SPOKANE, Wash. — A looming trade war is about to hit the wallets of Inland Northwest homeowners planning construction or renovation projects.
The 50% tariff on Canadian wood and construction materials will make building more expensive. Companies throughout the region are bracing for significant impacts as the costs of plywood and other essential building materials climb.
Workers at local building supply companies warn that while prices remain steady for now, a domino effect could ripple through the construction industry if these tariffs persist. Homeowners who need to rebuild or construct decks, roofs or other structures in the coming months may face substantially higher costs.
Savemore Building Supply, a local business that supplies both homeowners and professional builders, expects the tariffs to hurt sales.
“I think that in the short term it likely means that fewer homeowners and DIYers will come out and buy materials,” employee Aaron Mann said.
The ripple effects extend beyond individual homeowners. Since Savemore and similar suppliers work with local home builders, employees expect the housing market itself to feel the pressure.
“It could affect the number of homebuyers who are interested in purchasing a new home from a general contractor or a developer because the prices of those new homes will increase,” Mann said.
The tariffs could also force local suppliers to seek new vendors if their current U.S.-based suppliers are forced to raise their prices in response to the tariffs on Canadian imports.
With Canada’s counter-tariffs set to take effect on September 8th, local suppliers say the trade war uncertainty is just beginning. Industry experts recommend that homeowners working on projects lock in contractor estimates now before potential price increases take hold.
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