3 Ways Renovating During Post-Pandemic Times Has Been a Struggle
Home renovations have been impacted by the pandemic, and the setbacks the industry is seeing show no signs of slowing, even as we shift into what will hopefully be post-pandemic times. If you’ve tried to order anything for your home in the last year, you may have experienced a small amount of what we face on a daily basis. If you haven’t, here’s a peek:
Long lead times and product backorders
Out-of-stock products (indefinitely) and discontinued products
Increased delivery times
Remember the kitchen cabinet delivery estimated at 6 weeks? It’s now going to take 12 weeks, 16 weeks, or even more. Or that light fixture you chose went out-of-stock and then was suddenly discontinued. You get the idea.
So, what’s going on? There’s a reason things are off-kilter in our industry… and a reason why we’ll all have to exercise patience for at least the foreseeable future. Today, I’m covering the 3 significant reasons renovations are taking longer than ever, and I’ll tell you what we are doing about it. Come take a look…
1. Increasing demand and decreasing supply
Due to the COVID-19 shutdowns, people have spent more time in their homes. Naturally, homeowners want to upgrade their homes with dispensable income they would have used to go on vacations and dine out. This is excellent news for renovators like us, but… at the same time, supply decreased.
Interruptions in the supply chain (Suez Canal blockage, material shortages (see #2), and labor shortage (see #3), have combined to create a significant decrease in the amount of products available to meet demand. This has resulted in longer wait times, not to mention higher prices.
To meet the demand, many manufacturers are now streamlining their offerings. As a result, it’s not uncommon to see an item go out of stock with no estimate of future availability. So if you check back later, there is a possibility the item might be labeled as discontinued. Ouch.
What Can You Do? Thinking about a kitchen or bathroom remodel? Stay flexible when making product choices and planning. Planning ahead may mean much farther ahead than you might expect. See more on how we can help you below.
2. Lumber and Foam Shortage
Indeed, the world is currently experiencing a lumber and foam shortage — two materials used to make a vast majority of the products used in home renovations.
Foam is used to make sofas, chairs, cushions, mattresses, and many other furnishing items. Essential chemicals used to make foam are produced almost exclusively in Texas and Louisiana. Unfortunately, a series of record-breaking storms in Texas last winter caused power outages to the chemical plants, which halted all production for weeks. The foam industry is still trying to catch up and meet demand of the automotive industry, with orders in the furniture and bedding industry falling close behind.
Some furniture manufacturers in North Carolina also shut down for a few weeks earlier this year because they didn’t have enough foam for production. (So those cute barstools you were looking at for your kitchen may be on backorder for a while.)
When it comes to lumber, this article puts it best: “As the pandemic crushed the US economy last spring, sawmills shut down lumber production to brace for a housing slump. The slump never arrived, and now there isn’t enough lumber to feed the red-hot housing market.”
We’ve experienced this firsthand. We recently ordered lumber for a project that cost $4,000. Eighteen months ago, we would have estimated this same order at $1,200. This is why estimating the overall cost of a project is so difficult right now. This material increase affects framing, interior items like doors and trim, and kitchen cabinets.
What Can You Do? Work with a professional who has been navigating this rocky terrain for a while. Although we can’t change the situation, we do know how to help you get materials, products, and labor as efficiently as possible in the current climate. (More on this below.)
3. Labor Shortage
Last but not least, the stay at home orders closed many factories for weeks or even months. Add that to people getting sick, testing positive, and an increase in health and safety protocols (social distancing) that decrease the number of people at their place of work — you have a decreased labor force.
At the same time, just a couple of months into the factory shutdowns, many vendors reported an increase in orders. Compounded with the backlog of unfilled orders and shortages in supplies, it’s no surprise that many factories are still digging themselves out of the backlog… and doing so with a labor force that remains reduced.
What Can You Do? Again, planning ahead can help. Patience can help. And working with a professional who knows which suppliers have the lowest lead times can also help. See more below.
What is CKD Doing about it?
When considering a renovation project managing the process is more important than ever. But, unfortunately, these supply circumstances are out of our control, so we are staying positive and focusing on what we can influence for our customers.
Here are ways we can help you:
1. Choose items that are in stock and order promptly.
We recently completed a kitchen where we focused on sourcing materials that were in stock. Tile, lighting, plumbing fixtures, and cabinet hardware were all selected from current inventory and ordered right away. No procrastination is allowed these days!
2. Align your suppliers, give them a commitment in advance, and stay in communication.
For that kitchen renovation, we chose countertop material, paid a deposit, and reserved our spot in the fabrication line with our supplier a few months in advance. We also ordered cabinets with a 12-14 week shipping date. That was a long time to wait, but they came in on time.
3. Be prepared for appliances to be on backorder and to arrive individually.
Appliances are experiencing a significant backorder these days. In some cases, choosing another model (if yours is on a significant backorder) will increase your chances of a complete delivery. However, if your heart is set on a specific model, be patient. It will be worth the wait in the end.
4. Set your demo and construction dates only after you have your renovation plan set and all items ordered.
This should minimize your downtime and certainly decrease your stress. Move the start date if you have to — it is better to stay with your old kitchen a few weeks longer if your cabinets and appliances are still in production.
5. Line up other subcontractors based on this timeline, and again, get on their list well in advance!
A good subcontractor may be booked out for several months (we’re seeing high demand, too!). However, quality work, especially for a big investment, is worth the wait.
Last, I want to mention that Steve and I have vetted trusted vendors who are working tirelessly to fulfill orders without sacrificing quality. We strive to be transparent and will give you the honest truth from the very beginning, even if it isn’t necessarily what you were hoping to hear.
When we schedule construction, we consider when we know each key item like cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and flooring will arrive. We know washing your dishes in the powder room isn’t fun, nor is sharing the hall bath with your kids for weeks. Believe us, we want to make sure you’re not without your kitchen or bathroom any longer than possible!
We hope this information and list of suggestions will help. Whether you work with our team or not, our goal is to set you up for a much happier and smoother renovation experience. That’s how you get a home you fall in love with.
Warmly,
Sarah (& Steve)