Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, which ramped from 25% to 50% last week, could make mass timber construction cost-neutral or better in more US markets. That is according to Chris Evans, president of Swinerton-owned mass timber firm Timberlab, who spoke to Construction Drive about the impact of tariffs and uncertainty on the supply chain for building materials.
Evans said you only need to look to the past when a shortage of steel and long lead times for open web joints led to steel roof systems being converted to wood roof systems: “That’s a good example of how that effect over on the steel side increases the demand for mass timber products,” he said. “(And) I think it’s no different, if steel prices go up and tariffs caused that throughout the whole system, then what that will really do is help make mass timber cost neutral or better in more markets.”
Last month, Wood Central reported that Timberlab—a subsidiary of one of the top US contractors—was busy acquiring and developing manufacturing facilities on both coasts as part of a long-term plan to build out its domestic lumber supply chain. “Most of our wood inputs come from domestic supply,” Evans told Construction Drive. As a result, “I don’t think we’re hugely affected (by potential tariffs on lumber) at this point.”
And whilst the US industry is now operating at just 39% capacity (down from 47% last year), according to a 339-page report published at the International Mass Timber Conference, Evans said, “there are obviously markets where there’s lots of building going on, in the Southeast and in Texas…but in other places like Seattle and Portland, it’s sluggish at best.”
“Mass timber is a viable building system, and it will take market share of steel and concrete. Steel and concrete absolutely have their time and place to be used in buildings. Mass timber does too,” he said. “(But) I think that the thing that will help continue to grow the market, is other companies doing what we did, coming in and putting in some CNC capacity to help make building components, to help make mass timber buildings. The supply chain will continue to get rounded out over time.”
Please Note: This article is part of a larger interview published by Construction Drive earlier today. Click here to read the full interview.
