding.

Build the Perfect Deck with TimberTech® - The Premier "Green" Home Improvement Decking Product!

2009-09-24T06:16:00.004-04:00

LESS WORK. MORE LIFE.
Quality and Sustainability. Beauty and Low Maintenance. LESS WORK. MORE LIFE. It's the perfect combination!
You can have your American Dream Deck, and promote sustainability using TimberTech® deck products. It's the best green home outdoor product for the Atlanta - Athens Georgia area! TimberTech®cares about the environment, they take pride in their products and they want to make sure that you have the best in deck and fencing material. TimberTech® is a leading manufacturer and leader in the research, development and marketing of long lasting, low-maintenance high quality decking, railing and fencing solutions.
With TimberTech you can build a dream deck with confidence, and enjoy the "Less Work. More Life." promise. Backed by a 25-year limited residential warranty, TimberTech takes the virtual "to do" list out of your deck.
At Cofer/Adams, we want you to help you to have the American Dream Deck that your family deserves.

China's Lumber Demand Increases, OSB Prices Soften

2009-09-23T13:48:00.001-04:00

One unintended consequence from China's demand for lumber could be less lumber available for U.S. homebuilding. China has surpassed Japan as the second largest user of North American lumber, after the U.S. Low-grade lumber that would be used for building houses in Atlanta is used largely in concrete forming when shipped to China, and also in furniture construction.
Lumber sales to China continue to see growth
B.C. continues to ramp up lumber shipments to China and has already exceeded its lumber shipments to the Asian economic giant over last year despite the difficult global economic conditions.
Typically, OSB prices start to fall at this time of year, unless there is tropical activity to stimulate buying. Mill files are growing shorter, and secondaries are trying to move off contract loads. Building material supply yards have thin inventories for this time of year. There is very little residential construction in Georgia.
Two Atlantic Ocean weather systems being watched
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two systems in the Atlantic Ocean this morning.

Doors Shuttered at Jeld-Wen's Oshkosh Door Manufacturing Plant

2009-09-21T20:03:00.002-04:00

Our industry loses another valued producer of building materials.
End of an era: Jeld-Wen shuts down Oshkosh door plant
Jeld-Wen's Oshkosh door manufacturing facility closes after 154 years of manufacturing doors. This plant was one of the largest manufacturers of ornate wooden doors in the nation. Competition from fiberglass and metal doors, along with the economic decline, left no choice but to discontinue operations here. There are about 1,400 companies in the US wood window and door manufacturing industry with combined annual revenue of about $14 billion. The industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies control about 70 percent of the market. Demand for wood windows and doors is closely tied to residential construction activity, both new construction and remodeling. As these manufacturers cutail and shutdown, there will be smaller product lines and less supply for the Atlanta-Athens, Georgia area.
There are literally hundreds of lumber, plywood and OSB mills that have closed in the last 3 years. Some may re-open, but many have been dismantled and even transformed into different types of businesses, never to manufacture building products again.

Build A Green Home with Energy Star Rated Windows and Doors From Cofer Adams

2009-09-21T03:30:00.007-04:00

Starting October 1, 2009, you might see a label that identifies high-efficiency residential windows, doors, and skylights that currently qualify for the ENERGY STAR but will not meet the more stringent requirements that go into full effect April 1, 2010. Another new label helps you find products that are eligible for the federal tax credit of up to $1,500.

Let us help you build your American Dream Green Home with windows from YKK AP from Cofer/Adams!
We have all types of green products, such as doors, engineered wood, composite lumber and fiber cement siding.
Whether you are building a new home, or remodeling an existing home, we want to help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home!

Lumber Prices Rise, Rain in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia Grind Other Building Materials Prices Lower

2009-09-20T11:33:00.004-04:00

Increased housing starts in August combined with thin field inventories drove lumber prices up. Delivery to jobsites was hampered in Georgia, especially in the Athens - Atlanta area.
CME lumber ends higher on firmer cash
'A midweek upswing in sales of Western S-P-F sparked the market. Wholesalers took cautious long positions and distributors more confidently replenished,' Random Lengths said.
Mills continue to shut down or curtail production, but that seem to give little support to other building materials. OSB and plywood mills still have some order files, but are under pressure from a lack of buying at secondary levels. Upward pressure on panel prices could result from any development of tropical activity in the Atlantic.
Tropical Storm "Grace" forming?
After a week-long quiet spell, the tropics are showing signs of life as a large area of low pressure takes shape in the central Atlantic.

You Can Build Green in Georgia using Engineered Wood

2009-09-19T18:50:00.001-04:00

Did you know that you can build green homes and save money at the same time? A study conducted recently shows that simply putting radiant barriers in attics can result in a 20% reduction in the AC unit's run time during the seven hours of peak attic temperatures, can cut peak temps by 23 degrees, and have a 57% efficiency improvement in the cooled air delivered through the air ducts. The study was conducted last summer by Appalachian State University (ASU), and led by Jeff Tiller, chair of the Technology Department, and Bruce Davis, building research scientist at the ASU Energy Center. In new construction, you can cut your heating costs by using engineered wood panels that are radiant barrier OSB products, such as LP's TechShield. Here in the Atlanta - Athens area, where temperatures often reach well into the 90's, your energy savings can be even greater. For more immediate savings, Huber offers a rebate to first-time builder users for their engineered wood panels. Advantech, Zip-Wall and Zip Roof products improve efficiency and functionality while building green with sustainable wood products.

Building Green & Engineered Wood in Georgia's Atlanta - Athens area

2009-09-19T06:29:00.005-04:00

Building material supply dealers in Atlanta and Athens are searching for ways to increase sales. One selling feature many have overlooked is promoting green building products more heavily. This might appeal to the Generation Y "shadow buyers" that have not yet formed new households. Here in Georgia, We have "pent-up demand" from these potential buyers that could cause a surge in new home purchases. Engineered wood and engineered lumber products will appeal to these new prospects that have a “build green” mind-set. Many people prefer to live in a green home, even considering the higher costs. Composite wood products for decks, such as those manufactured by TimberTech, are not only green building products, but are also low-maintenance.
Builders Don’t Tell Buyers About Homes’ Green Features, Study Shows
Pros are “missing out on a very important opportunity” because consumers are clamoring for these features, says official of J.D. Power and Associates, which conducted the study.
TimberTech products help create a more sustainable world – one piece at a time.
TimberTech has the perfect balance of quality and sustainability. TimberTech is a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Georgia Building Material Suppliers Get Good News-Housing Starts and Construction Costs Rise

2009-09-18T10:57:00.003-04:00

Wednesday, September 15, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that housing permits and starts for August were up from July. This is great news for building material supply businesses in Georgia:
Housing Starts in U.S. Climb to Nine-Month High
Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Builders in the U.S. broke ground in August on the most houses in nine months, led by a jump in multifamily dwellings that overshadowed a decrease in construction of single-family homes.
In a related story, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its producer price index for residential construction:
A Bright Spot in Housing: Construction Costs
Yesterday the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its producer price index for residential construction. Its significant increase from July to August is a good sign for the housing market.
One major component of construciton costs continues to falter:
CME lumber ends lower on easier cash market

Georgia Lumber, Construction & Building Material Supply update

2009-09-18T06:05:00.002-04:00

Cool, rainy weather dampened sales of Yellow Pine Lumber in Georgia this week. The heavier rains being experienced in producing areas will make it hard to get logs out, which will result in a short- to medium term reduction in log decks. Lumber Futures closed higher September 15th, due to short-covering.
CME lumber ends higher on short covering
CHICAGO, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange lumber futures closed higher on Tuesday amid short covering prompted partly by a firm expiration in the September contract.
Construction Starts Up 13% in August vs July
Reed Construction Data (RCD) announced today that the year-to-date value of construction starts through August 2009, excluding residential contracts, totaled $162.3 billion, 13.0% less than in the same period in 2008. Individual month of August starts were 12.7% higher than in July.

Georgia Lumber & Building Material Prices continue to soften

2009-09-17T15:54:00.004-04:00

Lumber and building material prices seem to be slowly grinding lower again. Lumber & building material supply businesses in Georgia continue to suffer as a result of housing market fundamentals:
James Hardie: US Housing Market Hasn't Bottomed, But Close
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--James Hardie Industries NV (JHX) Chief Executive Louis Gries said Monday he expects positive year-on-year housing starts data in the U.S. between March and May 2010.
DJ CME Lumber Review: September Slips But Most Others Gain
Trading Markets (press release)
A broker said better-than-expected housing starts in Canada during August reported early in the day might have been mildly supportive for lumber futures.
-There seems to be little support for OSB prices, other than 2-3 week order files at the mills. With the mill curtailments and shutdowns in effect, development of any tropical activity could cause a further surge in prices.

Residential Construction and Mortgage Applications Increase, New Plywood Plants, Lumber Production Falls

2009-09-15T06:13:00.001-04:00

Mortgage applications rise 17% -Random Lengths WoodWire
The Index of Mortgage Applications from the Mortgage Bankers Association increased 17% to a reading of 648 for the week ending September 4.
Western lumber production fell for third straight year -Random Lengths WoodWire
Lumber production at mills in the 12 western states declined for the third consecutive year in 2008
Perfecta Foret plans to open new plywood plants in Quebec
Moscow. Sep 09, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Start-up company Perfecta Foret plans to open new five-ply glue-laminated plywood plants in two former lumber mills in Quebec. The company received $C1.2 million in loans from Canada's Regional Growth program to offset costs of refurbishing the former mills, which include Scierie L.B. in Lac-Bouchette and Scierie P.H. Lemay in Saint-Francois-de-Sales. The total investment is expected to reach $C5.7 million.
Construction spending down 0.2% in July; 3-4% further drop expected through Winter -Reed Construction Data
Offsetting the residential gains, the decline is accelerating in nonresidential markets.
Single family market expanding slowly; multifamily market shrinking rapidly -Reed Construction Data
Residential construction spending is forecast to jump 18% from the end of 2009 to the end of 2010.

Lumber Rises, Weyerhaeuser Reopens Mill, OSB Strong, EWP Panel Rebate

2009-09-12T11:00:00.002-04:00

CME lumber end mostly up on short covering
(Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange lumber futures closed mostly higher on Thursday amid light short covering with only limitless September down ahead of its expiration next week.
Mill reopens after August shutdown
As a result of these challenging market conditions, the Philadelphia facility underwent this extended downtime to balance supply with customer demand...
OSB manufacturers now pushing through second price increase
First Time Use Builder Rebate – AdvanTech® & ZIP System™ Products Build Green with Huber Engineered Wood Products and get money back as well!

Home Buyer Tax Credit, Atlanta Recovery, Mortgage Applications Surge, Lumber Mixed

2009-09-11T12:14:00.005-04:00

Buy now: Time is running out on the first-time buyers tax credit
"The combination of near historically low interest rates, favorable pricing by builders, along with this tax credit, makes buying now the deal of the century,"
Economist: City’s recovery will start next year
Atlanta is poised for an economic recovery starting in the second half of 2010
U.S. MBA Mortgage Applications Index Soared 17% Last Week
Mortgage applications in the U.S. jumped the most since March last week...
CME Lumber Review: Ends Mixed In Quiet Session
The September contract settled down $0.50 per 1,000 board feet at $175.00, while November was up $2.70, or 1.55%, at $177.10. January settled up $1.60 at $197.90

US Lumber and Log Exports Up, 2008 Home Sales Report for Atlanta

2009-09-10T10:30:00.001-04:00

West Coast's log, lumber exports increase in second quarter of 2009
Log exports for the second quarter of 2009 from Oregon and Washington totaled 189.5 million board feet, up 38.6 percent from the first quarter volume of 136.7 million board feet.
A total of 239.5 million board feet of softwood logs and 80.2 million board feet of softwood lumber was exported from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Alaska in April, May, and June of this year, according to the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Atlanta Home Sales Report
Home sales overview by county for Atlanta 2007-2008
Gwinnett 2008 10,467 units -31.30% from 2007.

Atlanta Area's Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity constructs 100th home

2009-09-08T10:30:00.000-04:00

Building hope: Habitat for Humanity constructs 100th home
Here at Cofer/Adams Building Supply Center, we are proud to say that we had a part in helping Habitat For Humanity build their 100th American Dream in Gwinnett County. We supplied the lumber, building materials and engineered wood that went in to making the world a better place.

Cofer Adams Building Center, Inc. is a full service builders supply of structural and related building products for residential new construction in the Atlanta – Athens Georgia area. We provide prefabricated components, including floor trusses, roof trusses, and engineered wood; wood and vinyl windows; and pre-hung interior and exterior doors, as well as assemble and distribute interior and exterior door units. We also offer lumber and wood sheet goods including dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products used in on-site house and commercial framing; millwork products, which consist of interior trim, exterior trim, columns, and posts; and other building products that include gypsum, roofing, and insulation.
http://www.coferadams.com/ http://www.coferadams.net/

July New Residential Construction Commentary

2009-09-07T08:43:00.004-04:00

The above graph is a visual representation of the Seasonally Adjusted New Residential Construction & Sales data through July 2009. The lines represent Total Permits and Starts, Single Family Permits and Starts, Single Family Units Sold, Total Under Construction and Single Family Under Construction. The trend line represents a 50 year regression analysis of Single Family Starts. It is worth noting that there have been several construction downturns since 1959, and that we have surpassed levels that have triggered recovery in all of the past housing downturns.

Looking at Single Family Starts and Permits, we see that the inflection point occurred somewhere between January and March of 2009. We did not see a significant increase in the Atlanta – Athens area until later in the spring. Lumber and Panel prices have risen above the lows that were at or below sustainable levels, although lumber, plywood, and OSB mills continue to curtail or shut down completely.

The quantity of Single Family Homes for Sale is the lowest it has been since April, 1993.
“The median sales price of new houses sold in July 2009 was $210,100; the average sales price was $269,200. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of July was 271,000. This represents a supply of 7.5 months at the current sales rate.” Source: U.S. Census Bureau, NEW RESIDENTIAL SALES IN JULY 2009.
As the supply of new homes continues to drop, new homes will need to be built to replenish the supply. This will require new jobs to be added in the construction industry, which should help lower unemployment, and contribute to a new cycle of prosperity in our U.S. economy.

Capacity for single family residential construction has fallen as builders, building material product suppliers, and lumber and panel mills downsized or shutdown completely. This is good news for any lumber mill, lumber yard, building material supply, and builder left standing in the market.

Reid Adams
http://www.coferadams.com/
Cofer Adams Building Center, Inc. is a full service building material supply of structural and related building products for residential new construction in the Atlanta – Athens Georgia area. We provide prefabricated components, including floor trusses, roof trusses, and engineered wood; wood and vinyl windows; and pre-hung interior and exterior doors, as well as assemble and distributes interior and exterior door units. We also offer lumber and wood sheet goods comprising dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products used in on-site house and commercial framing; millwork products, which consist of interior trim, exterior trim, columns, and posts; and other building products that include gypsum, roofing, and insulation.

Lumber Prices Mixed, Homebuilder names partner-winners

2009-09-07T07:43:00.007-04:00

DJ CME Lumber Review: Position Rolling Leaves Prices Mixed
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lumber futures settled mixed Friday in moderate to heavy trading that centered mostly on moving trade positions out of September and into other months.
The September contract settled up $1.30 per 1,000 board feet at $174.10, while November was down $5.50 at $177.50 for a 3.01% loss in value. January was off $4.00, or 1.98%, at $198.00.

David Weekley names partner-winners
The winners are Boise Engineered Wood Products, Dow Chemical, DuPont Building Innovations, Eaton Corp., GAF-Elk, James Hardie, Lennox Industries, Office Depot, MASCO Builder Cabinet Group, Seacoast Supply and Schneider Electric.
-David Weekley builds new homes in the Atlanta - Athens, Georgia area.

www.coferadams.com Cofer Adams Building Center, Inc. is a full service building material supply of structural and related building products for residential new construction in the Atlanta – Athens Georgia area. We provide prefabricated components, including floor trusses, roof trusses, and engineered wood; wood and vinyl windows; and pre-hung interior and exterior doors, as well as assemble and distributes interior and exterior door units. We also offer lumber and wood sheet goods comprising dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products used in on-site house and commercial framing; millwork products, which consist of interior trim, exterior trim, columns, and posts; and other building products that include gypsum, roofing, and insulation.

Cofer Adams Building Center, Inc. The Athens Atlanta Area's Premier Building Material Supply Lumber Delivery

2009-09-06T08:21:00.003-04:00

We are ready to deliver the lumber and building materials for Your American Dream!
www.coferadams.com
www.coferadams.net

5 Major Risks to Green Building Market Growth

2009-09-06T05:20:00.005-04:00

The growth of the green building market has been widely celebrated recently, spurred largely by government policies and rising recognition that such structures are more economical to operate. The forces behind the industry are so strong now that research firm McGraw-Hill Construction predicts green buildings will represent 20-25 percent of new commercial and institutional construction starts by 2013, from about 10-12 percent today.

But while the benefits of designing buildings to use energy, water and other natural resources more efficiently are clear, that doesn’t mean the industry’s growth is free from risk. A number of hurdles will need to be overcome in the coming years that, if not corrected, could significantly slow the market.

In a nutshell, the five major risks are:
1. Financial
2. Legal
3. Green-washed Building Materials
4. Driving Energy Retrofits
5. Regulatory Risk

Here in Georgia, construction costs are a primary driver of affordability. When the costs of lumber, plywood, OSB, engineered wood, doors, windows and roofing increase, the ability to finance and sell a home decrease. For example, while the use of composite wood decking makes sense in the long run, most people opt for less expensive treated lumber when building outdoor structures. -Reid Adams www.coferadams.com

October New Residential Construction Commentary

2008-11-30T13:43:00.011-05:00

The above graph is a visual representation of the Seasonally Adjusted New Residential Construction & Sales data through October 2008. The lines represent Total Permits and Starts, Single Family Permits and Starts, Single Family Units Sold, Total Under Construction and Single Family Under Construction. It is worth noting that there have been several construction downturns since 1959, and that we are at levels that have triggered recovery in all of the past housing downturns.

Looking at Starts only, we see that Total Starts are the lowest they have been before beginning recovery, and Single Family starts are within a few thousand units of the lowest they have been before beginning to recover. Based on the permits we have see in the Atlanta area, November may give us new lows for all aspects of residential construction. Lumber and Panel prices are at or below sustainable levels, with many lumber items at multi-decade lows.

There are several unknowns at this point. Although the quantity of Single Family Homes for Sale is the lowest it has been since May, 2004, there is a 9.1 month supply available. Our economy is probably in a recession, and people don't tend to think about buying a home during a recession.

Capacity for single family residential construction continues to fall as builders, building material product suppliers, and lumber and panel mills continue to downsize or shutdown completely.

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2008-11-02T07:32:00.009-05:00

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Lumber and housing permits/starts

2008-10-22T06:30:00.003-04:00

As housing permits and starts fall, there is less demand for building materials used in new home construction. Without significant reductions in building material availability to reduce supply, prices of those materials will fall. There currently seems to be excess supply at every level of the building material chain, from the producers to the end users.

The lumber chart below illustrates the result of prices falling as demand from new construction falls, while the supply does not decrease.

Yesterday, there were more lumber contracts traded than there were total just five years ago. This tells us that an usually large number of lumber futures participants are placing bets. There were more participants willing to bet on lower lumber prices than higher lumber prices, which drove the price to a "limit down" state, halting further trades. I think that the large volume, coupled with the fact that it was “limit down” day, indicates that lumber prices will continue to fall. The total number of contacts being traded (bets being placed) is falling as well, indicating that fewer participants have an opinion about whether lumber will go up or down. Falling lumber prices make it more challenging for us, our suppliers and our customers. Buyers at each level who might buy think it is better to wait for even lower prices, less revenue is generated for the unit volume being sold and profits generated from those sales are less.

October 2008 Contactor Cookout

2008-10-18T09:16:00.001-04:00

U. S. September New Construction

2008-10-18T08:17:00.015-04:00

According to the latest new construction data from the U. S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/const/newresconst.pdf, the housing industry continued it's devastating downturn in September. Total permits fell to a rate of 786,000 and single family permits fell to 532,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis. This represents a decline from August of 8.3% (total) and 3.8% (S/F) respectively. As you can see from the chart above, all measures of housing still continue to be in a precipitous decline.
Building permits represent our future business, what this tells us is that we must work even harder to gain more market share in the near future.

Starts fell as well, with total starts decreasing 6.3% from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 817,000.

The largest portion of housing construction is single family. Single family starts fell to 544,000, a decline of 12%. According to the historical data, this is only 21,000 seasonally adjusted annual starts above the low set in October of 1981. If our market area is any indication of where the national and regional data will be in October, or if the trend simply continues, we will set a new historical low for single family starts this year.

Spice up your home with selections from our molding and millwork showroom!

2008-09-21T07:08:00.001-04:00

U. S. Housing Starts

2008-09-18T16:44:00.009-04:00

The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released the new residential construction statistics for August 2008 on September 17. 2008. Total starts declined to
a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 895,000; which is 6.2 percent below the July estimate of 954,000 and is 33.1 percent below the revised August 2007 rate of 1,337,000. Single family starts declined to 630,000. This represents a 1.9 percent decrease from the July figure of 642,000; and a 34.9% decrease from August 2007.

Historically, starts have decreased to a seasonally adjusted range between 904,000 and 791,000 before rebounds have occured. The starts figure from August puts us within that channel. While most consider a decline in starts and permits to be a negative leading indicator, a slightly longer term perspective might tell us that construction in the housing market is approaching a point that is unsustainable, given normal increases in population and attrition of housing units overall. In other words, there are not enough houses being built to satisfy long term demand.

Both total starts and single family starts (SF) have decreased to the range that has been unsustainable in the past. This could mean that the housing market is close to recovering. A housing recovery should help improve the entire U. S. economy.

A large amount of capacity for single family residential construction has been removed. This includes lumber and panel mills which have been temporarily or permantly closed, building material product suppliers that have reduced locations and personnel, and builders that have downsized or ceased to exist. A small increase in demand for new homes could overwhelm the existing supply chain.

-Reid Adams
Cofer/Adams Building Center, Inc.