How Supply Chain Shortages are Affecting Everyone
For supply chain shortages are causing issues for homeowners and contractors alike. While contractors are busier than ever, they can’t find materials as easily as they used to. Concrete pavers, decking, microchips, certain stones, paint tints, heat pumps, small plumbing parts, lumber, and a myriad of other materials are all in short supply, causing issues for everyone involved in a project.
Longer lead times
When contractors can find the materials they’re looking for, their lead times are often still three to six months. These lead times are major deterrents for customers who have already been waiting eight months for a busy contractor to get around to their job. While materials coming in from overseas are somewhat easier to understand, domestic materials are still hard to get. For instance, bluestone (a material readily available through much of the northeastern US) is hard to get as mining companies don’t have the workforce to pull it from the mountains.
Issues scheduling deliveries
In some cases, there are materials available, but contractors cannot get them to the job site. For instance, concrete is readily available, but suppliers cannot get drivers to deliver it. In cases where materials are right over a state line, contractors are handcuffed by laws and regulations regarding who can move them and bring them into their state.
Customers have more money, but less patience
The pandemic curbed a lot of vacations, allowing many folks to use money reserved for trips on their homes and renovations. This extra cash and feeling of cabin fever aren’t helping the shortage. And, since they’ve been stuck in their homes since the pandemic started, they need a change.
Importance of having a back up plan
Contractors have always told their customers to have a Plan A and a Plan B when it comes to materials. This way, if Plan A should become challenging to get, they’ll always have Plan B to rely on. With today’s supply chain issues, a Plan C is often necessary to fall back on. And, in some cases, Plan C isn’t even a guarantee.
The Labor Shortage is Coming to a Head
There’s been a concern revolving around the younger generation not entering the trades for years, and the shortage finally seems to be coming to a head. Contractors are busier than ever, but they don’t have the labor force to rely on. Even if the materials were available, contractors worked short-handed before the supply chain issues grew to what they are now. They’re all looking for labor, so younger people considering careers in the trades will have jobs to choose from.
