California

Zorro

(17,112 posts) Thu Jan 16, 2025, 10:58 AM Jan 16

Those rebuilding after L.A. fires will likely face higher lumber prices as Trump tariffs loom

Devastating, often tragic as the Los Angeles wildfires have been, rebuilding could bring nightmares all its own, including murky insurance rules, material shortages and potentially higher cost for everything from lumber to bathtubs.

In terms of economic upheaval, it could be the construction industry equivalent of what the COVID-19 pandemic did to the economy just a few years ago.

The incoming Trump administration’s plans to slap new tariffs on imports from many countries including Canada — by far the biggest foreign supplier of lumber for the U.S. market — could set off new waves of inflation in home building.

Lumber is the single biggest component of homebuilding materials, accounting for about 15% of overall home construction costs. Southern California builders use wood for framing homes that’s sourced mostly from Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-01-16/trumps-tariff-plans-add-to-worries-of-rising-rebuilding-costs-in-wake-of-fires-lumber-prices

4 replies

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Those rebuilding after L.A. fires will likely face higher lumber prices as Trump tariffs loom (Original Post) Zorro Jan 16 OP

Doesn't matter, there won't be enough workers to use the lumber anyway. dem4decades Jan 16 #1

They will all be run out of the country by the Red-Orange Purge RainCaster Jan 16 #3

By the time they start rebuilding Trumpters will be blaming the Democrats. riversedge Jan 16 #2

There also will ,be a huge demand for building supplies and construction workers. Kablooie Jan 18 #4

dem4decades

(12,536 posts)

1. Doesn't matter, there won't be enough workers to use the lumber anyway.

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Thu Jan 16, 2025, 11:08 AM

Jan 16

RainCaster

(12,478 posts)

3. They will all be run out of the country by the Red-Orange Purge

Reply to dem4decades (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 16, 2025, 08:01 PM

Jan 16

All those skilled framers & roofers in SoCal will be forced back to MX or further south.

riversedge

(74,756 posts)

2. By the time they start rebuilding Trumpters will be blaming the Democrats.

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Thu Jan 16, 2025, 11:13 AM

Jan 16

Kablooie

(18,869 posts)

4. There also will ,be a huge demand for building supplies and construction workers.

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Sat Jan 18, 2025, 01:46 AM

Jan 18

Which means prices will for up for that reason too.
And workers will become scarce because of Trump which will raise costs and lengthen time schedules.
It’s a perfect storm to make the misery of the fire communities even more miserable.

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