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It sounds like it’s a big deal, and it’s been all over the media, yet US housing starts are still below the levels seem in February 2020, so it’s more a return

It sounds like it’s a big deal, and it’s been all over the media, yet US housing starts are still below the levels seem in February 2020, so it’s more a return to normal than anything. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/housing-starts https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/housing-starts That being said, lumber prices are up 50% for just six months ago.

aaomidi 6y ago
> That being said, lumber prices are up 50% for just six months ago. How much of this is because of wildfires causing disruptions?
- foota 6y ago
  I don't think there's that much logging in california, is there? This site[1] has an outdated table. California was 6% of lumber production in 2015. 1: https://oregonforests.org/blog/oregon-number-one https://oregonforests.org/blog/oregon-number-one
  - nostrademons 6y ago
    The areas that are burning are not really large timber producers. The CZU fire is largely in protected state & county parks. The SCU and LNU fires are largely in ranch grassland & chaparral, frequently used for grazing cattle. Christmas season may be a bust though - a lot of the Christmas tree farms in the Bay Area are in areas threatened by the CZU fire. Most of the timber production in California comes from way up north, in the Eureka area and in the Sierra Nevadas. This area is somewhat resistant to fires since it gets so much more moisture and precipitation.
  - aaomidi 6y ago
    > I don't think there's that much logging in california, is there? No idea was just thinking out loud
- maxerickson 6y ago
  Uncertainty is bad for the supply chain. Saw mills aren't sure they are going to buy logs and living trees are better than rotting logs and so on.
nemo44x 6y ago
It’s crazy. I’ve spoken with a few local contractors and they’re having hard times even trying to get materials. Wood is really hard to come by.
throwaway0a5e 6y ago
Lumber prices always peak in summer because professional and amateur construction both peak in summer. The fact that people are calling into meetings on mute while building their decks is increasing demand even further.

aaomidi 6y ago

> That being said, lumber prices are up 50% for just six months ago. How much of this is because of wildfires causing disruptions?

foota 6y ago
I don't think there's that much logging in california, is there? This site[1] has an outdated table. California was 6% of lumber production in 2015. 1: https://oregonforests.org/blog/oregon-number-one https://oregonforests.org/blog/oregon-number-one
- nostrademons 6y ago
  The areas that are burning are not really large timber producers. The CZU fire is largely in protected state & county parks. The SCU and LNU fires are largely in ranch grassland & chaparral, frequently used for grazing cattle. Christmas season may be a bust though - a lot of the Christmas tree farms in the Bay Area are in areas threatened by the CZU fire. Most of the timber production in California comes from way up north, in the Eureka area and in the Sierra Nevadas. This area is somewhat resistant to fires since it gets so much more moisture and precipitation.
- aaomidi 6y ago
  > I don't think there's that much logging in california, is there? No idea was just thinking out loud
maxerickson 6y ago
Uncertainty is bad for the supply chain. Saw mills aren't sure they are going to buy logs and living trees are better than rotting logs and so on.

nemo44x 6y ago

It’s crazy. I’ve spoken with a few local contractors and they’re having hard times even trying to get materials. Wood is really hard to come by.

throwaway0a5e 6y ago

Lumber prices always peak in summer because professional and amateur construction both peak in summer. The fact that people are calling into meetings on mute while building their decks is increasing demand even further.