Spring tariffs push up repair costs

Hillman Solutions said April 27 that higher-cost, tariff-affected inventory is moving through its business as homeowners keep spending on repairs and remodeling. (ir.hillmangroup.com) (marketbeat.com) Hillman, which sells fasteners, hardware and home-improvement items, reported first-quarter net sales of $370.1 million, up 3.0% from $359.3 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA fell to $50.1 million from $54.5 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share slipped to $0.07 from $0.10. (ir.hillmangroup.com) On its April 28 earnings call, management said profitability was hurt as higher-cost inventory tied to tariffs flowed through results. Chief executive Jon Michael Adinolfi said demand in repair, maintenance and remodeling stayed consistent despite weather and broader macro pressure. (marketbeat.com) (ir.hillmangroup.com) That matters beyond one supplier because imported materials are built into routine home jobs, from cabinets and fixtures to steel and aluminum components. The National Association of Home Builders says tariffs are acting like a tax on builders, buyers and consumers. (nahb.org 1) (nahb.org 2) The builders’ group estimates recent tariff actions add about $10,900 to the cost of a typical new home. It also says building-material costs have risen 46.1% since February 2020, far outpacing overall inflation at 24.7% over the same stretch. (nahb.org) The tariff layers now reach specific categories homeowners buy for spring projects. The White House’s earlier 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum were expected to raise costs for those products by several billion dollars, according to the home builders’ group. (nahb.org) Separate Section 232 actions later added a 10% tariff on timber and lumber imports and a 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets and furniture, with cabinet levies scheduled to double to 50% on Jan. 1, 2026. NAHB said those changes would raise construction and renovation costs further. (nahb.org) For homeowners pricing out work this spring, the underlying math is already steep even before a contractor adds labor and overhead. Angi says a whole-home renovation now averages $52,145, while exterior remodels run $5,000 to $30,000 depending on scope and materials. (angi.com 1) (angi.com 2) Hillman raised its full-year 2026 sales guidance after two acquisitions closed after quarter-end, but it did not suggest tariff pressure had disappeared. The company reiterated adjusted EBITDA and free-cash-flow guidance as sourcing costs remain part of the backdrop for home repair pricing. (ir.hillmangroup.com) The result is a spring repair season where demand is still there, but the bill for nails, cabinets, metal parts and other basics is carrying more tariff cost than it did a year ago. (ir.hillmangroup.com) (nahb.org)