Ron Glaser, vice president of preconstruction services for Walton Construction, was recently quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Ask the Experts” column on the impact of the slowing housing market on commercial construction:

“So far, commercial construction has not been affected by the slowdown in the housing market nearly as much as residential construction. Many sectors of commercial construction are moving forward with new projects. Plus, many of the traditional residential specialty contractors are beginning to compete in the commercial construction market.

In the last six months, we’ve seen subcontractors that had been focused on residential work for the last several years starting to bid on commercial projects. The cost of construction materials is beginning to stabilize from the increases we have seen over the years. The prices of items such as lumber and gypsum drywall actually are on the decline.

We are optimistic that the economic stimulus operations being put in place as a result of the slowing housing market also will boost the commercial construction market and turn around residential construction.”

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch