The Sky-High Price of Wood

If you’ve recently considered a remodeling project and are scratching your head at the cost, you’re not alone. The cost of lumber has reached record highs, up over 200% from one year ago, making most building and remodeling projects more expensive than they would have been pre-pandemic. 

So why the sky-high costs for wood? It’s mostly attributed to the housing shortage. With more people wanting to move from the confines of the city into the suburbs, new construction and renovation are booming. Then there are restaurants and small businesses that had to build outdoor seating structures and other accommodations to keep their customers safe and comfortable. Pair those factors with sawmills playing catch up from slowing production early in the pandemic and you have a classic case of over-demand and not enough supply. Hence the price of wood. 

To put it into perspective, the price per thousand board feet of lumber jumped to an all-time high of $1,104, or roughly $1.10 per two by four. Right now, one sheet of plywood costs upwards of $50 or more. 

If you’re building a new home, the lumber you’ll need is going to cost you four times what it did one year ago. If you are thinking about renovating your current home, you’re going to be out of pocket as well. As the average age of the American home reaches 45, remodeling is not just an item on the wish list. For many, it’s a necessity. 

You might be thinking, “what goes up must come down,” right? Yes, but not anytime soon. Homeowners are still renovating and remodeling like never before, especially with real estate prices at all-time highs. Demand for new construction isn’t going to let up either. For now, homeowners who want to build will just have to come to terms with the increase in price. 

That’s not to say that you should ever compromise on quality. When looking for a contractor, make sure they are reputable, experienced, and can break down the costs of the job with 100% transparency. Also, keep in mind that the cost of supplies to the contractor is higher than ever before and they might very well be absorbing some of that cost to get you a price you’re happy with. Take all of this into consideration and make sure you do your homework before you sign on the dotted line.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Fence Options for Backyard Privacy

A private backyard oasis to enjoy during the summertime is one of my favorite things about being a homeowner. In my experience, creating a place that’s inviting and relaxing can make balmy weekday evenings feel like a mini-vacation, especially when a barbecue or bonfire is involved. 

But having an at-home retreat also means taking steps to ensure that your backyard is private and secure, especially when there is a pool or water feature in the mix. So today, I’d like to give you a peek into a range of fencing options to protect your yard and provide seclusion without forgoing great design.

Many homeowners love the aesthetic of a beautiful, timeless wood fence. They look elegant, provide fantastic privacy, and are easy to install. The downside, of course, is maintenance. With our hot summers and brutal winters, a wood fence will need regular staining or painting, a job that every homeowner dreads. On the positive side, if you like to update the look of your backyard frequently, wood can be painted in any color imaginable and it’s one of the most affordable options on the market. A six-foot panel will run around $25-$50 depending on the type of wood.

If you love the look of wood, but the upkeep has you thinking twice about the material, you might want to think about composite fencing. Composite is made from engineered wood, and while it mimics the look of the natural stuff, its lifespan is much longer with very little maintenance requirements and no worry that it will rot, splinter or warp.  The cost will vary based on the design and type, but you can expect to pay $100-$150 per six-foot section.

If you want something that’s sturdy and maintenance free, a chain link fence might be a good option for you. While they generally aren’t the most stylish in terms of design, a chain link fence will keep your backyard protected and they can be slightly customized in different colors and gauges. If you need more privacy, you can upgrade a chain link fence with metal slats. Best of all, it’s the cheapest of options, coming in at $100 or less for a 50-foot roll. If you like the idea of a metal fence, but prefer something a little more upscale, go for an aluminum option, which is powder coated and needs very little maintenance. A six-foot panel will run you $50-$75 depending on the height.

Finally, if you want something that will protect your pool without making it feel enclosed, there’s nothing like glass. A glass or plexiglass panel fence is beautiful for enclosing water without shutting out the rest of your property. Glass fences are durable, but they do tend to scratch easily and need to be cleaned regularly. They are also generally the most expensive fencing option, especially if they need to enclose a large area or in-ground pool. You’ll be looking in the ballpark of a few hundred dollars per panel.

With so many options, which do you like best? Send me an email or message me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Invasion of the Ladybugs

If you have a light-colored house with southwest-facing windows, you might be surprised to see ladybugs beginning to make their home in yours. 

Ladybugs are probably one of the least offensive insects out there, but when they start showing up en masse in your house, you might not be too happy about it. These cute red and black beetles are creatures of habit. They like light-colored houses because heat more easily reflects off them. As for the southwest window, they love warm, bright areas where the afternoon sun keeps them comfortable. Like many insects and animals, ladybugs hibernate during the winter and wake up in the spring. They find tiny cracks and crevices, generally around windows, to creep into a home and rest for the colder months. When they find a comfortable spot, they release a pheromone to attract others, which is why you generally find more than one or two. Then they rest through the winter and start to wake up around now, not unlike our bear population.

While ladybugs might seem problematic, they are actually harmless. Unlike other wood and fabric-eating insects, ladybugs won’t feast on your home. On the contrary, as the weather warms, they actually look to get back outside. So if you are willing to be patient, the bugs will leave on their own. However, if you have a large infestation or just hate the idea of bugs in your house, the best thing to do is to vacuum them up and dispose of them outdoors. Why a vacuum? Killing the bugs in a way that is stressful will cause them to release their own blood, a yellow substance called hemolymph. This is a ladybug’s way of telling a predator that they are a no-good meal, but hemolymph also stains and stinks. Using a vacuum is gentler and will allow you to get the bugs back outside alive which is exactly where they want to be. 

As I mentioned, ladybugs will make their way back outside in the next few weeks but that doesn’t mean they won’t come back in the fall. Your best bet is to seal those southwest-facing windows to keep the bugs out and the heat in. Use caulk for small gaps or buy some weatherstripping to create a tighter seal around windows. Also, be sure to remove air conditioning units once the summer is over. Leaving them in will absolutely give ladybugs an opportunity to settle in for another season of comfort in your home. 

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.