Record-high lumber prices aren't stopping some homeowners, businesses from building an outside oasis

The spike in lumber prices isn't stopping some homeowners and businessesfrom building thatnew patio,deckor other structure to soak up the sunthis summer.

Downtown Windsor caf says parklet will pay for itself off once outdoor dining is allowed again

Jacob Barker CBC News Posted: May 26, 2021 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 26, 2021

Cafe March 21 hopes to add a parklet like this one in time for patio dining to return to Windsor-Essex in southwestern Ontario. (Dale Molnar/CBC)

The spike in lumber prices isn't stopping some homeowners and businessesin Windsor, Ont., from building thatnew patioordeckto soak up the sunthis summer.

"In 21 years, I've never seen such a demand for backyard design, especially the custom stuff we do,"said Gordon Raymond, owner of Wood Deckers. "Alot of people are spending more time at home enjoying their backyards," .

A pandemic-fuelled shortage of lumber has, in some cases, tripledthe cost for consumers this year.

Gordon Raymond's business, Wood Deckers, specializes in building decks and fences. He says the high price of lumber hasn't dashed homeowners' backyard building hopes. (Jacob Barker/CBC)

Raymond said the price of the wood he uses has increased by about 70 per cent since 2020, soa projectthat usually costs between $8,000 and $10,000would be $2,000 to $3,000 more this year.

"We try to help our customers out so we take a bit of a hit on that. We'll do what we can."

Cafowner hopes for outdoor sittings soon

Cafe March 21 in downtown Windsor is still waiting for its approval to put in a parklet in front of its establishment, hopefully before provincial pandemic restrictions change toagain allow outdoor dining. Last week, Ontario introduced a three-phase plan to slowly open things up, based on vaccination and COVID-19 case rates.

"My family got all vaccinated and a lot of people in Windsor are getting vaccinated, so I think we are looking good," said cafowner Henry Kim .

Hopefully, sometime in June, "we'll be able to have some outdoor sittings."

Kim isuncertain how much more it will cost to build the parkletthis year compared to last,but he knows it will bemore. He said the Downtown Business Improvement Association is covering 25 per cent of the cost.

Henry Kim, owner of Cafe March 21 in downtown Windsor, hopes to offer outdoor sitting sometime in June as Ontario phases in reopenings. (Jacob Barker/CBC)

The fact that thecaf's lunch hour has been busy and the eatery is in the areaof the downtown farmers'market has made him optimisticthe parkletwill pay for itself in a matter of a few months.

"The farmers'market this year has been really successful. It has been at least double the number of people we get than last year, so just the Saturday itself is worth it," he said.

"I think its going to pay off the cost"

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