Severe timber shortage not likely to disappear soon
Could it be that the demand for timber is just too great, and supply is not keeping up? The UK has a severe timber shortage, which has been made worse by Brexit complications and a global increase in the demand for timber products. We are currently in the midst of the worst timber shortage ever experienced in the UK. What’s more, the shortage is not likely to disappear in the near future.
The lack of materials has created a number of issues for the construction industry, and the situation is unlikely to improve in the short term. Timber merchants have been forced to ration supplies to customers, while others have been forced to increase their prices to keep up with inflation. But why has timber suddenly become like gold dust among construction companies?
Is it thought that timber can be a reliable alternative to materials such as concrete, and for this reason, many building companies have chosen to use timber materials to construct homes, buildings and various infrastructures. Alongside this demand increase, during the Covid-19 pandemic, big timber merchants in countries such as Sweden saw huge spikes in covid cases and travel disruption became the new norm, therefore putting a big delay to timber shipments that we are still trying to catch up with in 2022.
Is the timber shortage to blame for price hikes?
In the last year alone, timber prices have risen astronomically, and in some cases, costs have more than doubled.
Timber can be classified into two categories: hardwood and softwood. Hardwoods are made from deciduous trees, while softwoods are made from evergreen trees. Hardwoods are generally more durable and dense, making them ideal for furniture and flooring. Softwoods are lighter and less dense, making them ideal for construction purposes such as framing, joinery and cladding.
In most cases, walls, flooring, decking and construction elements like architraves and rafters are made from versatile softwoods because softwoods are typically better suited to property construction due to the ease of installation and cost. For example, softwood trees like pine and fir take less time to reach maturity, which means they're cheaper to grow. Softwoods usually make up approximately 80% of the timber used in construction.
Hardwoods are more expensive than softwoods, making them better suited for furniture and some decorative projects. Another important factor to consider is how the wood looks. That's why hardwoods are popular as veneers, often laid over cheaper softwoods. Hardwoods like teak and mahogany are also popular for building musical instruments. Many of the world's most iconic guitars are made from a combination of teak, maple or mahogany.
It is clear that there are a number of factors that have resulted in the huge price increases of timber across the UK. Global demand, combined with the pandemic and logistic issues, has meant a lack of timber materials available and, therefore, an increase in the amount we are paying for the wood.
The effects of a timber shortage on your project
The timber shortage across the UK is affecting the building industry and, in most cases, causing delays and extra costs on projects. Wood is a natural product and is susceptible to natural climatic conditions. It's been a bad couple of years for timber, with more timber needed for the building industry than ever before and the delays having an impact on project wait times and increased costs. Most of the timber being used in the UK is imported, with the majority coming from Europe and a smaller quantity being imported from countries including China and Canada. The UK can only produce up to 33% of the timber required to keep up with yearly demand.
It was expected that building material delays and timber shortages were to last until the summer of 2022, when we were finally going to catch up with demand, delays would cease to exist, and costs would eventually start to fall. Unfortunately, it would appear that predictions have been premature, and building materials, including timber, continue to be difficult to get ahold of and expensive if you do manage to purchase them. With contractor margins all but disappearing, costs will continue to rise until the timber industry can catch up with demand.
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Hinson Custom Made continues to work hard to deliver projects
The timber shortage in the UK is continuing to cause delays in all sorts of building projects across the UK. One of the hardest hit by the timber shortage is the building industry. Hinson Custom Made continues to work hard to deliver projects to customers on time and with minimal delays. One way in which Hinson Custom Made continues to push through timber delays is to use Engineered laminated timbers. Laminated timbers are strong and stable, creating less wastage than solid timber as it eliminates defects. Laminated timbers are reliable and 100% FSC certified, producing a more efficient use of timber logs.
If you are interested in Hinson working on a custom-made timber project for your home, get in touch today and speak to a reliable member of our team who will be happy to give you advice and answer any questions you may have.
