Wood-Related Materials and Labor Make Up 30% of a New Home Cost

Close to one-third of the cost of building a new single-family home in America involves framing, flooring and other wood materials.

Wood materials remain the single largest cost for new single-family homes in the country according to a new study from the National Association of Home Builders. The report is based on the association’s annual construction cost survey and covers the 2022 building year.

Fast Company, in reporting the findings, found that total construction costs for the average single-family home included in the survey was $392,241. The average sale price of these homes was $644,750.

The largest expenditure in home construction was for framing, including roofs: $60,831, or 15.51 percent of the total cost. Excavation work, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and exterior wall finish (which might or might not include the use of wood and is not used in the total here) followed and together accounted for about a third of all construction costs.

Several of the next categories were all wood related: cabinets and countertops, $17,775, 4.53 percent; windows and doors (including garage doors), $13,158, 3.35 percent; flooring, $13,019, 3.32 percent; interior trims, doors and mirrors, $12,727, 3.24 percent; roofing if not included above, $11,496, 2.93 percent; and trusses if not included above, $11,479, 2.93 percent.

Other incidentals that might be related to the use of wood in home construction, like architectural and engineering fees and paint and finishing are not included in the overall wood total. Nor are things like permits and any impact studies that might be required in new construction.

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