Pre-finished millwork gains popularity among builders

Amid labor shortages and rising financing costs, home builders are turning to pre-finished millwork to cut expenses and save time. With 85% of builders reporting a shortage of finishing carpenters and 74% noting a lack of painters, the shift is seen as a way to streamline the construction process.

Builders using pre-finished millwork, like Metrie Complete, reduce labor costs and avoid damage to millwork by installing it later in the build process. According to Home Innovation Research Labs, Metrie Complete is able to help cut painter hours by 50% and speed up project completion by nearly two days.

Rick Hunt, USLBM’s regional director, highlighted its benefits: “90% of our production builder business is now in Metrie Complete.”

As market pressures persist, builders increasingly view pre-finished millwork as an essential cost-saving solution.