Forum discussion

SCL Mass Timber experience?

Hi everyone!

My awesome colleague, Paula Melton, is doing a short talk for USGC about mass timber and wants to know if there are SCLers in the group that can share their experience. In particular: 

"I’m wondering particularly about how supply-chain and cost issues are affecting availability and decision-making, and what the onsite practical issues with using it might be. Do you know of anyone who might be able to help? thanks!"

Feel free to reach out to Paula directly: paula@buildinggreen.com

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Mon, 01/31/2022 - 16:47

Don't quote me, but general thoughts: This is a question with an answer that could change by next month or in 6 months, etc. Lumber is currently experiencing a 75 year high in price volatility, and people did not expect prices were going to rebound like they have after being up so high at the start of the pandemic and then coming back down, which is happening for a variety of factors, including but not limited to taxes on Canadian imports. As the price of lumber goes, so too does the cost of mass timber, a wood based product. In regards to CLT specifically, 70% of it is costed by the wood pulp that's going into it, so if 70% of its cost is hinging on a commodity that say doubles in price over 12 weeks, that's going to bring the cost up significantly. I haven't heard of supply issues other than sourcing from overseas where you might run into a problem with a bottleneck at ports receiving and unloading material. But, that information is from 6 months ago and I'm sure it also depends on the port receiving the materials. Just generally I was having issues with projects getting FSC wood last year but that seems to have dissipated. Steven Burke. LEED & WELL Faculty Director Of Sustainability m: 774.462.2044 consigli.com

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