It’s no secret that supply chain issues have caused severe roofing shortages in just about every industry. One of the hardest-hit? Construction-particularly in roofing.
The roofing shortages in 2020 and 2021 have extended into 2022. Is it time to panic?
Not yet, say more experts – but it’s smart to plan ahead for potential issues. Here are the updates that you need to know.
Causes of Roofing Supplies Shortages
Here are a few reasons why it’s been harder than normal for builders and customers to find the roofing supplies they need.
The most common roofing supply shortages? Items like thermoplastic polyolefin, ethylene propylene diene monomer, adhesives, plates, and fasteners. Many of these are petroleum-based and difficult to find in the current market.
Pandemic-Related Shutdowns and Closures
The most obvious reason for supply chain issues? The pandemic. It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 (and beyond) has taken an extreme toll on how we go about our daily lives.
Factories were some of the hardest hit, with many taking their production totally offline. Even though most are now up and running, there are still labor shortage issues that are making it difficult for these facilities to operate at full capacity.
Extreme Weather
Mother Nature hasn’t been a friend to us in the last few years, either. From Hurricane Ida wreaking havoc in both the South and the Northeast to the 2021 Winter Storm Uri that devastated the production of petroleum products and other industrial chemicals, it’s been a tough few years.
You might not even recognize the impact that these severe weather events have on the supply chain at first. However, once you take into consideration the fact that roofing companies rely on these sorts of chemicals to make insulation, membranes, adhesive, and other materials, it starts to make more sense.
Trucking and Labor Shortages
Manufacturing and warehousing industries aren’t the only ones that have been hit hard by labor shortages. It’s also a problem in trucking. Labor shortages are even pronounced elsewhere in the world, like Asia, which is where most roofing nails are made. These shortages are driving labor costs through the roof – something that’s also impacting the supply chain.
As fuel costs continue to rise – and are worsened by the Russia-Ukraine conflict – you should expect these problems to become even more pronounced.
Your own roofing company might be impacted by labor shortages. There are labor shortages in the construction trades just as there are in just about every other industry. As the saying goes, good help is hard to find these days!
How Are Homeowners Impacted by These Roofing Supplies Shortages?
Unfortunately, you’re probably already aware of how these supply chain issues are affecting homeowners – but here’s a more thorough breakdown.
Increase in Costs
Roofing materials have steadily increased in price over the last few years – and they’re not about to get any cheaper. Pricing may not come back down to its pre-COVID levels even when supplies are available and the demand has subsided.
Roofing companies are simply being forced to pay more for the materials they need – and those costs are, unfortunately, being passed down to the homeowner.
Longer Waits
You’re not only going to have to pay more for your new roof. You’re probably going to have to wait longer for it, too. Average waits for supplies are around six to eight weeks. Even though your roofing company might have room in its schedule to start your project now, that might not be realistic.
Less Variety
You might be forced to settle when adding a new roof or repairing an old one in 2022 and beyond. With such a pronounced shortage in both materials and labor, manufacturers are concentrating their efforts on producing the bestselling products alone.
- For asphalt shingle makers, that means shingles in common colors like black, gray, and weathered wood only.
Have a back-up plan – or be willing to wait until there’s more variety back in the shingle market.
How to Handle Roofing Shortage in 2022 and Beyond
Although there’s not much that can be done – at least, not at our level – to end the roofing supply chain issues immediately, it’s important to take them with a grain of salt.
Try to be flexible. All roofers and builders are working as hard as they can to address the impact that these shortages have on customers.
- If you think your roof needs to be repaired or replaced in the near future, it’s a good idea to get in touch with a roofing company as soon as possible. Don’t put it off until the last minute. Knowing how the supply chain issues are affecting product lines and services is essential when it comes to planning ahead.
Not sure how your job will be impacted? Call Ashton McGee Restoration Group. We’ll make sure your job is handled well – and we’ll work with you to address any supply chain issues as they arise. We got this, y’all!