Expanding wood flooring demand and surging lumber prices have pushed flooring prices sharply higher in 2013. Weekly Hardwood Review prevailing market prices for both Sel/Btr and #1 Common unfinished strip flooring climbed 35% through the first week of September with #2 Common up 48%. Prices for engineered wood flooring have reportedly risen less, in percentage terms, than prices for solid products.

Prevailing prices for most unfinished strip flooring items increased only 6-8 cents in August compared to 12-15 cents in both June and July. Time will tell whether this represents the start of a leveling off in prices or a “breather” before another price surge, although the latter scenario appears more likely for a couple of reasons.

First, Armstrong Flooring Products and Mohawk Industries, two of the largest U.S. flooring manufacturers, recently announced another round of increases on certain engineered and solid products to take effect in September and October. Second, prices for flooring-grade red oak and white oak lumber have been rising faster lately following a period of relative stability earlier in the summer and manufacturers will need to pass these increases along to their customers.