Hello everyone, this is DIY Renova.
As has been featured in the news in recent years, there are concerns about ``destabilizing oil supplies'' due to the instability in the Middle East and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Rising oil prices not only affect gasoline and electricity prices, but also the prices of home building materials and DIY materials.
This is especially important for people who are doing self-renovation.
Rather than “something that increases in price”
“Construction stops when there is not enough.”
.
In this article, we will organize the types of building materials that are most likely to be affected by the oil crisis, and which materials you may want to prioritize and secure at DIY sites.
I hope this will be helpful for people doing DIY so they don't have to stop working due to lack of materials.
If you're wondering "How much renovation or remodeling can I actually do on my own home?" or "Where should I even start?", please visit this page. If you're looking to learn more about specific renovation processes or construction details, don't miss this page as well!
Information on updates to this website will be delivered to you once a month.NewsletterIf you are interested, please register.
Please note that this document is not necessarily accurate, and should be used as reference information only.
So, here you go.
Why the oil crisis affects housing construction materials
石油危機という言葉を聞くと、多くの人はガソリン価格を思い浮かべると思います。
However, in reality, petroleum is widely used not only as a fuel but also as a chemical raw material.
for example
- plastic
- synthetic rubber
- glue
- insulation material
- paint
Many of these are petrochemical products.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), one of the major factors behind the increase in oil demand is the production of petrochemical products, and the demand for materials such as plastics will continue to increase (IEA, 2018).
In other words, when oil prices rise
Raw material prices for building materials
transportation cost
manufacturing cost
may rise at the same time.
When building a DIY home, this effect may be greater than you think.
Three criteria for deciding what to buy first
It is not recommended to stock up on anything due to the oil crisis.
You need a place to store it, and some materials deteriorate.
Therefore, I will introduce the criteria for determining what is worth buying first.
①石油化学製品である
Materials made from oil and gas are susceptible to price increases.
As a typical example
- foam insulation
- glue
- tarpaulin
and so on.
②Easy to be affected by transportation costs
Many building materials are manufactured overseas.
The price of imported building materials will be affected by increases in maritime transport insurance premiums and fuel prices.
③ If there is not enough, work will stop.
This is the most important thing in DIY.
for example
釘
tape
tarpaulin
If just one item is missing, the work will not proceed.
High priority building materials
From here, we will introduce building materials that you may want to prioritize and secure at the DIY site.
Waterproof sheet, airtight sheet, airtight tape
Used for exterior wall and roof construction
- Breathable waterproof sheet
- airtight sheet
- airtight tape
- Waterproof tape
These materials use resin films and adhesives, so they are easily affected by petrochemical products.
What's even more problematic is that these machines stop working if just one roll is missing.
In exterior wall construction
structural plywood
Breathable waterproof sheet
Torso
Exterior material
Because the work is carried out in this order, the work cannot proceed without a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet.
In order to avoid stopping construction work with DIY, it is a good idea to secure enough space for the next step.
Roofing (roof waterproofing material)
Roofing used in roofing construction is often made of asphalt.
Asphalt (bitumen) is a byproduct of crude oil refining and is widely used in roofing and waterproofing applications (Eurobitume, 2025).
The roof is directly connected to the waterproofing performance of the house, so there is a high risk of stopping work midway.
If you are planning roofing work, it is best to secure the roofing early.
Foam insulation material (EPS/XPS/urethane)
Foam insulation materials used for home insulation
- EPS (expanded polystyrene)
- XPS (extruded polystyrene)
- urethane foam
These are petroleum-derived materials.
Many plastics are made from petrochemical raw materials and are known to be sensitive to oil prices (IEA, 2018).
Furthermore, insulation materials have a large volume and are a building material that is easily affected by transportation costs.
If you are planning to install insulation, it is best to secure the necessary number of sheets once you have decided on them.
Urethane foam sealant
In DIY renovation
- gap filling
- waterproof
- Airtight
Urethane foam and sealants are often used for such things.
these are
polyurethane
silicon
butyl
It is made using petrochemical materials such as
In DIY projects, work often stops if just one item is missing, so it's a good idea to have a few extra items on hand.
PVC piping/fittings
PVC (vinyl chloride) is used in drain pipes and rain gutters.
塩
Oil or natural gas derived raw materials
It is made from.
According to PlasticsEurope, PVC is about 57% salt and about 43% oil or natural gas derived raw materials (PlasticsEurope).
Although it is not a complete petroleum product, it is a material that is affected by energy prices.
When doing DIY work, it is easy to stop work if you run out of piping fittings, so it is a good idea to have all the necessary parts in advance.
Nails, screws, structural hardware
Nails and screws are not petroleum products, but they are steel products.
Steel is an energy-intensive industry, requiring large amounts of energy to manufacture (worldsteel, 2025).
Therefore
crude oil
natural gas
electric power
If the price of steel increases, the price of steel products may also be affected.
In DIY houses
- CN nails
- N nail
- course thread
- structural hardware
etc. are consumed in large quantities, so it is a good idea to stock up on frequently used sizes.
Things you don't have to buy in a hurry
There are some things you don't need to rush into buying because of the oil crisis.
for example
- EcoCute
- unit bath
- toilet
- washbasin
and other housing facilities.
these are
size
Piping position
Delivery route
You need to decide before purchasing.
When it comes to DIY, it is easier to make mistakes if you buy after the construction process is finalized.
Summary
When preparing for an oil crisis, what is important is
Not something that increases in price
Prioritize "materials that will allow you to continue working."
For DIY renovations, the priorities are as follows:
high priority
Breathable waterproof sheet
airtight tape
Roofing
insulation material
urethane foam
next
pvc piping
fitting
釘
Bis
structural hardware
There is no need to rush into housing equipment.
When self-renovating, the biggest stress is when construction stops due to lack of materials.
The trick to proceeding with DIY with peace of mind is to check your construction schedule and secure the necessary materials a little early.
If you're wondering "How much renovation or remodeling can I actually do on my own home?" or "Where should I even start?", please visit this page. If you're looking to learn more about specific renovation processes or construction details, don't miss this page as well!
Information on updates to this website will be delivered to you once a month.NewsletterIf you are interested, please register.
Please note that this document is not necessarily accurate, and should be used as reference information only.
Well, then!
References
International Energy Agency. (2018). The Future of Petrochemicals.
https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-petrochemicals
U.S. Energy Information Administration. Strait of Hormuz and global oil flows.
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65504
Eurobitume. Bitumen general information.
https://eurobitume.eu/bitumen/general-information
PlasticsEurope. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
https://plasticseurope.org/plastics-explained/a-large-family/polyvinyl-chloride-pvc
World Steel Association. (2025). Energy use in the steel industry.
https://worldsteel.org
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