[United States Baltimore] Americans Increasingly Custom-Order Chinese Building Materials and Hardware, Saving Up to $100,000 on Home Construction

Editor's Note

This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Americans Increasingly Custom-Order Chinese Buil”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.

More and more Americans are rejecting local quotes for cabinets and tiles, instead turning to China for their purchases. The image shows a ceramic slab factory in Foshan. (Illustrative photo, not a news event photo) (Xinhua) Against the backdrop of high housing prices and rising construction costs in the United States, a new trend is emerging among American middle-class families: directly importing homes and building materials from China. This cross-border supply chain, once primarily the domain of large enterprises, is now entering ordinary households, offering an alternative for reducing home construction and renovation costs. According to a report by Reference News citing CNN, a growing number of homeowners are bypassing local retailers and contractors to order cabinets, tiles, doors, windows, and even bulk materials for entire homes directly from Chinese factories. This trend reflects the long-standing high-cost pressures in the U.S. housing market. Gennady Tsygan, an engineer living in Baltimore, is a representative figure in this trend. To build his dream home, he imported renovation and construction materials from over 20 Chinese factories, even traveling to China in person to select products. From exterior wall materials to door locks and windows, most items came from Chinese supply chains. Tsygan said that through this approach, he saved a total of about $100,000. For many middle-class families, this amount can significantly influence home-buying and renovation decisions, especially under the pressure of high interest rates and inflation, where price becomes the most sensitive consideration. According to data from the National Association of Home Builders, U.S. building material prices have risen 3% compared to last year. Prices for some metal profiles and decorative materials have increased by as much as 45%, while lumber and aluminum prices continue to climb. This keeps home construction costs high, forcing consumers to seek lower-cost supply sources.

Meanwhile, China has long been a major source of building materials for the United States. Statistics show that in 2023, 27% of U.S. imported building materials came from China. This means that Chinese manufacturing already holds a place in the U.S. housing industry chain, and now it is further reaching end consumers directly. Social media has become a key driver of this trend. Many American homeowners share tips on platforms about saving money by sourcing from China, comparing local and Chinese quotes. One American woman publicly stated that she rejected a local quote of $50,000 for cabinets and instead bought from China, with her post garnering over 160,000 likes. Some U.S. users have also shared lists of Chinese suppliers. Chinese manufacturers are advertising on American social media, offering to deliver cabinets, tiles, and other items directly to doorsteps. Chinese manufacturers and sourcing agents are actively using English short videos and ads to showcase products directly to U.S. users, offering door-to-door delivery services. For younger generations, cross-border sourcing is no longer unfamiliar but a more cost-effective choice. One Chinese sourcing agent said on TikTok, "In one day, you can buy all the building materials needed to build a new house here." Another Chinese manufacturer with nearly 30,000 followers stated that they can replicate an entire house based on floor plans, saving up to half the cost.

Most of these Chinese businesses are located in Foshan, a city renowned for its home decoration and building materials industry. Sourcing agent Zhao Ke (transliteration) said he receives 5 to 10 foreign clients each month who visit Chinese showrooms in person to order products. "Especially in recent years, even with tariffs, more and more Americans are buying from Chinese manufacturers."

Source: Read the original article | Published: May 01, 2026