LEWES, Del. — For Henlopen Countertops owner Jennifer Chojnowski, the rising cost of building materials over the past few years was already a concern — and she says new tariffs could drive them to raise prices.
“I think it could have a big impact,” said Chojnowski. “If the contractor’s prices are high, then of course they have to pass it on to the customers. There’s no way not to pass it on because it’s just a huge expense.”
Chojnowski says many of the high-quality stones used in countertops, such as quartz and granite, are imported from countries like Brazil and Italy. She says even the tools used in fabrication and installation often come from overseas, particularly China.
On April 9, President Trump ordered a 90-day pause on new tariffs for about 60 nations.
President Trump says he's lowered the "reciprocal tariff" rate on all countries to 10 percent, while goods from China — the United States' third-largest source of imports — face 145% duties. There are also 25% taxes on imports of steel, aluminum, cars, and roughly half of goods from Canada and Mexico.
Chojnowski says customers may hesitate on home renovation projects due to rising costs.
“People will see the pricing and say, ‘Maybe it’s not the best time to remodel our home because it’s too expensive,’” she said.
Mike Dominguez, a realtor with Jack Lingo Realtor in Lewes, says it's still early to determine the full impact of tariffs on the housing industry, but he’s already noticed some increased costs.
“Construction costs have been up. Housing costs have been up. The cost of materials is a little bit crazy,” said Dominguez.
Lumber companies, like American Cedar & Millwork and The Nuttle Lumber Company, tell CoastTV they'll avoid the brunt of the tariffs since they import mostly from Canada. They say other materials, like steel beams and metals sourced from China, are likely to be affected.