Home reno (photo courtesy Tiffany Goodwein)

By Chantal Wagner

renovations popular

Contractors and hardware stores seeing a backlog of building materials

Jul 22, 2020 | 10:55 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Home projects and renovations have been top of mind over the last few months with more time being spent at home.

And the influx of needed supplies for contractors and “DIY-ers” is adding to the already backed up supply chain.

Tim Hailwood, Owner of TIMKO Home Improvements says there’s a backlog of home building supplies and materials including wood.

“On a daily basis, it’s something different. One day its 2×4’s the next day it’s sheets of plywood, it could be drywall. Just depends on shipments because shipments were slowed down.”

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The mid-June hailstorm storm that left homes demolished in Calgary hasn’t helped.

Hailwood says shipments for extra windows, doors, and siding is adding to the backlog.

Those shipments typically took 4-6 weeks now it’s 6-8 weeks.

Summertime is always a bit busier with projects but Hailwood says there’s been more this year.

“Doing fences, decks, windows, doors, lights, changing taps in their house. Just because of the fact they got some money and they know they’re not going on that holiday now. So they’re going to spend it on their house that they haven’t done for a few years,” Hailwood told Chat News.

Redcliff Home Hardware owner Rob Craats agrees that anything to do with home renovations has been popular.

“Plumbing, electrical, light fixtures, plumbing faucets, sinks, toilets. I mean everyone seems to be doing everything, they’re updating everything.”

Craats expects to see basic hardware items not back on store shelves until October-November.

“In the hardware area, simple things like hinges, gate hinges, any gate hardware is in short supply, very difficult to get,” Craats said.

There’s also a shortage of paint and paint supplies.

Home Hardware’s corporate factory is running at full production, but Craats says they’re now having supply issues on paint cans.

And finding product elsewhere takes more time and is also more expensive from secondary suppliers.

“And one delay in one link of the chain creates a delay in the next link and down the road and we are the end seller,” Craats said.

He adds shipments they normally get on a weekly basis now take anywhere from 3-6 weeks.

But there are no promises on timelines from suppliers.

The other day Hailwood says he went into a store for materials.

“I went to the store thinking I saw it, went there, and it was sold out. I went and they said they were sold out. And it’s like when are you getting it? They said don’t know it’s back-ordered.”