On Feb. 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the President’s attempts to use emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) was not within his right. “IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs,” written by the supporting justices in the opinion decision. The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) throughout these tariff decisions advocated for the exception of building materials in these trade agreements. They cited affordability and supply chain concerns. The association estimated in 2024, an estimated 7% of all goods used in new residential…
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Supreme Court’s tariff ruling will offer construction relief
On Feb. 20, 2026, the Supreme Court threw out a large number of tariffs that were imposed on imports. This decision is expected to have numerous impacts, including some much-needed relief for building materials and inflation as a whole. A decline in material prices, specifically specialty equipment, HVAC and electrical systems, as well as fixtures, can be an expected result after the ruling. However, tariffs on lumber, steel, copper products and lumber are still in place. Contractors can still expect an overall lessening of material prices. Read More
Read MoreFeatures expected to be more expensive in 2026
With increasing costs across the country and new tariffs on foreign goods prices of certain materials are expected to climb even more in 2025. These goods are expected to increase the most: lumber, cabinetry, windows and exterior doors, roofing and cladding, tiles and flooring. While the White House announced the delay of tariffs on furniture and kitchen cabinets until 2027, price of lumber is rising regardless and so is cabinetry. “Last year, we were notified by one of the largest cabinetry manufacturers that our price was going up by 9%…
Read MoreConstruction materials up 2.8% in 2025
According to a report from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) construction input prices are 2.8% higher than a year ago. While input costs decreased 0.6% in December compared to the previous month, overall material prices increased. For example material prices of copper wire and cable increased 4.6% in December, reportedly up 22% year over year. This includes primary nonferrous metal prices up 62% over the past year. “Prices for commodities less exposed to tariffs, like asphalt or crushed stone, will likely remain tame in the coming months due to…
Read MoreWhy minerals matter in roofing systems
Minerals play a key role in the performance of roofing materials. According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, asphalt shingles remain the most widely used roofing material in the U.S., at about 80%. In the asphalt shingles contain a fiberglass mat coated with asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules. The mineral granules protect from UV expose which can lead to higher rates of deterioration. Choosing the correct roofing materials for the local climate is important, asphalt shingles also provide a resistance to weather including hail and are naturally fire resistant. The…
Read MoreNLBMDA’s 2026 national policy agenda
The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) released their national policy agenda for 2026. In this they outlined their vision for housing and construction, tax and economic policy, legal reform and consumer protection, workforce policy, environment, health and safety, production supply and trade, energy and transportation. Highlights of their framework include supporting the Timber Innovation Act to advance tall wood building construction. The NLBMDA supports and wants to advance building codes that would allow for construction of wood framed buildings larger than six stories. This is supported by…
Read MoreBuilding material prices continue to climb
Residential building material growth price continued to rise at the end of 2025, despite a softer new home construction market. The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that price growth for residential construction inputs remained higher than 3% since June, indicating persistent cost pressures for both builders and developers. Building material prices have seen the largest annual increase since early 2023, now up 3.5% year over year. Metal particularly stands out, with metal and trim prices having surged nearly 50% compared to…
Read MoreFraming lumber price outlook in 2026
The outlook for lumber production and pricing in 2026 is still debated by many in the industry. 2025 saw multiple headwinds in the industry, with battling trade policy and uncertainty. Despite a near 45% import duty for Canadian product, the reported lumber prices from December 2025 is relatively low. “Waning housing production over the course of 2025 created an environment where lumber supply was continually above demand, especially over the second half of the year,” said Jesse Wade,NAHB director of tax and trade policy analysis. “In 2026, depending on housing…
Read MoreBuilding material price rises at end of year
According to the latest Producer Price Index release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, residential building material prices continued to show growth. Price growth averages above 3.0%, despite concerns in the remodeling and new residential construction market. Across building materials, metal products experienced price increases. However, ready-mix concrete and softwood lumber declined throughout 2025. “The largest year-over-year price increases continue to show in metal products. Topping the list in November was metal molding and trim, with prices up 48.2% from last year. Two key inputs, ready-mix concrete and softwood lumber,…
Read MoreInnovations in construction materials
Revolutionizing concrete is a continued effort from innovators and they just reached a breakthrough. Researchers from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) developed a new carbon-negative building material that is groundbreaking in sustainable construction. Nima Rahbar is the Ralph H. White Family Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. Under his guidance, the team created a enzymatic structural material (ESM) by harnessing an enzyme that converts carbon dioxide into solid mineral particles. Then the particles are bonded together and cured under gentle conditions, faster than…
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