Wednesday, 06 August 2025 / Published in Base4

Lumber Prices Are Climbing Again—Are You Ready?

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Framing Packages Are Spiking. Do You Have a Plan?

Wood framing costs are up again. Lumber futures have jumped nearly 15% this quarter alone. And that’s not all…

Meanwhile, domestic production is down 2.1%, and imports have fallen 5.1%—creating the tightest supply since 2019.

On top of that, Canadian Lumber Duties are also expected to rise—adding more pressure to already-tight supply and rising costs.

Framing lumber prices trending upward – July 2025

Why It Matters

Surprise material spikes can wreck your pro forma.

They shrink your margins, complicate financing, and strain lender relationships. Without a proactive strategy, you’re at the mercy of the market.

1. Review Your Structural Material Usage

Avoid overbuilding—especially in corridors, stairs, and non-load-bearing walls. BASE4 offers peer reviews and audits to cut excess lumber. We help identify areas that can be redesigned for savings.

2. Explore Other Framing Systems

Consider light-gauge steel or hybrid assemblies where suitable. BASE4 evaluates cost-effective alternatives to heavy wood framing. We’ve done this for hotels, multifamily, and modular builds.

3. Lock in Pricing Early

Secure lumber pricing before future spikes.BASE4 delivers fast-track structural and permit sets. We help you finalize takeoffs early for better supplier leverage.

4. Embrace Prefabrication and Offsite Strategies

Use prefab panels or trusses to reduce jobsite waste. BASE4 designs to offsite manufacturing standards. We coordinate with your fabricator—or ours.

5. Work With an Integrated Design Firm

Partner with a team that has in-house structural engineers. BASE4 architects and engineers work side by side from day one. We help streamline decisions, reduce redesigns, and lock pricing sooner.

We saved weeks off our schedule—BASE4 didn’t just give us plans, they brought us a smarter, faster way to build.