Getting off the ‘wood standard’ fast becoming a goal of U.S. homebuilders

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Published Date 7/21/2021

No doubt about it: wood is an American tradition. TIME Magazine’s Alana Semuels puts it this way: “As the U.S. West approaches the 2021 fire season with even drier conditions than those that kicked off last year’s record-breaking blazes, breaking up with wood makes sense, but the U.S. remains stubbornly attached to timber.” She goes on to say how it’s one of the few places in the world where wood is the dominant material used in new-home construction, citing how 90% of homes built in 2019 were wood-framed, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The U.S. uses more forest products than any other country, not just for construction but for furniture, flooring and paper. After all, wood plays a role in American folklore, housing Abe Lincoln and employing Paul Bunyan.

But the cost of lumber, which has skyrocketed over the past year, is making homebuilders as well as consumers looks for alternative materials. Metal, concrete or bamboo, to name a few, can all work to replace standard lumber and plywood in applications, such as framing, roofing, siding and decking. Entire homes can be built out of concrete, just as they are across the globe. While prices are making an attempt to stabilize, however, the industry is cautious when hearing the news. “What the observers of the market should know is that the volatility of price movement will be extreme for the next 6 months at a minimum,” says Mike Wisnefski, CEO of MaterialsXchange. The drop in pricing is not realistic to some, as project managers are currently not considering the drop in pricing long term, and continue to strategize project budgets to include higher pricing as the demand continues to soar in local markets.

ICFS (Insulated Concrete Forms) are nothing new, but up until now have not taken off as they might have. Homes can be built almost entirely without lumber when a system like ICFs are used. ICFs are a system of interlocking blocks with foam on the outside that are filled with concrete. The resulting structure is resistant to pests, is strong, safe and highly energy efficient, thanks to the high thermal insulating value of concrete. The ICF blocks are strengthened with rebar.

Vinyl, aluminum and cement-fiber siding have also long been available. While they discourage rot, require paint from time to time, can warp or dent, they are practical alternatives to wood siding. Cement-fiber siding (called Hardie Board after its inventor) can last about as long as aluminum, is storm- and fire-resistant and costs about $1.00 to $5.25 per square foot, according to HomeAdvisor.

Wood house framing continues to dominate in the U.S. because of the ease of construction. Aside from prohibitive pricing, however, even while bringing the material up to current fire-retardant standards, wood will forever be susceptible to water damage, fire, and pests. SFGate reports on how cold-formed steel (CFS) and its use in residential framing date back to the mid-1800s. “Considered one of the best alternatives to stick-built homes, CFS is cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. It is made of recycled heavier-gauge steel that comes from buildings and old cars.” They go on to say that according to the Steel Framing Alliance, there is only 2 percent waste when using steel to frame a 2,000 square-foot home, versus 20 percent when using traditional lumber. This is in addition to being less expensive, easier on the planet, and resistant to pests, water damage and fire.

Concrete is used around the world as one of the most popular lumber alternatives for framing. Just leave the country and look for home under construction almost everywhere else. and you can see for yourself. Concrete is strong, works in earthquake-prone areas, and is both fire and flood-resistant. Ask for the most cost-efficient framing materials, look to recycled materials. “The world uses millions of shipping crates every year, and these can either be reused in the shipping industry or repurposed and used to build a home,” says SFGate. If used correctly, they can make for a strong, durable and cost-effective housing material.

TIME, SFGate, TBWS

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