This report last updated:  Thursday, June 17, 2004

Lumber is a commodity and as such is subject to daily variations in market pricing. Our policy has always been to attempt to keep our pricing as stable as possible. We constantly strive to purchase inventory when the market is down and to avoid passing on price spikes when they occur.

In order for you, the customer, to monitor the movement of the lumber market we have taken a basic house and will constantly update the price to reflect the current market. For comparison, we provide current pricing of the house, pricing from three months earlier, pricing from six months earlier and pricing from one year earlier.

The base house represented in the pricing shown here is a 2,800 sq. ft. two-story single family residence chosen by us to be of average cost to build. This pricing should only be used for market comparison and not for quotation. Pricing of other 2,800 sq. ft. residences may very greatly from the one quoted here. Pricing show here is for framing and exterior trim only. 

Cost of materials to build the base 2,800 sq. ft. house priced as of:

Market Indicator Value

We are also providing a market indicator value compiled by Butz Lumber based on input from the lumber brokers we deal with. This is a composite framing lumber price based on factors that we have determined most affect your cost as a builder. While the dollar figure is not important, the percentage rise or fall of the composite price will help you understand the direction the market is headed.

Current Market Trends

The market has been flat to down over the last few months as housing starts were somewhat flat and demand for framing lumber was down. Recently mortgage interest rates have stabilized but housing starts are still flat. Many mills have slowed production and some have even talked of halting production. With winter just around the corner, it doesn't appear that slowing production will create an increase in price as the mills had hoped for. We feel the market will remain flat till at least early spring. Lumber and plywood prices are presently at a 5 year low.