The pandemic transformed the world in many ways. Social distancing became a thing, our doctors and researchers were pushed to the limit trying to control the spread of COVID-19, and school and work were taken online.
However, not all industries are capable of moving their business online. The service and tourism industries were hit hard by the pandemic as they had to lay off employees to survive. The construction industry wasn’t immediately hit by the pandemic, but the supply chain crisis that happened as a result certainly did.
Roofers were one of the sectors that were hit hard by the supply chain backlog, forcing them to improvise to keep their services running. How did they manage to keep themselves afloat while a global supply crisis was going on? Read on to find out.
How the Pandemic Stripped Roofers of Needed Supplies
The dilemma began in early 2020 when the world was forced to shut down due to the pandemic. Factories had to stop production and lay off their employees to keep their businesses afloat as fewer people had spending power at the time.
Since fewer goods were being produced, shipping companies also downsized their operations as they expected demand to freefall. However, the sudden demand for medical masks and personal protective gear oversaw a sudden shortage of shipping containers in exporting countries. This problem soon reared its ugly head as governments attempted to hotwire their economies by giving them purchasing power.
The rise of online shopping—combined with government subsidies—created wave after wave of demand, which forced manufacturers and shipping companies to catch up despite their depleted resources. This giant backlog prevented roofers from fully replenishing their roofing supplies for many months.
The Suez Canal obstruction, labor shortages, and trade wars added to the supply chain crisis.
How Did Roofing Companies Respond to the Supply Chain Crisis?
Since materials are critical components for their work, roofers and other contractors had to come up with ways to bridge the lack of supply. The suppliers of these materials also had to come up with answers.
Many companies resorted to warehousing materials and buying as much as they could. They were ready to shoulder the costs of moving materials twice or thrice just to have them readily available to use for a job.
Another way roofers have managed to stem the lack of materials is by increasing the lead times for their projects. Waiting times that usually only lasted half a month increased to six weeks or even up to a year depending on the type of needed roofing materials! These longer times allow roofers to scour for supplies they’d use on the job.
Suppliers also started pushing back on demand, limiting orders to customers to make their expenses as efficient as possible. Some even asked for project-specific information to avoid any ghost orders from happening.
Due to this, plenty of roofing companies established communication lines with their suppliers to know when the latest stock of roofing material would be available.
Quality Roofing Despite Lack of Supplies
It may take a while before the supply chain crisis finally untangles itself, but the roofing industry will continue to strive to provide quality services to its clients. We will do everything in our power to ensure the high quality of our work despite the current supply situation.
If you’re looking for quality commercial roofing solutions, talk to our experts at WaterTight Roofing. We have been providing commercial roofing solutions in several states and are equipped with the knowledge and equipment to help!
Contact us today to get a quote on your roofing needs.
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