Wildfires increasing BC build costs, could mean slowdown

The cost of building new homes in British Columbia is facing upward pressure from wildfires.

Lumber costs have risen 10% while plywood and other sheeting materials have increased by 40% during the fires and suppliers are struggling to keep costs low for builders.

Slegg Building Materials in Victoria has cut the duration of price-freezes for builders from 30 days to 15 and firm president Tim Urquhart warns there could be tough times ahead for home building in the province.

“We have bought enough wood that’s either on the ground now or coming in that should take us into September, but if these forest fires continue and we don’t get some rain soon, if we don’t get this under control, we will have problems. We won’t have enough wood,” Urquhart told the Vancouver Sun.

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