Framing Costs Are Climbing Again — Timing Your Lumber Buy Just Got More Important
A new tariff increase on Canadian softwood lumber is set to push the total tariff rate on imported framing lumber to 35.9% starting this month, and suppliers across the Pacific Northwest are already seeing the effect: framing lumber costs have climbed roughly 4.4% month-over-month and 3.1% year-over-year.
Since Canada supplies the large majority of softwood lumber used across the region, this isn’t a marginal issue — it’s a direct hit to framing budgets on every residential and light commercial job using dimensional lumber. The practical advice suppliers are giving contractors right now is blunt: material bought today will very likely cost less than the same order placed in the coming months. For contractors bidding jobs with a framing package still to be purchased, locking in pricing or accelerating procurement ahead of the full tariff phase-in is worth a serious look — the math on waiting doesn’t favor patience this cycle.
[Source: Builders Supply & Home Center, July 2026]
