BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 8, 2021
Lumber prices are through the roof. In February, prices reached an all-time high at just over $1,000 per 1,000 square board feet — which is double the price from November 2020. Other commodities, such as sheetrock, plywood, steel and roofing are also at a premium, and can sometimes be in short supply as demand remains unusually high. The squeeze is felt by both large-scale construction and small home projects. In Maine, projects ranging from a major upgrade to a Piscataquis County ski resort to the installation of a new footbridge in downtown Bangor have all met with delays or budget increases due to rising costs and supply issues.