North Texas Building Boom Turning Into Building Crunch

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DALLAS (CBS11) – A lack of specialized construction workers throughout North Texas is creating some speed bumps for the ever exploding construction boom throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

Stephan Sardone, owner of Sardone Construction in Dallas said the demand for construction projects is far outpacing the industry's ability to hire skilled workers to get the job done.

"Some people come and say we want to start tomorrow, and I say, 'Well I can't help you,'" said Sardone.

Sardone said the industry is in need of skilled tradesmen like plumbers, framers, and carpenters to name a few.

"It's one thing to have a few jobs it's another thing to have so much work that we're really not able to get to all of it," said Sardone.

Bryan McLain is a carpenter, who like many other skilled workers has been working around the clock to help make up for the shortage and keep up with the demand for his work.

"I am trying right now to train my helpers to do what I can do," said McLain.

The issue is causing a two-fold problem.

For one project completion times are taking a lot longer, but the cost for the skilled laborers is also rising and that price is being passed right on to the buyer.

Ted Wilson, the Principal for Residential Strategies, a company that studies and maintains analytical information on the DFW construction industry said, "We have seen direct costs go up about 30 to 35 percent... if we didn't have this construction trade issue we would probably be starting at about 35,000 houses (a year).

Industry insiders say the only thing that would alleviate the issue would be a decrease in construction demand.

However, the current state of expansion in DFW suggests that won't happen any time soon.

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