Are More Canadians Switching to Made-in-Canada Building Materials?
Thursday, September 11, 2025
By David Elver for REALTOR.ca
In the face of uncertainty over the recent United States tariffs, more Canadians are choosing to buy Canadian-made goods and services. The building and renovation industries are no exception.
Across the country, homeowners and new home buyers are increasingly insisting on Canadian materials, products and brands when building or renovating their homes. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the movement to “buy Canadian,” examining some of the benefits of switching to locally sourced materials and offering a few tips for homeowners. If you want to try and support Canadian suppliers and manufacturers on their next build or renovation, you’ll find this article helpful.
The move to ‘buy Canadian’
The benefits of buying Canadian
How to switch to buying Canadian
Is buying Canadian a short-term fix or a long-term change?
Where to get help when trying to buy Canadian
The move to ‘buy Canadian’
The numbers seem to bear Kassam out. In a recent survey by Angus Reid, 85% of Canadians said they’ve already replaced—or plan to replace—U.S. products with products made in Canada because of the tariff threats from the United States.
According to another poll by Hill & Knowlton, 80% of respondents said they’d likely choose Canadian-made products over imported products. Nearly 79% of those surveyed also said they’d be willing to pay more to buy Canadian.
The benefits of buying Canadian
The most commonly cited reasons for buying Canadian products are national pride and a desire to support local businesses during difficult economic times. But there are many other benefits that come with buying building or renovation materials made in Canada.
For one thing, the tariffs imposed by the United States have driven the price of many imported building materials significantly higher. Opting for Canadian alternatives could potentially save builders and homeowners hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Every dollar spent on Canadian-made products also makes our economy stronger and more resilient. According to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), if every Canadian switched just $25 of their monthly spending from foreign to Canadian-made goods, it could increase our Gross Domestic Product by 0.7% and create 60,000 new Canadian jobs.
Locally made products and materials can also often be shipped faster and for less. This can reduce renovation costs, lead to fewer supply chain shortages and disruptions, and create a smaller carbon footprint.
In addition, Canada produces some of the highest-quality and most durable building products and materials in the world, from lumber, steel, brick, and concrete to cabinetry and flooring. Buying Canadian is therefore also an investment in both the quality of the work you’re having done, and the future value of your home.
“There are many benefits to buying Canadian,” says interior designer Phyllis Lui, Kassam’s partner and co-founder at Kalu. “The shipping is faster, less costly, more reliable and easier to plan for. We often encounter delays at the border when we buy from overseas or the United States. Canadian-sourced products can also be more cost-effective once all the duties, taxes and international shipping charges are factored in.”
How to switch to buying Canadian
It isn’t always easy to find Canadian-made products or navigate the differences between labels like “Canadian-made,” “made in Canada” or “product of Canada.” But if you’re thinking about making the switch for your reno, a great place to start is by choosing some of the more popular and proven local building materials that
Canada is known for. For example:
• Canadian hardwood flooring and wood trim like maple, birch, ash, or white pine can be great alternatives to U.S.-sourced oak or poplar.
• Canadian steel, stone, and concrete are all great quality and can be up to 200% less carbon-intensive than importing steel from the United States, Europe, or China.
• Drywall made from Canadian gypsum meets the highest quality standards while avoiding the cost and delays of imports.
• Cabinets and countertops made locally from Canadian wood or granite come in a wide variety of beautiful and budget-conscious styles, colours, and materials.
• Canadian insulation materials like fibreglass and cellulose are both sustainable and high-performing.
• Reclaimed Canadian wood is a cost-effective local option for everything from eye-catching walls and beams to spectacular flooring.
• There are also great Canadian options when it comes to things like furniture, plumbing supplies, and lighting fixtures.
“American companies hold greater consumer awareness, but that doesn’t necessarily make them better than what can be sourced locally in Canada,” Kassam explains.
“Brands like Restoration Hardware have a huge following, but Canadian brands like Montauk Sofa make superior products at almost comparable pricing,” he says. “There are also great Canadian lighting companies like Kuzco and Lib&Co, plumbing brands like Riobel, Baril and Rubinet, and Kentwood Flooring for hardwood flooring.”
Is buying Canadian a short-term fix or a long-term change?
Kassam and Lui agree the future looks promising for both Canadian suppliers and homeowners.
“I think the shift to Canadian-made products is currently a shorter-term trend driven by the politics and supply chain issues,” Lui notes. “However, I do think this will change people’s perceptions and thought processes in the long run.”
“There will always be the clients that go for the cheapest alternative regardless of where they come from,” she explains. “But others are becoming more intentional about where their money goes, and they’re willing to invest a bit more if it means they can support the Canadian economy at the same time.”
“In many cases over the years, we’ve overlooked our own backyard,” Kassam adds. “This injection into our local economy towards designers, developers, makers and builders will allow more long-lasting infrastructure to be developed, and I believe pave a path forward for more Canadian designed and manufactured materials and products.”
Where to get help when trying to buy Canadian
If you want to buy Canadian for your next project but aren’t sure how to go about it, a little research can go a long way. For instance, many Canadian suppliers and manufacturers proudly advertise their Canadian status on their websites.
You can also visit your local building supply store, lumberyard, tile showroom, or kitchen and bath store to ask which of their suppliers are Canadian. Many large Canadian-owned home improvement retailers like Rona, Canadian Tire, and Home Hardware have also introduced their own programs to identify made-in-Canada products and materials.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for advice! Your contractor, designer, or REALTOR® all have the knowledge and connections to answer any questions you may have—and will likely be happy to point you in the direction of some of their own personal favourite Canadian brands and suppliers.
If you have any questions about today’s blog topic, or questions about anything else real estate-related, please give me a call, 905-683-7800.
Have you thought about buying, selling or both this year but are not sure if now is the right time to do it? Call me and I’ll let you know what’s happening with the current market and, based on your individual situation, let you know if you should buy and/or sell now, or wait.
However, if you are definitely going to be buying and/or selling in the next little while, please reach out. There is over 100 years of experience on The Brian Kondo Real Estate Team. With our proven Home Selling System, we help our clients sell their home fast, for top dollar, using our experience to make it a smooth and pleasant experience. Using our exclusive Home Buying System, we help our clients find the home of their dreams!
To find out more, please call me at 905-683-7800. You can also email me at brian@briankondo.com.
Thanks for reading today’s BLOG!!!
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Brian Kondo
Sales Representative / Team Leader
The Brian Kondo Real Estate Team
Re/Max Hallmark First Group Realty Ltd.
905-683-7800 office
905-426-7484 direct
brian@briankondo.com
www.BrianKondo.com
www.BrianKondoTeam.com
David Elver's The article above was initially published on Realtor.ca. You can find it by clicking here.
| REALTOR.ca is the most popular and most trusted real estate website in Canada. Owned and operated by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), REALTOR.ca provides up-to-date and reliable information that makes finding your dream property easy and enjoyable. REALTOR.ca is popular with sellers, buyers, and renters and is accessible online and on mobile devices. |
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David Elver |
About the Author David Elver is a Vancouver-based freelance writer, editor, and screenwriter who has worked with some of Canada’s leading public- and private-sector organizations. His work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, and online publications across Canada, and run the gamut from feature articles and social media success stories to best-selling coffee table books and two feature-length television movies. David enjoys kayaking, snowshoeing, and sunset strolls on the beach, although usually not at the same time. |
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