Tariffs on construction materials can affect far more than the price of imported goods. Steel, aluminum, lumber, equipment, and other building products can influence construction pricing, procurement, project schedules, change management, and ultimately the cost of delivering a project.
In this episode of What the RFI?, I look at tariffs through the lens of Construction Administration and discuss how changes in Canada–U.S. trade can work their way into construction projects.
Recorded during an earlier stage of the Canada–U.S. tariff discussions, this episode explores the potential impacts of tariffs and what architects, contractors, consultants, owners, and project managers should be thinking about when material costs begin changing.
We cover:
• What tariffs are and how they work
• How tariffs can affect construction costs
• Steel and aluminum pricing
• Softwood lumber and construction
• Imported construction materials and products
• How tariffs can affect contractor pricing
• Material escalation during construction
• Procurement and project planning
• Tariffs on projects already under construction
• Who may ultimately bear increased material costs
• Reviewing contracts when unexpected costs arise
• Construction Administration during periods of price uncertainty
• Communication between owners, architects, consultants, and contractors
• Real-world examples of changing construction costs
Tariffs aren't simply an economic or political issue for the construction industry.
When the cost of steel, lumber, aluminum, equipment, or other building materials changes, those increases can eventually affect bids, change pricing, procurement decisions, project budgets, and schedules.
For projects already under construction, one of the biggest questions becomes:
**Who is responsible for the increased cost?**
The answer depends on the contract, procurement timing, material source, and circumstances surrounding the project.
That's why understanding the Contract Documents and maintaining clear communication between the owner, consultant team, and contractor becomes particularly important when material markets are changing.
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## Chapters
00:00 - Tariffs and the Construction Industry
02:59 - What Are Tariffs?
06:10 - How Tariffs Affect Construction Costs
08:57 - Real-World Construction Impacts
12:10 - Tariffs, Contracts and Construction Administration
15:06 - Material Costs, Risk and What's Next
#ConstructionCosts #Tariffs #ConstructionAdministration
What the RFI? — The Construction Administration Podcast
Practical guidance for architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, owners, and project managers navigating construction administration.