Wood framing continues to dominate the construction of single-family homes in the U.S., with new data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) revealing that 94% of new homes completed in 2022 were wood-framed. This marks the third consecutive year of growth in wood-framed home construction, up from 90% in 2019. Other framing methods, such as concrete and steel, remain far less common, with concrete-framed homes comprising 6% and steel-framed homes accounting for less than half a percent of completions.
The Rise of Wood Framing
In 2022, there were 956,000 wood-framed homes completed, a 7% increase from 2021. This continued rise underscores the strong preference for wood framing due to its affordability, availability, and suitability for a wide range of home styles. In contrast, steel-framed homes saw only 3,000 completions in 2022, maintaining the same number as in 2021. Concrete-framed homes experienced the third straight year of decline, dropping by 11% from 71,000 in 2021 to 63,000 in 2022.
Regional Variations in Framing Methods
While wood framing is the predominant method nationwide, non-wood framing is more common in specific regions. The South, in particular, sees a higher concentration of concrete-framed homes, driven by residential resiliency requirements designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. In 2022, 10% of all homes completed in the South were concrete-framed, a notable share compared to other regions.
Steel framing, although still rare, was more prevalent in the South and West, with about two-thirds of steel-framed homes built in the South and the remaining third in the West. This regional trend can be attributed to local building codes and weather-related needs.
Conclusion
The consistent rise in the share of wood-framed homes reflects ongoing preferences for this cost-effective and versatile building method. Builders will need to consider specific construction loan requirements and potential costs associated with different framing methods, especially as wood framing continues to outpace alternatives. While non-wood framing methods remain more common in certain regions, wood framing’s dominance in the housing market shows no sign of diminishing.