Joist and Deck Shortages - Updates? 2

[phamENG]

At long last I have a steel job in the pipeline. (Wood is interesting and has been growing on me, but it's been getting old doing it day in and day out.) I know last year there was a pretty big squeeze on joist and deck. I know steel in general has been high and lots of folks have been keeping stocks low and pulling spot orders from mills as they need material, but as I understand it fabricated steel products like joists and rolled sheet was running many months (10+) behind. Any updates? Are people still seeing this? Thanks.

East coast/Mid-Atlantic if anyone has any region specific insights, but nationwide knowledge is still valuable as these things ship pretty long distances.

 

[straub46]

Last steel joist job I worked on had around a 40 week joist lead time. I've also had a few questions about feasibility of changing jobs from PEMB with joists to conventional steel construction due to lead times.

Go Bucks!

 

[Enable]

Priced a job last week. Joists were March 2023 lead time from the big players.

Suggestion is go hot-rolled if you can based on sections available at local distribution center (anything not on-shore is a problem to get). If the job isn't one restricted to the biggest of shops you should be fine from the fabricator standpoint. Smaller(ish) fabricators don't have the same backlog as the large steel fabricators since our jobs, well, ain't that big!

 

[DrZoidberWoop]

Just finished up a plate girder roof system for a warehouse because over 2 year wait time for joists, as of late 2021.

 

[phamENG]

Wow. Okay. Thanks. Hot rolled it is!

We have a small deck fabricator in town, so I'll call them and see if I can get a feel for availability on that side of the equation.

 

[XR250]

In my area, i-beams and decking seem to be pretty easy to get. The decking seems to be expensive AF, however.

 

[kipfoot]

Still seeing this.

Just finished a one-story concrete block wall addition to a light industrial building in Chesterfield Co. 54' x 40'. I suggested that we could do this column-free if we used steel joists, but contractor found the lead time to be untenable. (I don't remember exactly, but it was many many months) So, we have a couple columns and footings and W16s at the roof. I issued a preliminary framing sketch so that the contractor could check availability of the steel sizes.

It's almost to the point where you ask, "what steel sizes to you have in the yard?" and design based on that.

 

[JLNJ]

I have a report from a month ago that deck prices are up 400%. Don't know if that's still the case.

 

[phamENG]

Thanks. Especially good to hear from kipfoot, and XR isn't too far from me either. Sounds like it won't be long and we'll be looking at castellated beam design again...

Talked to the local deck fabricator. They said they have no supply issues and they don't have extended lead times. To quote the email: "It’s still at elevated prices, but it is readily attainable."

 

[EZBuilding]

Wish we could say the same for our consulting services XD.

I have also not hear any push back on steel deck - but have shied away from steel joists. Had a project recently get re-designed to change to hot-rolled.

 

[milkshakelake]

In NYC, it's a fluctuating market but generally, joist and deck lead times are 3-4 months. Not many people are using them right now because of that. I redesigned two cold formed steel buildings (approved a while back, when cold formed steel was king) to concrete; double the design fee, no problem.

Structural steel is also not being used as much because concrete prices are lower and steel prices are higher. A fabricator I work with said he hates these concrete companies taking business away from him.

 

[Brad805]

I asked our main supplier for a couple of OWSJ/deck budgets a while back after he confirmed the supply was back to the 8-10week mark. We have another project where we are waiting 3-4 months. A unit of time now seems = 1 month. I reached out again today for a new project as a result of the comments here.

 

[EZBuilding]

I just remembered coming across DPR Construction Market Conditions tool - see link:

[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.dpr.com/company/market-conditions
[/url]
It's a pretty neat tool, though more useful to illustrate to broad strokes across the industry versus local conditions. It currently identifies a 31-33 week lead time for steel joists versus 15-17 week lead time for steel deck.

 

[phamENG]

That's a neat tool, EZBuilding. Thanks for sharing.

 

[bones206]

Just got a market update report from a local GC. Shows 3 month lead time for steel joists, which was surprising.

 

[phamENG]

Certainly shorter than what everyone else is talking about. Where are you located? (Your profile says Maine, but I was thinking you were in PA?) Do you think the job size has anything to do with it?

 

[bones206]

Ayut, I'm a born and raised Mainer. Just chased work all over until eventually wandering back a few years ago.

This contractor is one of the major players in the New England area. We've been hearing 12+ lead time on joists for a while now so not sure where they are getting this 3 month figure from.

I recently gave a CM four alternative framing schemes to price out for a new fire station, including two based on joists and JG's. Hoping to hear back soon and will report back what they have for lead time.

 

[phamENG]

Awesome. Did a few jobs for a corporate client at my last firm up there - Farmington, Portland, Machias, Millinocket. I love it up there. I'd move there in a heartbeat if it didn't get so cold.

Locally the lumber suppliers have been giving preference to the 'big fish.' Giving the big guys short lead times and first right of refusal on shipments of hard to get stuff while everyone else is stuck waiting for 20 weeks for a window. Maybe this guy has a similar in with a joist supplier?

 

[bones206]

When I complained about cold winter days as a kid, my dad would say, "a cold day keeps the a**holes away". Now that I'm back, seems like there are more way a**holes per capita then when I left... I blame global warming

We could use some more southern expats who aren't in such a rush, to balance out the all the anxious tailgater-type folks moving in from New York and Massachusetts. With the advent of remote work, there are definitely many urban refugees coming in to seek a slower pace of life here in "the woods".

I think you are right about the big fish effect. Especially with the boom in warehouse demand.

 

[ALK2415]

@ phamENG
you could use RAM SBEAM software could help you from [Bentley systems]
very useful one ...