Use This NAHB Resource to Help Select New Home Building Materials

Business Management
Published

Home builders throughout the United States are grappling with building material price surges, and shortages or delays for certain orders, which are leading many to explore alternatives to complete or start projects.

Builders face many choices in selecting new products, materials, equipment and fixtures to use in constructing a home, and can determine which building materials best fit their needs by getting information about new or unfamiliar items from manufacturers and distributors. Carefully reviewing building material choices in advance may help eliminate non-conforming building materials, returns and possibly disputes.

NAHB has developed a guide, Assessing Building Materials, for builders who may not have their own review process for gathering information from manufacturers and distributors when considering the selection of new building materials.

The guide is intended to arm members with the most important factor when evaluating new materials or products: information. Use the guide to step through the information collection process to make an informed decision on deploying new products or materials. The guide is not intended to be exhaustive or all-inclusive, but it will help builders ask the right questions and seek the most relevant information.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Membership

Feb 06, 2026

A Message from Jim Chapman, Candidate for NAHB 2026 Third Vice Chairman

The election for Third Vice Chairman will take place at the Leadership Council meeting during the 2026 International Builders' Show.

Codes and Standards

Feb 06, 2026

Learn About the 2024 IECC in Free Video Series for NAHB Members

NAHB is now offering members a free educational video series on the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code. The videos break down key differences between the 2024 IECC and past editions, focusing on changes that improve usability and what they mean for construction costs.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Feb 06, 2026

The Size of the Housing Shortage: 2024 Data

Persistently low homeowner and rental vacancy rates indicate that the U.S. housing market remains structurally undersupplied.

Economics

Feb 05, 2026

Job Openings Fall as Labor Market Weakens

Running counter to the data for the full economy, the count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry increased in December, per the delayed Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down measurably from two years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing.

Economics

Feb 04, 2026

Mortgage Rates Declined Despite Higher Treasury Yields

Long-term mortgage rates continued to decline in January. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.10% last month, 9 basis points (bps) lower than December. Meanwhile, the 15-year rate declined 4 bps to 5.44%. Compared to a year ago, the 30-year rate is lower by 86 bps. The 15-year rate is also lower by 72 bps.