Framing Contractors
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Industry Overview
The framing contracting industry includes over 14,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $14 billion. This highly fragmented, local industry is composed of small, privately held companies. Over half of all framing contractors have less than five employees with average annual revenue of just over $200,000. Average annual revenue for the entire industry is about $1 million
Competitive Landscape
Demand is driven heavily by new home construction. The profitability of individual companies depends on a steady volume of contracted work, accurate work estimation, and cost controls. Large companies have advantages in working in multiple geographies and may have relationships with high-volume production homebuilders such as Centex, Pulte, or DR Horton. Small companies compete based on quality service and local reputation. The industry is labor intensive: average annual revenue per employee is about $90,000.
The industry is defined as contractors using materials other than steel or concrete, so the work consists primarily of residential construction.
Products, Operations & Technology
Major products are framing services for new construction (85 percent of industry revenue) and remodeling and repair services (15 percent). Single family homes account for 77 percent of framing contractors business with multi-family units about 11 percent.
Framing is one of many steps in building a house and represents about 20 percent of the total construction cost. Framing begins once the building foundation is laid. The framing structure is bolted to the foundation with anchor bolts. The floors, walls, and roof are created by assembling framing elements, typically two-by-four or two-by-six lumber, at consistent intervals. These studs provide a stable frame to which the walls are attached. Once the studs are raised, the roof is constructed using horizontal joists, trusses, and rafters. The roof is usually formed with pre-manufactured trusses that are delivered to the job site and hoisted onto the walls using cranes. The framing is inspected by local authorities to ensure local building codes are followed, and then the contractor is paid.
The availability of skilled labor is on ongoing concern. A typical 1,800 square foot house takes about two to three weeks to frame, depending on the design and number of framers on the job.
The primary raw material for framing is lumber, generally two-by-fours from eight to 20 feet long. Lumber is bought from local lumberyards for specific jobs; framing contractors try to carry little inventory. Some large framers have their own lumberyards to supply their jobs. Fasteners -- nails and staples -- are used to hold the wood structure together. Fasteners and power tools to apply them are bought from home building supply stores.
Large framing contractors may have information systems to help monitor sales and inventory. Small framing contractors may use software for preparing quotes and tracking expenses.