Over the past year, many construction projects have suffered from volatile price fluctuations for materials. For example, the National Association of Home Builders estimates that increased lumber prices alone have added nearly $36,000 to the average new single family home price. The impact of material price volatility is even more pronounced on a larger-scale project, such as a college dormitory, hotel, or senior living facility campus, where material cost increases have caused overages of six or seven figures.