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I’m renovating a large house in Atlanta and I’m running into a major drywall shortage. No one can fill a large order and the price has gone up 50% since January. I heard that there is a new plant opening up and supplies should catch up. Does anyone have any info on this?
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Replies
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I'm FULL of anticipation on this question.
I moved from Montana to Tennessee last October. Just before I left the Big Sky, sheet rock was about $2.50 for an 4x8x1/2" sheet. Here it's closer to eight bucks. What gives?
The gypsum mines are in Idaho right? Is that why it's so cheap in Montana? Are the workers on strike?
Dying to know,
Dan
*Drywall isn't the only thing in short supply. A few months ago, I talked to a brick salesman who told me brick would take 5 to 6 months. He said normally, they fire all winter to build an inventory. This winter the demand never slacked up and they never built up their inventory. I understand that between USG and GP 3 new drywall plants are supposed to go on line in the near future. The sooner the better for me also. This week, I framed a roof that required 54 sqs. of #30 felt. Monday, we got the material on the job but no felt. We scrounged up enough to keep going every day untill Wednesday when may supplier got his shipment (2 weeks late). The problem was that the felt had to come to VA. from OK. With 6 houses to build this yr already, I get the feeling I'm going to need a lot of Advil to squelch the headaches of slow deliveries and shortages, not to mention skyrocketing costs. With these things considered, I'm afraid that we may be looking at the end of the current building boom.
*According to the May issue of the Journal of Light Construction (p11) "Manufacturers and construction suppliers are scrambling to allieviate a drywall scarcity...problems stem in part from the inability of USG...to expand production...while the company emerged from bankrupcy oversight...relief may not come until later this year when USG, Georgia pacific, and LaFarge Corp. all plan to bring new factories on line" - yb
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JLS was late on this story. The Wall St. Journal had it weeks ago. Sad tale of builders needing board by the carload having to go to Home Depot where they were being rationed 20 sheets per. What can you do with 20 sheets. Not a tract, for sure.
USG went bankrupt and when you do that, it's hard to explain to the judge and trustees why you should have money to build a new gyp board plant, so they didn't.
But don't worry, be happy. New capacity should come on line in time for the next recession and then there will be lots of board going begging at lower prices - leaving the mfgs. wondering why they bothered. Those plants are spendy.
ToolBear
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We are currently building in NE Arkansas. Our lumber dealer here has guaranteed dry wall if we buy all of our materials from him - framing package, doors, windows, roofing, etc. He generally has competitive prices but the "dry wall" thing will keep us from shopping for the best deal. Felt paper is not a problem but three tab shingles are "tight." Bricks are being fired to order (with a 60 to 90 day lead). Sounds like our situation is better than some.
Fortunately, everybody is a carpenter these days. Ha!
*Hi Fellows,I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would tolerate regional shortages and hikes in costs of building materials that are required in bulk.Anyone can order material from anywhere in North America and have it delivered anywhere you want.If you want to play with the big boys it's time you acted like the big boys and get your material where the prices are best and forget the local favors. The local lumberyards will catch on that you're serious about your material costs and watch them become more competive.You need bulk material, call me if you're being gouged.Gabe
*Good morning Gabe,What exactly are you talking about?No local loyalty here, BB
*I think Gabe's gonna be our new dry wall supplier...
*Gabe, I dont think the drywall shortage is a regional thing. Tell us where this abundance of drywall is, price,shipping,minimum order, and where i can store the extra until i need it.
*Hi Fellows,You're staring at the most powerful trading tool in the world.Let's try a little experiment with prices. Let's start off by identifying the problem areas.Although I don't buy any drywall locally the Ottawa area price is $0.20 US a sq. ft. and no shortage.Now everybody sign in with the location, cost in US per sq. ft. and availability in bulk.Let's see where the cheapest prices in North America are. You might be surprised. If this first experiment works it might create a whole new supply line for the FHB clan.Gabe
*I wasn't staring, honest.BB
*Hi BB,You scare me Billy, now I have to get dressed before going to the monitor.How are the prices in your neck of the woods?Gabe
*Well, lets see...eight bucks for a 4x8 sheet is about $0.25 per sqft.
*About .23 s.f here. South Alabama. Short supply but I do only remodeling work so it hasnt been a big problem for me.
*Hi Dan,What's the location and is there a good supply?Gabe
*Hi, Gabe,I'm paying .27 per sq ft. 4x12 sheets. No 54" board available at my supplier. 4x12s are coming in at between 6oo and 1200 sheets per week and there is a 2 to 3 week waiting list. I'm in VA.
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Hi All,
The drywall shortage is nationwide as far as I can tell. I get a limited supply of 600-122 sheets a week and sell them into the N.Atlanta market. Price has gone up to over $300/1000 by he time you have stocked. I am generally sold out 2 week in advance. Andrew call me at 404-557-6351 as I have some left for next week as one of my builders pushed 1 week on a house we were going to stock.
I have tried many time, and will continue to try and purchase drywall from anyone who can get it for me. I have put many many people to the task when they would say "I can get you truck loads of the stuff if you want it" and none, I mean none have come through. If anyone in this forum can get their hands on any truck or train loads, call me, I'm buying. I need 8K 12's for a multi family project right now. Thats about 14 truck worth.
Point is, this shortage is serious and it is very difficult to stock a 500 board house going to H.D. and picking up 34 sheets at a time.
Sure this problem will eleviate itself, but I don't think anytime soon in the Atlanta market. They are so far behind now (3 months) that I don't see that we have enough distribution capacity even if there was lots of drywall, which there isn't.
As to why the shortage......real simple $$$$. In my opinion this shortage was created by a warm winter, overseas buyers and drywall manufacturers who wanted supply side economics to work for them. And with the price increase of the last two months (and thereis another coming in June), it did.
Terry
*Well Fella's,I too live in the Ottawa area (same as Gabe). My sources tell me that ALL yards are on allocation for drywall right now. Some will only recieve tiny amounts of drywall based on last years sales. Some are doing the same as all of you, trying to by it anywhere they can,and having no success. I have also heard of buyers coming up here from the states and trying to buy LARGE quantities at excessive prices from yards here. The yards have been told by the manufacturer's that if they sell to these guys they will be cut off from up-coming deliveries. Make from this what you like. I have no proof but I do keep my ears open and my source is pretty dependable. Oh and by the way... I understand insulation is next!! It all sucks, doesn't it.SteveM
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Oops, sorry.
Nashville Tennessee. Seems to be big piles of it at Home Depot. I'm doing remodels/additions though and am not typically in the market for quantity.
*Gabe, just from the waist up...13 bucks 4 x 12 from Home Depot, 17 bucks 4 x 12 from a drywall installation company. Who ya gonna call?And, just when I'm finally ready to break ground on my own house, damn.BB
*Hi Billy,Home depot is running you .27 per sq. ft. How's the volume available and where are you located, So we can finish the map?We need more prices and locations, come on guys.Gabe
*and so when is OSB coming down? what's the excuse for it's high price?
*err Gabe, you avoided the question, and lead everyone on a wild goose chase experiment. Is that any way to treat your friends?Blue
*Hi Blue,No I haven't avoided anything. The first part of putting together a plan for shipping is determining the location of the market and the feasibility.So far, the spread is 7 cents a square foot and by no one needing a sufficient volume. When you're talking about a product that in cubic footage and weight is of low to moderate value, the shipping becomes the main point to the feasibility.So far we only have the possibility of a straight run south of here towards Florida.Now we can probably get the price down to 17 cents leaving 10 cents for shipping, "IF" an entire load can be accounted for.Let's see if more guys come on line to see if there is a supply somewhere already in the States at a reasonable cost. Then it simply becomes a matter of introductions.Hang in there and let's see where it goes.Gabe
*'lo Gabe, Chapel Hill, NC. HD sez they can get all I need, but who can trust 'em?
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Portland Oregon (Home Depot:(503)252-0188 and NO sales tax)checks in with :
And for you flamer's they are open today, even with the holiday.
As a DIYer my needs are only small quanities, however sales clerk said no problem for 100-200 sheets.
half-inch: 4x8 $ 4.75 4x12 $7.19
five-eigth's: 4x8 $ 5.39 4x12 $8.49
By my calculations thats less then 15 cents/sqft for 1/2". Are you folks talking delivered price?
Other news: Per local newspaper, USG will build a drywall plant in Rainier, OR.(halfway between ocean and Portland) on banks of Columbia river (cheap water transport and near I-5). Site prep is underway and production to begin in about 1 year. As for the transport cost, seems like fuel would weigh heavily into any calculation.
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Ok,
I just risked my whole afternoon and called Home Depot. Luckily it only took an hour or so to get the skinny. $8.78 per sheet (1/2" 4x8). Plus 8.25% sales tax = $9.50 per sheet. They have over 600 sheets in stock but there's a limit of 38 per customer.
At ten bucks a sheet, beaded wainscoting is sounding real affordable...
Dan
*In Seattle at HD, same as Portland, 8 foot 4.75, 12 foot 7.19. They said no limit. OSB is 9.48, once last summer OSB was 3.75, I think they have price wars with Eagle
*Hi Gabe, I'm about 40 minutes west of Pittsburgh, Pa.Lowes is selling drywall at $6.72 for 1/2 inch 4x8s and $9.99 for 4x12s. This does not include sales tax which is 6.5%. Adjusting for the tax would put the prices at $7.16 and $10.64 respectfully. 5/8 by 4x8 is $7.68 ($8.18 with Tx.) Last month ,1/2 inch 4x8s were selling regularly @ $4.25 a sheet plus tax. I was told there is no limit on how many sheets you can purchase here, but I know at Home Depot in Pittsburgh, the limit is 30 sheets per customer.I just came back from Charlotte, NC. a few weeks ago and talked to a sales rep from a gyp - board company located there (National Gypsum Co. I think it was) who told me that all gypsum factories are running full out 24 hours a day and that 3 new factories are being built but that it takes approx 2 years to complete these once started. I was also told that all related products (joint compound, tape, taping knives) were going to increase in price real soon. This rep said that Russia (or someone over there) brought in a huge boatload of 5/8s stuff where it was offloaded in Florida. When their company found out what was going on, they cut off all their customers who were involved in buying the Russian product. Prices aren't ever going to go back down; you can bet on it. And I think this "shortage" is just another SCAM! Davo
*Raleigh NC1/2" 4x12 = $14.50 (.30 sq ft) 1/2" 54"x12 = $18.75! from drywall suppliers, inside delivery. 4 to 6 week lead time. Home Depot & Lowes don't do inside delivery so I can't consider dealing with them, but I think it's about $2 cheaper per sheet. All lumber supply yards I have talked to will only sell to regular customers. (my lumber yard doesn't sell it)Need 370 sheets within the next 4 to 5 weeks.
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Drywall in Raleigh, NC has become like gold.
I've even had guys come on my jobs and try and buy my drywall!!
Interior Distributors cannot even keep up.
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I'm renovating a large house in Atlanta and I'm running into a major drywall shortage. No one can fill a large order and the price has gone up 50% since January. I heard that there is a new plant opening up and supplies should catch up. Does anyone have any info on this?
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Hi Guys,
What a spread in price and supply. Must say the map is starting to look very interesting. Looks like price fixing at it's best. How's it feel getting screwed and not even a cigar. This sure points out the need to pin prices down for the entire duration of your project, before you start. Can you imagine what this will do to anyone who has bid a house without the adjusted pricing being taken into account?
Can we get a few more prices from other States so we can see a clearer pattern. If you guys pin a map you will start to see what I mean.
Gabe