If you've got fence, porch railing or low-slope roofing work on the books for late fall, the materials list is about to get more expensive. A run of manufacturer letters posted on ABC Supply's price update page and by other distributors puts a string of increases into effect between Nov. 1 and Nov. 16 (via ABC Supply).
None of these are huge on their own. Stacked up across a job, and landing right as a lot of shops are pricing winter and early-spring work, they're worth a look before you send the next quote.
Fencing takes the biggest hit. Ameristar, the ornamental steel fence maker owned by Assa Abloy, told customers in an Oct. 13 notice that most of its line goes up 15% on orders shipped on or after Nov. 1. That covers its residential and commercial panels and posts, the Aero, Echelon, Liberty and Industrial lines, and all Jerith gates and hardware. Its GalvOnAll and PermaCoat items rise 10%. The same distributor bulletin board shows American Tube and Pipe raising prices 8% on all products for shipments starting Nov. 1.
Porch and deck railing is next. AFCO Columns & Railings sent a letter dated Oct. 1 announcing a 7.5% increase across all its products, effective with orders received on or after Monday, Nov. 2. The company pointed to resin costs and said it's also reviewing its prepaid freight terms, with any changes to come in a separate notice. Updated multipliers are supposed to follow.
On commercial and low-slope roofs, Continental Materials Inc. is raising fiberboard and cant strip and tapered edge products 6% to 8% nationwide on Nov. 2. Pay attention to the fine print here: CMI says the new price applies to anything that ships on or after that date, no matter when it was ordered. The company cited higher energy, materials and transportation costs and is telling customers with open job quotes to confirm them before the deadline.
Roofing accessory maker Cody Company has a blended 7% increase on all products starting Nov. 9, according to its letter on the ABC Supply page. The company says it will honor reasonable-quantity orders placed before that date at current pricing.
Owens Corning is raising its FOAMULAR NGX extruded polystyrene foam board 5%, effective Nov. 16, according to a notice dated Oct. 12 and posted by distributor Negwer.
There's a freight piece, too. Ventilation maker Lomanco is adding a 2% fuel surcharge to all orders placed on or after Nov. 1, capped at $600 per order. Its Oct. 19 letter, posted by Gulfeagle Supply, ties the surcharge to diesel prices and says the company may adjust it as the market moves.
Why it matters for Contractors
The timing rules aren't the same from one letter to the next, and that's where a small shop can get caught. Ameristar, American Tube and Pipe and CMI price by ship date. AFCO, Lomanco and Cody go by when the order is placed or received. If you're counting on the old price for a job, ask your supplier which rule applies and whether the material will actually ship before the cutoff.
If you've got signed fence or railing jobs that start after the first of the month, consider ordering now or at least locking in a price with your yard. For quotes still out with customers, check your expiration dates. A 30-day quote written in early October could be in the field after these increases land.
And for anything you're bidding today, use November numbers, not October's. A 15% bump on fence panels can eat a good chunk of the margin on a residential install if you don't catch it.