Roofing and Siding Contractors NAICS 238160, 238170

Apr 10, 2025 - Tariffs Could Drive Up Roofing Costs

• On April 9, the Trump administration paused its reciprocal tariff agenda for 90 days for most countries but left in place a baseline 10% import duty on all countries except China, which faces total tariffs of 145%. Under the original reciprocal tariff plan, key inputs, including lumber, steel, aluminum, and copper, were exempt. Canada and Mexico are not subject to the new 10% baseline tariffs, and goods trading under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement will remain duty-free. However, on March 12, a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports went into effect. Canadian softwood lumber imports are subject to a 14.5% anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty. Some construction industry insiders suggest that gaining complete visibility into supply chains to assess tariff implications accurately won’t be easy. Uncertainties brought on by tariffs could slow or stop new project investments, although projects already underway are likely to stay on track, according to Construction Dive.
• In late March, attendees of a regional residential construction trade show in Rhode Island mulled the impact tariffs will have on the industry’s supply chains, according to the Providence Journal. A manufacturer of wind-resistant asphalt shingles said the oil needed to make the shingles comes from Canada, which is the only source because US oil is too rich. Energy products from Canada and Mexico not included in the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement are subject to a 10% tariff. Some industry insiders noted that, where possible, contractors may pivot to US-made products that contain US-derived raw materials. However, a scramble for domestically produced materials could result in shortages.

• The continued rise in the median age of US housing stocks may present opportunities for roofing and siding contractors. In an April report, National Association of Home Builders analysis of US Census Bureau data showed that nearly half of owner-occupied homes were built before 1980. In 2023, the median age of owner-occupied homes reached 41 years, up from 31 years in 2005. Median home age has increased since the Great Recession when new housing production dropped dramatically. Since then, home building activity has not kept pace with demand. US homes require more maintenance and repairs as they age, driving remodeling spending. The lock-in effect of low mortgage rates during the pandemic is also prompting homeowners to renovate rather than move and face a higher interest rate.
• The total value of construction put in place increased 0.7% in February compared to January, according to the US Census Bureau. Spending on nonresidential projects rose 0.3% to a record $1.26 trillion. Residential spending grew 1.3%. Key areas of nonresidential building construction spending growth included amusement and recreation (up 1.3% in February over January) and commercial (+1.1); most other nonresidential building segments posted flat or negative growth. While public nonresidential spending was up 6.1% in February over the same month in 2024, private nonresidential spending has not kept pace, growing just 2.5% over the same period. In a press release, Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu said, “The mix of high interest rates, tight lending standards, and unprecedented uncertainty regarding trade policy will continue to weigh on private sector construction in the coming months.”