How Supply Chain Issues Have Changed Things
If one word could be used to describe the current state of commercial construction that word might be “disrupted.” It’s amazing how the world economy has changed just in the past 12 to 18 months and how supply chain issues affect buying materials and goods that go into homes, office buildings, or numerous other buildings like medical facilities. A good example of a typical product is the beautiful and simple wood door. Solid wood doors are used in almost every commercial building in the county. They are made from a renewable resource, they come in different finishes, colors, stains, and sizes. Even slicing them in different ways gives each door a unique aesthetic essence. Some are even used in fire protected areas. They are ubiquitous and affordable. Until now.
During the process of purchasing materials for construction, some items like wood doors are typically installed near the end of the project. This usually gives the Architect and Owner plenty of time to make the decisions about the doors that will ensure that they fit, they’ll look nice, and they’ll arrive on time to be installed without delaying anything else. Less than two years ago it took wood doors about six to eight weeks to be manufactured. Today it takes 20 to 24 weeks, and that length of time is growing steadily. A small renovation project that used to take three to four months to finish can take six or eight months simply due to these wood doors.
The wood door discussion between an owner and contractor will then typically flow into one about wood trusses, steel joists, lighting fixtures, and numerous other items that are never “off-the-shelf” items anyway, but these also didn’t drastically affect the construction time for a project. It’s all about a complicated mixture of raw material processing, lack of labor, companies emerging from COVID-19 shutdowns, transportation and shipping. All of these things have a direct effect on the numerous variables within the construction process. The bottom line for the owner and architect is this: Don’t assume anything about availability anymore. Your contractor should become your key ally in knowing what subcontractors and vendors will be affected, what options you might have, and what materials should be avoided. Managing these items are what gives your project the best chance for success. Remember, it’s not about giving up your dream of what you want to build or produce, it’s about having the right people on your team to help you navigate these waters. Partner with someone that you trust and don’t be afraid to have these important discussions early about how these variables will affect you meeting your goals and deadlines.