Defined Regions
CoreLogic curates this monthly bulletin of regional construction cost insights, which are reflected in the CoreLogic Claims Pricing Database. We combine the current month’s pricing data with four common loss scenarios to create models illustrating market impacts that are applied across nine regions and compared month over month and year over year.
Our experts provide detailed analyses of changes and trends to provide additional insight into key drivers. View our Construction Database Pricing Methodology white paper to gain additional insight into how we populate cost values.
Pricing Insights
The CoreLogic Pricing Analysis and Delivery Team continues to research labor costs and industry best practices for all construction categories within the Claims Construction Cost Database. To standardize labor trade assignments in the CoreLogic Pricing Database, CoreLogic will continue implementing incremental monthly changes throughout 2024 for each respective trade category.
In the October 2024 Claims Construction Cost Database release, we standardized labor trades in the following categories: Toilet & Bath Accessories, Painting, Framing & Rough Carpentry, and part of Structure Cleaning. In November, we will align the remaining Structure Cleaning items. In December, we will finalize updates to the Labor Only, Miscellaneous, and Pools/Hot Tubs categories.
We will continue refreshing line item and action descriptions in the HVAC and Demolition categories. In November, we will refresh the Acoustical Treatments, Moisture Protection, and Fireplace categories, and also add a new sub-category of Aluminum-Clad Wood Windows to expand the existing Windows category. The realignment process will continue on a rolling monthly basis, with all categories targeted for completion in Q1 2025.
This month, we will update the Claims Construction Pricing Database Methodology white paper to reflect additional considerations. Customer Success will communicate and distribute the link to this updated white paper later this month, and it will also appear in the November bulletin.
Fire/Lightning (Large Loss) Insights: 12-Month Trend
In this category, large loss claims are modeled from a typical fire loss where all components of a home’s construction are affected. Losses typically exceed $100,000.
- The loss scenario increased by an average of 13.04% compared with October 2023, driven primarily by higher drywall and general labor rates.
- Month-over-month, the scenario declined by 0.14% due to decreases in framing and rough carpentry materials.
| Category | Prior Year | Month-Over-Month |
| Drywall | 8.1% | 0.6% |
| Finish Carpentry Materials | 0.8% | -1.1% |
| Framing Materials | -2.2% | -0.9% |
| Drywall Labor | 8.0% | 0.3% |
| General Labor | 13.1% | 0.2% |
Wind/Hail (Exterior/Roof) Insights: 12-Month Trend
This category represents losses due to wind and/or hail weather activity. Restoration from this damage requires roof replacement, partial siding replacement, and accompanying accessories.
- This loss scenario has increased by 22.75% compared with October 2023, mainly due to a 30.89% rise in siding labor and a 12.25% rise in roofing labor. Material price increases have also contributed, with fencing up 8.6%, siding up 3.5%, and roofing up 3.1%.
- The month-over-month increase of 0.13% reflects a slower growth rate compared to the past 12 months, with both material and labor for siding and roofing averaging a 0.2% rise.
Water (Interior Reconstruction) Insights: 12-Month Trend
Moderately complex losses are modeled for the interior water loss scenario using the bathroom as the origin of loss where a combination of replacement and repair of common household finishes is required.
- The Interior Reconstruction scenario rose by 17.08% compared with October 2023, with a month-over-month decrease of 0.52%.
- Flooring installer labor is the biggest contributor to the year-over-year increase, followed by cleaning labor.
| Category | Prior Year | Month-Over-Month |
| Flooring Labor | 20.4% | 0.24% |
| Cleaning Labor | 15.5% | 0.33% |
| Insulation | 5.3% | -0.7% |
Water Mitigation (Drying) Insights: 12-Month Trend
Typical drying costs for a residential structure include water extraction, removal of wet material, and drying equipment usage.
- The water mitigation loss scenario increased by 12.36% compared with October 2023, with the West Central region recording the largest growth. Month-over-month, growth slowed to 0.26% compared with September 2024.
- Water mitigation labor rose by an average of 8.09% compared to the same time last year, with the West Central region driving the largest increase. The Gulf Coast saw the smallest rise.
About CoreLogic Data Research
CoreLogic develops this report using up-to-date materials and labor costs. CoreLogic’s team of analysts continuously researches hard costs such as labor, material, and equipment, including mark-ups. CoreLogic updates its database every month accordingly.
Our research also covers soft costs, such as taxes and fringe benefits, for reconstruction work performed as part of the insurance industry. CoreLogic monitors demographics and econometric statistics, government indicators, and localization requirements, including market trends from thousands of unique economies throughout the U.S.
Other factors in this process include the following:
- Wage rates for more than 85 union and non-union trades
- Over 100,000 construction data points
- Productivity rates and crew sizes
- Building code requirements and localized cost variables
Additionally, we validate cost data by analyzing field inspection records, contractor estimates, phone surveys, and both partial and complete loss claim information.
Please complete the online form to provide feedback or request information on any items in our construction database. Please contact your sales executive or account manager for additional explanations or questions. A more detailed methodology explanation can be found in our Construction Database Pricing Methodology white paper.
About CoreLogic
CoreLogic is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company’s combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit stage.corelogic.com.
NOTE: The building material, labor, and other cost information in this bulletin is generated using research, sources, and methods current as of the date of this bulletin and is intended only to provide an estimated average of reconstruction cost trends in the specified general geographic regions of the United States. This cost information may vary further when adjusting claim values for specific property locations or specific business conditions.
