Use This NAHB Resource to Help Select New Home Building Materials
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.
Latest from NAHBNow
Aug 05, 2026
Spring Membership Drive Rewards Strongest HBA RecruitersForty-eight home builders associations (HBAs) achieved tremendous recruitment and retention success in the 2026 Membership Drive program.
Aug 04, 2026
Podcast: 2 Key Lawmakers Explain Challenges in Passing Major Housing BillOn the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez are joined by Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) to discuss the importance of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and how they worked together to finalize this once-in-a-generation housing package.
Latest Economic News
Aug 04, 2026
Construction Job Openings RisingThe number of open positions in the construction sector increased in June, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down measurably from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing.
Aug 03, 2026
Residential Construction Spending Slips as Remodeling Activity WeakensPrivate residential construction spending declined 0.3% in June, while substantial downward revisions to improvement (remodeling) spending significantly altered the sector’s recent trajectory.
Jul 31, 2026
Housing’s Share of GDP Moves Lower in the Second QuarterHousing’s share of the economy was 15.8% in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest estimates of GDP produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This share is down from 15.9% in the first quarter and is at the lowest level since 2019.