Framing Contractors

Industry Profile Report

Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters

Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.

Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.

Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.

Industry Profile Excerpts

Industry Overview

The 11,730 framing contractors in the US erect the structural framing and sheathing in buildings, using primarily wood. Single family homes account for 49% of industry sales. Other types of projects include apartment buildings and commercial buildings (stores, restaurants, gas stations, parking garages).

Vulnerability to Trends in the Housing Market

The framing contracting industry is primarily dependent on upstream demand from the residential construction industry, which is cyclical and sensitive to economic conditions.

Dependence on Skilled Labor

Framing contractors rely on a skilled labor force willing to perform physically demanding work in all types of weather conditions.

Industry size & Structure

The average framing contractor operates out of a single location, employs 7 workers, and generates about $1.4 million annually.

    • The framing contracting industry consists of about 11,730 establishments that employ about 84,700 workers and generate about $16.6 billion annually.
    • The industry is fragmented. Most firms are small, independent operators; over 70% of firms generate less than $500,000 annually.
    • The framing stage accounts for 20.5% of construction costs, the second highest cost category, after interior finishes, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Of the detailed items in new home construction, framing and trusses accounted for the largest share of costs (18.4%).
                            Industry Forecast
                            Framing Contractors Industry Growth
                            Source: Vertical IQ and Inforum

                            Recent Developments

                            Mar 8, 2024 - Framing Employment, Wages Rise
                            • Amid competition for skilled workers, framing wages rose in 2023. In Q4 2023, framing contractor wages were up significantly compared to a year earlier, and employment was up moderately. Wage growth that outpaces framing contractors’ ability to raise prices may suggest contractors are having to sweeten compensation to attract enough workers, which could pressure margins. However, framers’ margins may be getting some relief as prices for some key inputs decline. In Q4 2023, producer prices for softwood cut stock and dimensional lumber were sharply lower than they were a year earlier.
                            • Total nonresidential building construction spending is projected to rise 8% in 2024 over 2023, according to FMI’s first-quarter 2024 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. With growth of 18%, manufacturing will lead 2024 nonresidential building construction, followed by lodging (+12%), educational (+10%), and healthcare (+8%). Some other segments of the nonresidential building sector face headwinds, including high interest rates, inflation, and tighter lending standards. These pressures and high vacancy rates will reduce office project spending by 2% in 2024. Commercial project spending is forecast to decline by 4% in 2024. High interest rates will also challenge the housing market. Single-family construction spending is forecast to drop 5% in 2024 after falling 14% in 2023. Spending for multifamily is expected to decline 15% in 2024 after projects in development peaked at 1 million units in mid-2023. Home improvement project spending will drop 4% in 2024 from 3% growth in 2023.
                            • Home sizes increased during the pandemic as families sought more space, and interest rates were near record lows. As interest rates have risen and homes have become less affordable, the trend is reversing, and homes are getting smaller, according to National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis of Census Bureau data. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the median single-family home square footage was 2,156, which is the lowest since 2010. The NAHB suggests that smaller home sizes will likely persist amid continued affordability issues.
                            • To cope with housing shortages and a lack of affordability, many municipalities are changing their zoning rules to encourage more housing development, according to NPR. Cities find their zoning rules rigid and outdated, making building new housing stock difficult and expensive. Some cities are changing their rules to allow more multifamily developments, including townhomes and apartments, and permitting accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which add a secondary structure on one lot. Some cities have also reduced lot-size requirements, encouraging greater density and the number of available housing units.
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