For teams exploring mass timber and looking at pricing on new projects, it can be challenging to compare the numbers you get from different mass timber companies. Mass timber isn't a commodity. Components are custom-made for a specific application in a specific project. Different manufacturers have different capabilities, and companies will offer varying levels of design support and prefabrication. So how can a project team effectively solicit and compare mass timber pricing?
1. Start by learning about the different components of the mass timber industry: manufacturers v. suppliers v. installers.
2. Approach the kinds of companies that best suit your needs.
3. Make a scope checklist to clearly define what is and isn't included in pricing.
4. Pay attention to details - here in the Northeast, mass timber often comes from outside the U.S., so it's important to define who pays import duties, who bears exchange rate risk, and who's responsible for shipping and insuring goods in transit.
The earlier this work starts, the better!
How do you compare pricing from different mass timber suppliers when offers include different levels of service and materials? A scope checklist can help! We’ve got one in our Project Handbook that’s free to download, along with a whole article on ways to compare pricing between mass timber companies. Check it out!
