Replies

1. 
   roger g | Dec 21, 2008 11:11pm | #1

   I was wondering the same thing. I'm surprised that shingles are $26.00 a bundle down where you are because that is the price up here on the west coast of Canada. You guys are usually much cheaper on almost everything. More so if you take into consideration the Canadaian dollar.
   At Home Depot a couple of weeks ago the price of 1/2 drywall went UP!!! to almost $14.00 a sheet from $12. something a sheet.

   roger

1. 
   edwardh1 | Dec 22, 2008 01:10am | #2

   plus home construction stopped- whatever happenned to supply and demand

1. 
   roger g | Dec 22, 2008 01:43am | #4

   Construction hasn't stopped here as much as yours though things will start grinding to a halt pretty soon.roger

2. 
   seeyou | Dec 22, 2008 01:17am | #3

   The explanation that I got was: The manufacturers had been holding back on price increases since because of hurricanes and hailstorms, their volume was way up and that was compensating for higher costs. Then as costs continued to rise volume started to fall off, so they had to start jacking prices quickly.

   Fuel is part of the price equation, but higher asphalt prices are a bigger slice. Anybody priced driveway work lately?

   http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image        

1. 
   rez | Dec 22, 2008 03:20am | #5

   Use to buy Lowes shingle bundles that had been split open for $5

   and just recently they started wrapping those split bundles in plastic for normal priced resale. 

    

    

    

    

   94969.19  In the beginning there was Breaktime...

2. 
   turlough286 | Dec 23, 2008 05:34pm | #15

   It took 40 years for asphalt to rise from $15/ton to $50.  It took one year to rise from $50/ ton to $88.  Two months ago the plants would guarantee prices for one day only.  The problem now is that even though prices for liquid asphalt have dropped to around $600/ liquid ton from its high of $800/LT , no one will quote todays price on highway projects.  A job bid just last week priced asphalt 5% below the highest price ever even though  constituent materials are off 25%. 

   I'll bet you really don't want to know all that do you? 

   Merry Christmas to you and your'n

1. 
   seeyou | Dec 23, 2008 06:35pm | #16

   >>>>>>>>>I'll bet you really don't want to know all that do you?<<<<<<<< I don't really care much one way or the other. As long as everybody else has to pay what I pay, then the playing field is level. We all have to make a living.And Merry Christmas to you.http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image        

3. 
   Pelipeth | Dec 22, 2008 03:24am | #6

   Could be the price is still up at that yard because they have NOT turned over the stock, and what they are selling was bought by them at a higher price. Maybe you can check on the pkg. for a born on date, that might be a hint??????

1. 
   pebble | Dec 22, 2008 03:57am | #7

   Well, no I don't think so. They call the yard and have it shipped to them. I had them call for a quote only and it was unchanged. This is the Home Depot Pro desk. Funny thing is if I bypass the pro desk and go straight to the yard they charge even more!Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OKEdit: I didn't think to check the born on date. What stock they did have on hand was still pretty full pallets.

   Edited 12/21/2008 7:59 pm by Pebble

4. 
   ponytl | Dec 22, 2008 04:20am | #8

   pretty sure they will drop in price... if you can hold out... 

   the millwork guy at HD called me today... he'd stopped me a few times asking to quote on anything i had... so i needed about 30 masonite prehung doors... a 2 panel design that doesn't look or feel too cheap... in a flat jam...

   I hated to tell him but his price was double what i could get the exact same thing for from my door supplier except that my door supplier could get it (make it ) for me with the 4 3/4 jamb i needed...  HDs i'd have to add 1/4" to...

   he asks... man why didn't you tell me you were shop'n price?  OK... I tell everyone when i'm getting a quote... make me your best deal...  i never come back and play quotes against each other...  In my minds eye if you offer me a better price after you have give'n me your "best price" then you  lied... and i won't deal with you anyway (unless you found some old stock that i can have for 1970's prices)

   i hate play'n the price game... just like i hate feel'n i got screwed

   p

1. 
   Pelipeth | Dec 22, 2008 02:20pm | #9

   That's exactly how I feel, be it 2x4's or a 4x4 truck. I'm only asking once, give me your best price the lst time.

2. 
   Matt | Dec 22, 2008 04:16pm | #10

   Here is the way I do it on larger items like framing packages, sheetrock orders, roofing, and trim packages.  I get prices from 3 yards and then ask the lowest price place if they can lower their price a few percent.  Works more than half the time...  If they say no, I'll tell them I'll think about it.  Then I check back in a few days, and buy it either way.  To me, it's like a dance...  My situation might be a little different because we have accounts and these guys know me.  Also, I don't deal with home centers except for using them as a hardware store.

1. 
   ponytl | Dec 23, 2008 02:48am | #11

   my feeling is... if i ask for the best price... and then they offer to lower it latter when they think they won't get the order... Looks like they lied the first time... now if they come back at a better price... how do i now know they aren't screw'n me?

   i have a budget in mind for about everything... i know prices of what i'm interested in... so in most cases i can spot a deal... or a screw'n...

   if i can't afford someones price... i tell em so... no hard feelings  my tastes just passed my budget

   p

1. 
   Matt | Dec 23, 2008 03:42pm | #12

   >> my feeling is... if i ask for the best price... and then they offer to lower it latter when they think they won't get the order... Looks like they lied the first time... <<

   Not the way I look at it... Now adays building supplies are willing to cut their profit to the bare bones just to make a sale.   They may not be willing to offer up the lowest price immediately though.     In the end, if I get the lowest price possible, I've done my job.  As far as having a budget for everything - that is true too, but the price of building materials is so volatile that the budget I set for - say sheetrock - today, could be 3% high or 3% low next month.

   It's like buying a car.  Some car dealers advertise "no bargaining necessary - our first price is our best price".  I say fooeey - there is always room for a little bargaining.  Again - just to make a sale.  Don't get me wrong - I'm not one of those people who have to bargain on everything, nor am I a "tire kicker".  As a matter of fact - either of those get on my nerves.  Big ticket items though - you gotta look out for yourself.

   Regarding "making the sale" and building materials, I've even heard "How about if I toss in some sports tickets." :-)  

   Side note: new construction is probably different from remodeling, etc, since we are generally buying a whole house of whatever the material in question is.

5. 
   Catspaw | Dec 23, 2008 04:17pm | #13

   "It is still too cold to shingle so I will wait til spring anyways. "

   Gee, I'm just waiting for the temp. to get to the high side of zero before I head back up on the roof! I know that they won't seal in this weather but these triple laminate shingles I'm using are about as stiff as a 2X4 (even when warm) so I'm not really worried about them lifting. The 2 feet of snow on top should hold them down pretty well also.

   - Rich

1. 
   pebble | Dec 23, 2008 04:54pm | #14

   Lol I am a wimp. A little snow and ice on the road and the whole state gets antsy. I would prefer to do roofing on a cold day than a hot day though. The summers here are brutal at times. Plus shingles don't slag off underfoot when cold like they do when half melted in the heat.Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK

1. 
   rez | Dec 26, 2008 03:41am | #17

   Ah, Tulsa.

   If you don't like winter weather one day, hang around another as it's guaranteed to change. 

    

    

    

    

   94969.19  In the beginning there was Breaktime...

1. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Dec 26, 2008 04:23am | #18

   i'm only north of tulsa a 100 miles and you got that right,we've been in the freezer for 2 weeks,last night it was 4 friday it's suppose to be 63! probably by the end of the year we'll be back to 4.YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'TMOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THEDUCT TAPE.

2. 
   pebble | Dec 26, 2008 05:52am | #19

   Yup, if it weren't for Xmas today would have been ideal. 54 F.Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK