This is how you solve the construction when prices are rising

The high construction trade prices of recent years are due in part to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. In one year, the price of wood products has increased by 45 percent, according to Statistics Sweden.

The building material has on average become more than 24 percent more expensive, new figures show. The cost trend for steel and wood stands out the most. Between April 2021 and April 2022, the price of reinforcing steel and wood products increased by 107.2 and 45.4 percent, respectively.

Many people spend their holidays ate various renovations and construction projects, but considering this year’s price increases, a lot of Swedes should keep extra tight in their wallets and wait with the carpentry.

Hobby carpenter Mattias Karlsson shakes his head when he talks about how much more expensive the price of wood has become. He lives with his family in Nordmaling, between Örnsköldsvik and Umeå. They have lived in their current house since 2004, but it is only in recent years that the family has begun to make major renovations and constructions in and around the house. A couple of years ago, they changed the roof and built a large terrace of 120 square meters.

– I’m glad we did those projects then and not now, because it might not have happened now given today’s costs of building materials. Or it had hurt financially at least, says Mattias Karlsson.

Since young age has he always liked to work with his hands and messed with bikes, mops and cars. But for the past 25 years, the interest in wood carpentry and wooden boats has taken over. He has owned old boats manufactured from the 1910s until the 60s and working with them has taught him to find creative special solutions.

When he came across a bunch of abandoned pallet collars at work, all sorts of ideas began to spin around in Mattias’ head. He called his partner Jenny home and they agreed that the pallet collars could be used to build flower boxes. After doing so, his thoughts turned to building a group of patio chairs that he had been thinking about for a year.

But could he really do it only with timber from pallet collars?

– It may not be the best and strongest wood you have to work with, but I thought that it can certainly work well and last a few years after all. It was worth a chance because it was a fun idea and completely free. Had I not taken them home, they would otherwise have been driven to the recycling center.

Mattias decided to try to build a model of the American Adirondack chairs – and after taking inspiration from the web, he put together his own drawing and design. It took him two hours to build the first chair and then it was just a matter of repeating the procedure so many times that all family members get a place each when the summer sun reaches Nordmaling.

– The first step is to paint and draw all the parts. Then you saw out all the pieces. After that, it is time to start screwing and gluing them together and then it is important to get both side pieces of the chair there first, so that you get a frame. You can then screw the seat and back and armrests to the frame. Finally, you can apply a little paint with the brush if you like it. I will paint mine in the pastel colors apricot, mint green, light blue and light pink.

– It’s fun to get “Ernst: a-laus” a little sometimes, says Mattias with a smile.

The garage next to the house he calls his little think tank or material bank. Inside is everything good and mixed that he has accumulated over the years. He goes in there to get inspiration for new ideas and to select materials for the construction that he is about to launch.

– There’s just as much stuff in there. It’s about as confused as in my head, he says and bursts out in a loud laugh, but you can always drag something useful out.

According to Mattias, there are ways to get away from the expensive material costs, as long as you think an extra turn if you can reuse things in your possession. An example of just that is one of his previous projects – when he used old battery water cans to plant cucumbers in.

The plastic surface of the cans can be avoided by covering with something more beautiful to look at, says Mattias. He therefore dressed them in wood from one of the old wooden boats and with small means he got to a peculiar design.

What is your best tip for saving money when carpentry at home this summer?

– I want to advocate reusing more. You can come up with fun things about everything. There are lots of materials and wood that are thrown away for recycling or incinerated. But I never throw a piece of wood or a steel pipe. It is important to take advantage of things that can be used. There is a lot of money to be saved.

– Then of course I understand that many may have limited areas and can not save as much old material as at home. But you may not have to throw everything away, and can then reuse certain things. Or maybe the neighbor or acquaintance has something that lies and that you can take over.

But if you are going to do a larger building then and do not have enough timber to build a terrace, for example?

– It’s good to look around a bit and compare prices. But if you are going to do a bigger job, it is best to ask for quotes from different suppliers. They have a margin and really want to sell as well. So I believe that there is a bargaining chip, just as it does at the bank when discussing interest rates, says Mattias Karlsson.