Lumber Prices Continue to Increase
Lumber prices continue to rise as world-wide demand for U.S. and Canadian lumber exceeds production. If the current trend continues, we could see lumber and OSB double or triple in price over the next few months. While lumber and building material demand in the U.S. is muted due to low housing starts, other parts of the world, such as China and Europe, are rapidly increasing demand for North American building materials. New Zealand, Australia and countries in South America are also importing lumber and panels, and they are just now entering their peak building seasons. The gradual strength of the lumber market can be seen in this current lumber futures chart:
Lumber futures have increased over 40% since June.
Atlanta Lumber, Building Materials, Windows, Doors & Trim supplier
Helping YOU Build YOUR American Dream
We believe in the American Dream. Heck, we’re pursuing it ourselves. We believe in YOUR American Dream, that house you always thought about with a back patio where you can grill burgers on a Sunday Afternoon and watch your kids toss the ball. A well built, good looking house that you can call a home. The home you’ve always wanted.
We also set the standard for the highest quality in customer service, and expect the same from our vendors who provide us the building materials you need to build your house.
We are located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, between Atlanta and Athens, and are a Complete Contractor Building Supply Center! Total commitment to quality and careful attention to detail is what you receive at Cofer/Adams. We bring friendly and dedicated service to all our customers. Beautiful homes begin with us!
Cofer/Adams Building Center is a full service building supply distributor. We carry products including:
- Framing Materials
- Boise Engineered Floors
- James Hardie Cement Siding
- YKK Windows
- Interior & Exterior Doors
- Atlas Roofing Materials
- Versa Lift Ultimate Attic Storage System
We have a nine-acre facility that includes a main office and store complex, with a large selection of builders hardware, an engineered wood department, pre-hung door shop, and three warehouses with over 40,000 square feet of warehouse space. We also have the capability to provide custom millwork.
- Give Us A Call & Let Us Help You Build YOUR American Dream
- Cofer-Adams Bldg Center, Inc.
- 175 Buford Drive
- Lawrenceville, Ga. 30046
- 770-995-3900 Phone
- 770-995-3927 Fax
- info@coferadams.com
Case-Shiller Says Home Prices UP!
According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices(PDF), home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose July from a year earlier.
The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values increased 3.2 percent from July 2009.
Have all of the bargains already been bought?
Many people wish they could get that kind of return on their investments!
Available existing homes for sale in Atlanta are near a 5 year low, and new homes for sale nationwide are at the lowest point since February, 1970!
New Saturday Hours Beginning October 2, 2010
Call for current hours (770) 995-3900.
Pre-Finished James Hardie ColorPlus HardiPlank Siding for the Atlanta Athens GA Area
For the ultimate in performance with HardieZone™ products, add ColorPlus® Technology. This proprietary process involves applying consistent, multiple coats of paint that was created especially for the demands climate places on a home’s exterior. The end result is a beautiful consistent finish that lasts up to 2x’s longer.* A baked-on coating offers maximum durability and resistance to prolonged exposure to freezing climate and moisture contact.
Specially formulated paint stands up to UV levels in a way few field-applied paints can, offering up to 30% more fade resistance.**
ColorPlus Technology finishes are warranted for 15 years
The ColorPlus finish warranty guarantees your color will not crack, chip or peel for 15 years.
Over 41 quality checks are made throughout our proprietary manufacturing process to ensure the quality of the substrate, the texture and the finish. No other manufacturer can match our demanding quality standards.
Considering the alternatives? Compare the benefits of James Hardie Siding Products with ColorPlus® Technology to field applied paint options, especially on larger buildings.
Most of the raw materials used to make James Hardie Siding are extracted and processed near each manufacturing facility.
Call Cofer/Adams at (770) 995-3900 and let us help with sidings, doors, windows, mouldings and other building materials.
Lumber Trivia
So, you are interested in obscure facts about lumber? Let’s start with the difference between hardwoods and softwoods. Most people think “hardwoods” are hard, and “softwoods” are soft, Hah! Our on-staff environmental scientist tells us that “hardwoods” are deciduous trees (they shed their leaves at the end of the growing season), and “softwoods” are coniferous trees! It seems strange to think about Balsa Wood, a very soft wood used for model making and hobby projects, is a hardwood, while the dense, hard lumber from Long Leaf Pine is a softwood. Most of the lumber used for structural purposes in a house comes from softwood trees (Spruce, Pine, Fir, Larch, Hemlock), while the finest cabinetry and wood trim is made from hardwoods (Walnut, Cherry, Maple, Mahogany, and exotic hardwoods). The widest variety of trees in North America are hardwood trees.
No matter what type of wood or lumber you need, and whether you are building or remodeling, call Cofer/Adams at (770) 995-3900 and let us help you build your dream home. Today, we are delivering to Madison County, Clarke County, Oconee County, Henry County, Newton County and Oglethorpe County.
Lumber and Building Material Supply for the Atlanta Metro Area
Are you looking for lumber and building materials in North Georgia? Has your building supply closed, or is no longer delivering to your county? Cofer/Adams delivers to the following counties in North Georgia: Banks, Barrow, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Lumpkin, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Paulding, Putnam, Oglethorpe, Stephens and Walton.
Would you like to add space and value to your home? We can help with design of your room addition and with advice about adding on and what materials to use, and we can provide you with a material estimate for your project. Cofer/Adams has the building materials you need from the foundation to the roof.
Call Cofer/Adams at (770) 995-3900 for steel rebar and rewire, SPF and Yellow Pine Framing Lumber, pressure treated lumber and composite decking, engineered wood floors, trusses, lvl, stair parts, interior doors, entry doors, vinyl windows, wood windows, PVC moulding, wood moulding, siding, cornice materials, and roofing.
Visit our Atlanta Athens area home improvement building material supply in Lawrenceville and see the wide variety of DIY and Remodeling lumber and building materials you can buy, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home.
4 Ways to Add Value to Your Home (That Might Surprise You)
There’s no denying that things have been hard on all of us through this recession. With talks of a “double dip” along with less than optimistic housing data, a lot of people are preparing for the worst. Many people are staying in a house that was supposed to be a short-term investment to ride out the storm.
But does that mean you should just sit on your hands? Since your home is your greatest asset, you should constantly be adding curb appeal. Adding value to your home can be easy, fun and VERY rewarding (especially when things turn around and someone wants to buy your house)!
Refresh The Look Of Your Kitchen
Do you find yourself thinking, “This kitchen is just so…bland.” If you think about it… this is the place where your most important moments are spent. The place your 5 year old attempts to make you pancakes. The origin of the fresh-baked cookie scent that permeates through the house, but Is it your DREAM kitchen? Probably not, so here are some ways to make it the envy of Paula Dean’s butter-brimmed eyes.
- Change your kitchen’s dull knobs and pulls for something a little more elegant or rustic.
- Give your cabinets a distressed look.
- Add a beaded panel with chair rail for a classic “back in the day” family room feel.
Replace Those Old, Energy-Eating Windows
Did you know that your windows account for 10-25% monthly heating bill? Odds are, if your home was built before 1990, your windows are single-pane, which means your windows could be costing you big bucks on your heating bill.
The best way to increase savings on your bill is to use a double-pane, vinyl replacement window. YKK-AP makes a replacement window that is a breeze to install, cost-conscious and looks spectacular from the curb.
Looking for a MORE economical option? Buy a sash replacement kit. The sash is the actual window (no frame included), so you can get the benefit of low-e energy efficiency without having to replace the whole window (or dig deep into your pocket).
Tip:
A pretty good rule of thumb for buying energy efficient windows is “The more you pay now, the more you save later.” That’s not to say that ALL expensive windows are better, but if you’re buying it from a trusted building supply, you can be pretty sure you’re getting the value you’re paying for.
Retrim Your Doors
If your doors look a little plain, consider giving them an Antebellum makeover. A lot of builders used 1×4 to trim the doors of a house. It’s a wide, “plain” square shaped board. You could easily add a backband to give it a Victorian-look.
If you want to get rid of the 1×4 completely or replace an existing trim that you don’t like, consider replacing it with ATL1, Howe, 445 or RB3 casing. Any of these trims will add a more refined look to your house. Replacing trim around your doors is a great way to add value to your home with very, VERY low cost.
Build A Composite Deck
Watching your kids play backyard football as you enjoy a colorful sunset over your lake could only be perfected by adding a beautiful, high quality deck. A treated deck is fine if you’re REALLY tight on cash, but if you want to really out-do your neighbors and sell your house first for more money, go with the composite deck. Products like Trex Transcend, Timbertech Earthwood and Correctdeck CX are all made to accurately mimic the beautiful contrasting quality of wood while reaping the benefits of composite (low maintenance and LONG-term value). This is one of the most valuable additions you can make to your home.
So if you’re not planning on moving anytime soon, make some changes to your home to create a lasting value. If you’re not sure how to do most of these things on your own, drop by your local building supply and talk to them about how you can add value to your home.
Home Improvement Atlanta Magazine September Issue – Free at Cofer Adams in Lawrenceville
Thinking about remodeling or improving your home in the Atlanta-Athens GA Area? Pick up your free copy of the Atlanta area September 2010 Home Improvement magazine. This month’s edition is packed full of useful remodeling articles and resources.
Visit our home improvement building material supply in Lawrenceville and see the wide variety of DIY and Remodeling building materials you can buy, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home.
We deliver daily to cities in the Atlanta-Athens GA area.
Porch Decking for the Atlanta Athens GA Area
Pressure Treated Porch Flooring that has been Kiln Dried After Treatment (KDAT) can give your covered porch an inviting look. Available in 5/4×4 (1″ x 3-1/4″) for new construction and 1×4 (3/4″ x 3-1/4″) for replacing old floor boards as well.
Visit our Atlanta Athens area home improvement building material supply in Lawrenceville and see the porch flooring that is available, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home.
We deliver to most cities in the Atlanta-Athens GA area regularly. Ask us about deliviries to Alpharetta, Buford, Conyers, Covington, Duluth, Douglasville, Gainesville, Lilburn, Loganville, Madison, Marietta, McDonough, Norcross, Snellville, Stockbridge and other Atlanta-Athens area cities.
Lumber Futures Ease into a Tight Trading Channel
With new home construction near historical lows, and new home inventory at its lowest level since March of 1971, lumber seems to have settled into a quiet, sideways trading channel. The general consensus seems to be that housing will not recover, and this is having an effect on lumber and building material prices.
Lower lumber and panel prices have given builders and remodelers a little relief and have allowed them to resume construction at prices people are willing to pay. What might cause lumber to break out of the channel?
One possible scenario might be a dramatic increase in lumber prices again, due to constrained supply. This could easily be driven by only a slight uptick in demand.
In a recent Bloomberg interview with Karl Case, the focus was on interest rates, which have typically driven the housing market. He has been looking for the housing market to recover, but households have been disappearing, increasing vacancy levels through the first quarter of 2010. Mr. Case thinks that vacancy levels must decrease before a recovery really begins. He points out that once the housing recovery begins, it will lead us into a much better economy. Ken Prewitt indicated that in a current study, apartment occupancy went up by 215,000 in the first half, the most since 1992 (when MPF Research starting keeping records). “The vacancy rate declined to 6.6 percent last month from 8.2 percent in December.” Employment is improving for people 20 to 29 years old, a factor necessary for young people to move out of their parent’s homes and into their own apartments.
Lumber and panel mills continue to shut down, further constricting supply. Here are recent notices from Random Lengths:
Simpson mill to be down a second week
Simpson Lumber Co.’s Mill 3 in Shelton, Wash., was down this week, and it will remain down for the week of August 16. – 8/12/2010
Montana sawmill to reduce output
Plum Creek Timber Co.’s sawmill in Columbia Falls, Mont., will reduce production in response to soft market conditions, effective August 9. The production schedule will be determined on a week-to-week basis until market conditions improve. – 8/9/2010
Roseburg to curtail at Dillard
Roseburg Forest Products’ stud mill and planer at Dillard, Ore., will be down the week of August 9 due to market conditions. The shipping department will continue to operate on a normal schedule during that week. – 8/5/2010
OSB mill to shut down indefinitely
Georgia-Pacific’s OSB mill in Mount Hope, W.Va., will shut down for an indefinite duration in October. – 7/30/2010
GP announces downtime at Mississippi OSB mill
Georgia-Pacific’s OSB mill in Grenada, Miss., will be shut down for an indefinite duration pending the shipment of on-the-ground inventory. – 7/27/2010
With supply tight throughout the supply chain, and considering the number of mills that have been shut down, it wouldn’t take much to see another run-up in lumber and panel prices, and consequently in lumber futures.
Have We Reached the Bottom in New Home Construction, and If We Have, When Will We Reach the Tipping Point?
There have been articles lately that emphasize the possibility of a severe housing shortage next year, as new home supply dwindles and the bargains in foreclosures evaporate.
Some Economists Predict Severe Housing Shortage
I often read that housing will not improve until employment improves. An interesting conundrum, since in past recessions, employment increased during housing recoveries. I don’t think that most people, even economists, think through the relationships involved in new home construction. So, which came first, the chicken or the egg? Once new home construction resumes, it should fuel new job creation as construction workers go back to work. How will this affect national homebuilders such as Beazer (BZH), Pulte (PHM) and Hovnanian (HOV)? What about the manufacturing jobs that are created for lumber, appliances and building material products such as roofing, doors and windows? Not to mention electrical and plumbing materials and fixtures. Taking things a step further, what about the technology that goes into new homes? Most people will buy new big screen TV’s, state of the art sound systems as well as computers and printers for their home offices. Many lumber and panel mills have been curtailed, shut down and even dismantled or turned into Biomass Power Plants. An increase in new home construction will provide a boost to the remaining producers, such as Weyerhaeuser (WY), Lousiana Pacific (LPX), and CanFor (CFP). What about the “leg up” for the automotive sector? Construction workers will need new trucks. The American construction workers I see everyday drive Ford (F), GM, and Dodge trucks. Perhaps the taxpayers would be the beneficiaries of a boost in the automotive/truck sector, by virtue of government stock ownership. How about the heavy equipment that is required? The few remaining building material suppliers would have to hire new workers and buy new equipment, since over 80% have closed, and the remaining ones have scaled down. Caterpillar (CAT) would obviously have to add workers to produce the heavy equipment that would be required. What about all of the real estate agents that have been sidelined during the housing slump? Everyone tends to spend freely when their commissions are good. And regional and community banks, of course, would be huge beneficiaries from the loan demand, once they decide that it is safe to lend again. Even the giants Freddie Mac and Fannie May would return to viability (maybe I should buy some FNMA, one share costs less than a postage stamp). How about foreclosures? Less homes will be foreclosed as employment increases, and the inventory of foreclosures should decrease proportionately.
As new home construction increases, employment in all of these areas will have to increase. As employment increases, there will be increased demand for housing as new household creation resumes its pre-2007 “normal” rate of 850,000. Consumer spending and consumer confidence will increase as a result of job creation. In my opinion, it is not a question of “if”, but one of “when” will the increase in new household formation and new home construction reach the “tipping point”, and begin to increase at an increasing rate. It really is an intricate, far reaching puzzle, but there is no question that it will become a self-fueling growth engine again, once the “tipping point” is reached. I guess the most important question is: “How do we reach that tipping point?”
-Reid
Replacement Wood Windows and Sash Kits for Remodeling and Home Improvement in the Atlanta Athens GA Area
You can save energy and increase your home’s curb appeal by replacing wood window sash with wood replacement window sash kits or vinyl replacement windows. You can buy these kits to replace almost any double-hung wood window in the Atlanta Athens Georgia area.
It’s a simple matter of taking out the old sash and balances, and installing new insulated wood window sash in your existing window frames. Kits contain a pair of wood or vinyl insulated wood window sash, balances for each side, and a lock. This is a great home improvement or remodeling project that will save you money in the long run and beautify your home. Use a tape measure to find the width between the side jambs, and from the head to the sill. We can determine the correct sash kit for each window. We can also recommend professional remodelers to install the sash for you.
Another option is to use YKK Precedence Windows to replace existing sash. Just take out the old sash and balances, and replace with the vinyl replacement windows, they simply screw in place.
Visit our Atlanta Athens area home improvement building material supply in Lawrenceville and see the available replacement windows, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home.
Check out our selection of Wood, MDF and PVC mouldings to give your windows a finished look!
We deliver to most cities in the Atlanta-Athens GA area regularly. Ask us about deliviries to Alpharetta, Acworth, Braselton, Buford, Commerce, Conyers, Covington, Cumming, Duluth, Douglasville, Gainesville, Lilburn, Loganville, Madison, Marietta, McDonough, Norcross, Snellville, Stockbridge and others.
Buy Lumber for Projects on Lake Lanier, Lake Oconee and Lake Hartwell at Cofer Adams
We have the lumber you need for your project on Lake Lanier, Lake Oconee and Lake Hartwell.
6×6, 6×8 and 8×8 Pressure Treated lumber is required for some applications, call us for pricing and availability.
For long-lasting, low-maintenance alternative to pressure treated decking on docks and decks, we have Azek Decking:
and
Aeritis PVC Tongue and Groove Porch Flooring.
Delivery is available to Gainesville, Buford, Cumming, Oakwood, Madison, Lake Lanier, Lake Hartwell and Lake Oconee, as well as most other cities in the Atlanta Athens GA area.
Visit our building material supply in Lawrenceville and see the wide variety of Pressure Treated, PVC and Composite Lumber and other building materials you can buy, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home.
Buy Room Addition Building Materials from your Atlanta Area Home Improvement Store
Would you like to add space and value to your home? We can help with design of your room addition and with advice about adding on and what materials to use, and we can provide you with a material estimate for your project. Cofer/Adams has the building materials you need from the foundation to the roof.
Use steel rebar and rewire in your concrete for a strong foundation.
SPF and Yellow Pine Framing Lumber.
Choose from a variety of sidings to match your existing structure.
Add outdoor living space with a deck built of pressure treated lumber and composite decking.
Doors, mouldings and stairparts can add the perfect touch to your addition:
Visit our Atlanta Athens area home improvement building material supply in Lawrenceville and see the wide variety of DIY and Remodeling lumber and building materials you can buy, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home.
We deliver daily to cities in the Atlanta-Athens GA area.
Home Improvement Atlanta Magazine August Issue – Free at Cofer Adams
Thinking about remodeling or improving your home? Pick up your free copy of the Atlanta area August 2010 Home Improvement magazine. Packed full of useful articles and resources, this month’s edition has a “planner” to help you think through your project.
Visit our home improvement building material supply in Lawrenceville and see the wide variety of DIY and Remodeling building materials you can buy, or call us at (770) 995-3900 and let us help YOU build YOUR American Dream Home.
We deliver daily to cities in the Atlanta-Athens GA area.