Obscene increases in building/construction materials prices
Discussion
ClaphamGT3 said:
We published our quarterly construction cost report on Monday, which is worth reading if this is a topic that interests you.
Whilst we are still seeing inflation in material prices, the largest inflationary pressure in construction costs in the last quarter has been energy costs.
Do you have a link to that?Whilst we are still seeing inflation in material prices, the largest inflationary pressure in construction costs in the last quarter has been energy costs.
Supply shortages will, with time, sort themselves out. Both for materials themselves, and potentially energy/fuel will be included in this.
However presumably, including the fact we are still working through the backlog from covid/lockdown, and the apparent rise in new projects, prices are going to remain high and availability poor for months if not years yet.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
What are breezeblocks like?
Thinking of building a garage sized structure and the main material/shell will be breeze block.
We’re in the process of an extension and the builder was warned to pick up the last of the thermolites whilst they were still available. No dates for expected new stock Thinking of building a garage sized structure and the main material/shell will be breeze block.
We’ve had to have a solid concrete floor as bison beams weren’t available, and roof timbers are over double previous prices.
Our biggest problem was the bricky severing a tendon in his thumb on day one though, day rate for a replacement is double what he was on
TeaNoSugar said:
I’ve been reading this thread with interest as we’re in a position of having got a quote from a well-regarded local builder in March, for a start date of late September.
The quote was for £34k for a garage conversion and a small (9.5m2) extension - basically a small room/large porch. It was already expensive (in my opinion), but supply and demand of builders seems to be firmly in the builders favour for the past few years so that’s understandable.
He’s already emailed to warn about needing to re-price the material costs closer to the start date. What I wonder is, what the actual cost will be. £34k in March, but I’m guessing I’ll see very little change from £40k in September?
What did your new quote go up to?The quote was for £34k for a garage conversion and a small (9.5m2) extension - basically a small room/large porch. It was already expensive (in my opinion), but supply and demand of builders seems to be firmly in the builders favour for the past few years so that’s understandable.
He’s already emailed to warn about needing to re-price the material costs closer to the start date. What I wonder is, what the actual cost will be. £34k in March, but I’m guessing I’ll see very little change from £40k in September?
This is DEPRESSING reading for someone who is trying to start a renovation project.
Quotes back from builders are much higher than anticipated, undoubtedly driven by materials cost and a lack of labour supply.
We could wait, but, when will it end? It could just get more expensive.
It's tough to swallow this. But, such is life.
Quotes back from builders are much higher than anticipated, undoubtedly driven by materials cost and a lack of labour supply.
We could wait, but, when will it end? It could just get more expensive.
It's tough to swallow this. But, such is life.
Labourers will want an inflationary pay increase. Assuming responsible employers, N.I. increase coming in April and now making 3%+ pension contributions. Red diesel no longer usable for plant machinery. Cost of vans gone up significantly. Same for waste disposal. ULEZ charge in London. And then VAT on all of that for the private customer. All factors increasing overheads and they aren’t coming down.
Coupled with well documented materials costs and it’s not going to get any cheaper anytime soon.
I bought some limestone paving (probably from India, but who knows) last June, £34/m. Bought more of the same last month, £44/m. +40% in 6 months.
Coupled with well documented materials costs and it’s not going to get any cheaper anytime soon.
I bought some limestone paving (probably from India, but who knows) last June, £34/m. Bought more of the same last month, £44/m. +40% in 6 months.
SpeedBash said:
TeaNoSugar said:
I’ve been reading this thread with interest as we’re in a position of having got a quote from a well-regarded local builder in March, for a start date of late September.
The quote was for £34k for a garage conversion and a small (9.5m2) extension - basically a small room/large porch. It was already expensive (in my opinion), but supply and demand of builders seems to be firmly in the builders favour for the past few years so that’s understandable.
He’s already emailed to warn about needing to re-price the material costs closer to the start date. What I wonder is, what the actual cost will be. £34k in March, but I’m guessing I’ll see very little change from £40k in September?
What did your new quote go up to?The quote was for £34k for a garage conversion and a small (9.5m2) extension - basically a small room/large porch. It was already expensive (in my opinion), but supply and demand of builders seems to be firmly in the builders favour for the past few years so that’s understandable.
He’s already emailed to warn about needing to re-price the material costs closer to the start date. What I wonder is, what the actual cost will be. £34k in March, but I’m guessing I’ll see very little change from £40k in September?
Builder came back to me in October and said he would need to add £1500 to the quote to cover increase in material costs. He was meant to start 4 weeks ago and his latest update was that things were still crazy, he’s spending all his time chasing orders and sorting out supplies and he can’t start til the end of January. He’s also said he’ll need to update his formal quote before he starts.
To be honest we’re on the brink of giving up and stick into the money into some sort of investment fund for a year. I’m not massively familiar with the trade up here in Sheffield and I just can’t get anyone with less than 6-8 months lead time. Most builders I’ve spoken to still won’t quote as they’ve got a backlog of work from last year. We’ll struggle to move too (as an alternative to extending), as last time I looked there were only 3 houses for sale within a mile radius of us, and they’re all quite compromised - everything decent goes SSTC in a couple of weeks. Asking prices are still fairly hefty as well for the local area.
Very interesting reading. I'm not in construction but my company is expanding facilities and I'm pm'ing one of the projects. It's a relatively small light industrial brownfield project, costs went up by 50% from stage 2 estimate this time a year ago to the stage 4 sanction 6 months later.
I'm looking to move house this year, we're open to total renovation/probatey stuff but the offers are going to have to reflect the increased construction costs because the market values in general are flat. I think a lot of people who bought a year ago factoring in 2019-20 project costs are going to get their pants pulled down.
I'm looking to move house this year, we're open to total renovation/probatey stuff but the offers are going to have to reflect the increased construction costs because the market values in general are flat. I think a lot of people who bought a year ago factoring in 2019-20 project costs are going to get their pants pulled down.
Temporary surge in disposable, time on hands to do DIY, moving/upgrading, transitory high demand.
Temporary lack of supply, covid19 related restriction impacts.
This will all settle down. Supply will meet demand, but as both flap around they’ll struggle to meet up.
Indeed at some point I think supply will catch up and pass demand and we’ll see prices come down fast, on its way back to a steadier equilibrium.
For now I’m struggling most finding an electrician.
I can cope with material costs but just getting an electrician who’ll turn up (I’d diy and get sign off if I knew how to, and an electrician who’d turn up to do it) is my biggest issue.
Utility room sits half finished… nowt fancy but it’s a pain in the arse for the sake of a days work.
Temporary lack of supply, covid19 related restriction impacts.
This will all settle down. Supply will meet demand, but as both flap around they’ll struggle to meet up.
Indeed at some point I think supply will catch up and pass demand and we’ll see prices come down fast, on its way back to a steadier equilibrium.
For now I’m struggling most finding an electrician.
I can cope with material costs but just getting an electrician who’ll turn up (I’d diy and get sign off if I knew how to, and an electrician who’d turn up to do it) is my biggest issue.
Utility room sits half finished… nowt fancy but it’s a pain in the arse for the sake of a days work.
Mr Whippy said:
Temporary surge in disposable, time on hands to do DIY, moving/upgrading, transitory high demand.
Temporary lack of supply, covid19 related restriction impacts.
This will all settle down. Supply will meet demand, but as both flap around they’ll struggle to meet up.
Indeed at some point I think supply will catch up and pass demand and we’ll see prices come down fast, on its way back to a steadier equilibrium.
For now I’m struggling most finding an electrician.
I can cope with material costs but just getting an electrician who’ll turn up (I’d diy and get sign off if I knew how to, and an electrician who’d turn up to do it) is my biggest issue.
Utility room sits half finished… nowt fancy but it’s a pain in the arse for the sake of a days work.
Where are you? Temporary lack of supply, covid19 related restriction impacts.
This will all settle down. Supply will meet demand, but as both flap around they’ll struggle to meet up.
Indeed at some point I think supply will catch up and pass demand and we’ll see prices come down fast, on its way back to a steadier equilibrium.
For now I’m struggling most finding an electrician.
I can cope with material costs but just getting an electrician who’ll turn up (I’d diy and get sign off if I knew how to, and an electrician who’d turn up to do it) is my biggest issue.
Utility room sits half finished… nowt fancy but it’s a pain in the arse for the sake of a days work.
Mr Whippy said:
This will all settle down. Supply will meet demand, but as both flap around they’ll struggle to meet up.
Indeed at some point I think supply will catch up and pass demand and we’ll see prices come down fast, on its way back to a steadier equilibrium.
Unlikely with cementitious and other construction products as hidden taxes in the form of green bullcarp are being ramped up with all the carbon offsetting and as mentioned slightly further up massive increases in fuel duty for all the machinery, dozers, dumpers etc as the red fuel rebate is removed.Indeed at some point I think supply will catch up and pass demand and we’ll see prices come down fast, on its way back to a steadier equilibrium.
Prices are only going 1 way for the foreseeable unfortunately.
speedyguy said:
Mr Whippy said:
This will all settle down. Supply will meet demand, but as both flap around they’ll struggle to meet up.
Indeed at some point I think supply will catch up and pass demand and we’ll see prices come down fast, on its way back to a steadier equilibrium.
Unlikely with cementitious and other construction products as hidden taxes in the form of green bullcarp are being ramped up with all the carbon offsetting and as mentioned slightly further up massive increases in fuel duty for all the machinery, dozers, dumpers etc as the red fuel rebate is removed.Indeed at some point I think supply will catch up and pass demand and we’ll see prices come down fast, on its way back to a steadier equilibrium.
Prices are only going 1 way for the foreseeable unfortunately.
sfella said:
Speaking to stone supplier who's currently around £16-17/ton is talking about possibility of £80/ton as quarry moves from red to white. Whatever stone goes up by will see tarmac and other products go up by the same no doubt.
How can that possibly make sense!? Red diesel is half the cost of white pretty much, so even if diesel was his only cost (which it clearly isn’t) then he could maybe justify doubling the price. But 5x!?2gins said:
I'm looking to move house this year, we're open to total renovation/probatey stuff but the offers are going to have to reflect the increased construction costs because the market values in general are flat. I think a lot of people who bought a year ago factoring in 2019-20 project costs are going to get their pants pulled down.
Good point - logically the same reasoning would weigh down the price of building plots and anything with conversion potential, wonder how long it’ll take for that to be noticeable though.Jambo85 said:
How can that possibly make sense!? Red diesel is half the cost of white pretty much, so even if diesel was his only cost (which it clearly isn’t) then he could maybe justify doubling the price. But 5x!?
I don't speak to the quarry direct but he does, I'm told they are currently paying sub 20pence per litre for red, will be over £1 per litre after April. May well be embellished but I doubt large quarries are paying pump price for red that we can buy at so will be more than doubleJambo85 said:
Given that the crude oil price is currently about 35p/Litre, I very much doubt anyone is paying anywhere near 20p/L for diesel of any colour in any quantity, but I’m open to being corrected!
As am I, in fact I truly hope it is bull. I hadn't asked, just when I mentioned pricing a large access road that couldn't be started for a few months he spoke about it. He was on about how many litres per day the loading shovels are burning and it was frightening numbers if true!Jambo85 said:
sfella said:
Speaking to stone supplier who's currently around £16-17/ton is talking about possibility of £80/ton as quarry moves from red to white. Whatever stone goes up by will see tarmac and other products go up by the same no doubt.
How can that possibly make sense!? Red diesel is half the cost of white pretty much, so even if diesel was his only cost (which it clearly isn’t) then he could maybe justify doubling the price. But 5x!?It’s hyperbole.
If it really went up 5x, people wouldn’t be buying it, so it wouldn’t be £80/tonne, the quarry would be out of business.
Until consumers act with discretion then people will try it on.
But logic dictates while there is broad margin in the market that more people will enter it and undercut the profiteers.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff