Will the Rise in Lumber Affect Your Renovation?

The price of lumber has more than doubled since the pandemic began, leaving home builders and the construction industry confused when it comes to managing their projects.  

From OSB plywood to exterior trim products, the astronomical price rise has contractors tightening their belts to ensure their projects arrive on budget, which is no easy task. As a vinyl window supplier and manufacturer, the most common question we get asked is “How can you provide cost savings on my project?”

This is a tricky question, as building envelope performance stiffens up on both part 3 and part 9 building requirements. Downgrading window quality is never an option, as we understand the importance of the building envelope and its effects on efficiency and comfort.

Luckily here at Centra Windows, our team has developed a window system that provides cost savings without compromising performance, quality or style. What if we told you we could offer a product that can provide windows and doors with an integrated trim detail that outlasts traditional wood products and upgrades the style of the home?

Centra Windows Experience Series Line integrates a 2-inch brick mould pocket extruded with any of our frame series that can replace your exterior wood products or J-Trims. Centra’s Experience Series product will result in the deletion of several exterior components, resulting in net savings for the project.

In our past projects, clients have experienced an average savings per window and door of $65-$85.

The savings have the potential to be even higher with the rising costs of lumber. These savings are based on a reduction in labour and material from your siding contract. Overall costs of maintenance on any project continue to rise, to the point they can become debilitating. The most costly maintenance item on any residence is trim and caulking.  When you have caulking on a project, it’s not a matter of if it will fail, but when it will fail.

The Experience Series is also intended to reduce the amount of material used as well.  By eliminating the need for rod and caulk, as well as extra flashing, your costs are significantly reduced. According to the CEO of the Canadian Home Builders' Association Kevin Lee, the cost of lumber isn’t coming down in the near future and the domino effect of the pandemic will be impactful for years to come.  

With higher than expected costs and high demand for new construction, a housing shortage and a shortfall in lumber supply are the key reasons behind the high price.

Let’s face it, saving time and money on projects no matter the size is a key component to success. Let’s chat about your next project and see how we can integrate our Experience Series line into your next project.

We are BC’s Strata Window Experts

We have installed windows in over 300 full-unit Strata complexes, and installed products for thousands more individual Strata homeowners. Not to mention we have been in the industry for over 35 years, with thousands of customer reviews to advocate for Centra. Centra is 100% Employee Owned, which means we are invested in making sure our products and services are the best in the industry, and we stand behind this with an industry-leading warranty. We focus on delivering consistent communication to ensure your Strata complex is fully aware of the details of the installation. All of our Manufacturing team and Installers are full-time Centra employees, which means we control quality and safety standards every step of the way. Our installers are paid by the hour, not by the install, which translates into a focus on quality rather than speed.

We are your certified Window Geeks

Centra Windows is not only the manufacturer but also the installer of its product, which enables us to offer a full warranty, eliminating any confusion between product performance and installation. We view the house as a system and understand how each of the elements must work correctly to maximize the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. Contact our local Employee Owners at 1-888-534-3333 or send us an email at info@centra.ca for more information about this topic and many more. You can also sign up for our biweekly newsletter, providing all the tips and tricks about the window industry.