In a constantly shifting world, natural building resources like Baltic Birch have become harder to obtain. Image: TheGypsyThread.com
Recent world events from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine have created shortages and shipping delays in everything from microchips to building materials. This severely impacted construction material prices, which surged 20% between January 2021 and January 2022.
How did we get here, and what is the solution when your upcoming project calls for a reliable supply of wood for your projects? Let’s dive in.
How we got here
Toward the end of February, Russia invaded Ukraine. Many countries, including the United States, imposed sanctions to pressure Russia into calling off its war effort. One such sanction was preventing the import of Baltic Birch into the U.S.
Baltic Birch has become a staple in the production of engineered flooring for many manufacturers in the U.S. One National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) survey conducted earlier this year indicated that 95% of member respondents used Baltic Birch in their engineered flooring products.
According to industry sources, this will drastically impact trades that rely on this wood species in the coming months. For companies that did not stock up, that could be as soon as several months to a year when supply runs dry. With this level of disruption in supply, engineered flooring products may become hard to find and will most likely have significant price increases.
So, what’s the solution? A shift toward regional materials.
Exploring local options
Fortunately, Baltic Birch is not the only choice for quality plywood and engineered flooring substrates. TerraMai works with FSC® Certified Monterey Pine – a more dimensionally stable option than species like Downy Birch, typically used in Baltic Birch plywood.
Over the years we’ve seen millions of square feet of TerraMai engineered flooring and paneling installed in a variety of projects and climates, showcasing its flexibility in application. The supply chain is well established and stable, leaving TerraMai in a strong position to be able to supply the market with high quality engineered flooring and paneling during the forecasted shortage.
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