84 Lumber, a supplier of building materials and manufactured components, recently expanded its services from the single-family sector to the multifamily sector.
“Our core customers were increasingly focused on multifamily construction, so as we continued to support them, it was a natural progression for us to expand into larger projects across the United States,” 84 Lumber owner and CEO Maggie Hardy tells Multifamily Executive. “This growth also led to opening more stores and entering new markets.”
Hardy says 84 Lumber’s projects now encompass a wider range of structures, including apartment complexes with three to 500 units, townhomes and condominium buildings for residential builders, and hotels. She says in servicing the multifamily sector, the product mix is largely the same, though there is a greater emphasis on engineered products, component facilities, and “highly specialized materials from an engineering standpoint.”
“The scale of multifamily construction projects is much larger than that of single-family homes,” Hardy says. “It requires assembling highly specialized teams who understand the unique needs of these customers and can guide them through the entire process. Ultimately, large projects can be broken down into manageable phases, making them easier to oversee with the right team in place.”
As part of its expansion into the multifamily sector, 84 Lumber has established 15 multifamily hubs in “key markets” across the country in addition to high-profile framing and installation projects in Tallahassee, Florida; Gainesville, Florida; and Knoxville, Tennessee. The hubs serve as the critical points of service and support for 84 Lumber.
Thus far, the company has operational hubs in the following markets/regions: Pittsburgh, Ohio, Kentucky, New York, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Florida, Atlanta, West Texas, North Charlotte, the Carolinas, the Coastal Carolinas, Boston, and world trade.
Hardy says 84 Lumber has plans to expand farther with its multifamily hubs in Texas, Denver, and the Gulf Coast.
In addition to expanding its services to the multifamily sector, 84 Lumber has recently made numerous strategic investments into component plants. The company has increased its number of component plants from four in 2014 to 21 by the end of the year. 84 Lumber recently opened facilities in Atlanta; Winter Haven, Florida; and a door shop in Pittsburgh.
“Our component plants were originally designed to support single-family construction, and when our customers need it, we can leverage these plants to boost sales,” Hardy says. “As we continue to expand, our focus remains on doing what’s best for the customer.”
Eighty Four, Pennsylvania-based 84 Lumber operates 320 facilities, including stores, component manufacturing plants, custom door shops, and engineered wood product centers in 33 states. The company also offers turnkey installation services for a range of products, including framing, insulation, siding, windows, roofing, decking, and drywall.
