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To: pater tenebrarum who wrote (59046)	1/18/2001 9:59:15 AM
From: flatsville	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 436258

you know what's so funny? lumber's in free-fall, but the GSE's have expanded their balance sheets by 20% in q 3 alone! Re: lumber in free fall...purely anecdotal but worth thinking about. Metal studs have stolen a share of the lumber previously used for framing purposes. When lumber peaked back in 1999 many home builders switched to metal which had previously dominated only commercial building. Few have switched back now that the price of lumber is lower because framing is so much faster with metal studs. Over the holidays I got to frame my first metal wall at the home of a friend who was a former home builder/rehabber/restorationist. I can now see why he won't switch back to lumber unless there is a distinct and deep price advantage. Fast and square is what matters to these guys...metal gives you both.