Those rebuilding after L.A. fires will likely face higher lumber prices as Trump tariffs loom

[Zorro]

Devastating, often tragic as the Los Angeles wildfires have been, rebuilding could bring nightmares all its own, including murky insurance rules, material shortages and potentially higher cost for everything from lumber to bathtubs.

In terms of economic upheaval, it could be the construction industry equivalent of what the COVID-19 pandemic did to the economy just a few years ago.

The incoming Trump administration’s plans to slap new tariffs on imports from many countries including Canada — by far the biggest foreign supplier of lumber for the U.S. market — could set off new waves of inflation in home building.

Lumber is the single biggest component of homebuilding materials, accounting for about 15% of overall home construction costs. Southern California builders use wood for framing homes that’s sourced mostly from Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-01-16/trumps-tariff-plans-add-to-worries-of-rising-rebuilding-costs-in-wake-of-fires-lumber-prices

[dem4decades]

1. Doesn't matter, there won't be enough workers to use the lumber anyway.

[RainCaster]

3. They will all be run out of the country by the Red-Orange Purge

All those skilled framers & roofers in SoCal will be forced back to MX or further south.

[riversedge]

2. By the time they start rebuilding Trumpters will be blaming the Democrats.

[Kablooie]

4. There also will ,be a huge demand for building supplies and construction workers.

Which means prices will for up for that reason too.
And workers will become scarce because of Trump which will raise costs and lengthen time schedules.
It’s a perfect storm to make the misery of the fire communities even more miserable.