Listen. We’ve known for a long time that concrete construction offers a multitude of benefits. Not to mention that it is a cost-effective building material both in the short and long term. However, many of our partners – architects, engineers, developers, and general contractors – still believe that wood is the cheaper option.

Guess what? It’s well past time to dispel that myth.

Take a look at the chart to the left. While your eye may be drawn to the major increase in wood pricing this year, what’s more important to note is the trend since 2009. Wood pricing has seen a steady increase year-over-year since that time. And it’s safe to say that increase has well outpaced any inflation. Now look at the trend for concrete. Yes, there’s an increase but it’s more in line with inflation. The numbers tell the story.

So what’s the message we share with our partners? While it’s easy (and tempting) to reference the current price discrepancy, we all know that market changes. What doesn’t change is history. And history tells us that concrete construction is more cost-effective than wood construction and has been for the past ten years. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. We need to make sure the conversation isn’t just centered on price. Concrete offers so many other benefits that matter and need to be reinforced including strength, safety, ease of use, flexibility and energy efficiency. Pricing is just one part of the bigger story for concrete construction.

Now, we’re all aware that many decisions are in fact made based on price. And given the current market, it makes sense to “strike while the iron is hot” so to speak. That’s where the Concrete Design Center can help. As a quick reminder, this tool provides tangible, quantifiable data on any given project, highlighting estimated short- and long-term costs for wood or steel construction compared to concrete construction.

VRMCA Promotions Director Hessam Nabavi is happy to discuss all things concrete with you and your partners. He can also get the ball rolling if you have a project you’d like to run through the Concrete Design Center review process. Simply contact him directly to get things started!