Ships, Chips & Shortages – How the Supply-Chain Struggle is Affecting the Roofing Industry
Updated (3/10/2022)
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has caused unprecedented times in regard to fuel prices, shortages, and transportation issues. Code Red Roofers is working to the best of our ability to navigate this and relay any delays to our clients. The war, combined with previous delays due to COVID-19 mandates, has made knowing when certain items will be available quite unpredictable. As we stand together and wish for peace for the people of Ukraine, we aim to provide you with updated knowledge on material shortages and price increases as frequently as we are able. Again, Code Red Roofers always advises our clients to lock in their contract prices as early as possible to combat ever-increasing material prices.
As always, should you have any concerns or need assistance with your roofing project, we are here to help. Please call our office at 1-844-4-CODERED
In recent months, hundreds of cargo ships have been in a “holding pattern” off of America’s coastline, as pandemic restrictions in many states have caused a disruption in the normal flow of production and distribution. But how, you may ask, does this affect the roofing industry – and what affect will it have on my roofing project?
There are many factors that come into play regarding the shortages. First, the computer chip shortage has caused extreme delays across the globe. While it may seem like computer chips and roofs have zero in common – it actually affects the roofing industry more than you think! Nearly every piece of technology now utilizes computer chips, whether it be your car, your cell phone, or a piece of machinery. When global transport systems can’t acquire these chips to operate their machinery, transport of goods stalls.
Secondly, ships are being forced to anchor offshore of many states due to COVID-19 restrictions in many areas. Luckily, many cargo ships are being redirected here to Florida, where the restrictions have lessened, but the rerouting process does cause shipping delays. This means roofing materials on ships bound for other areas of the country must travel further to be accepted by another port. We asked Humberto, our Martin County Branch Assistant General Manager, about the supply-chain shortage and how it is affecting the completion of roofing projects. “We live in a very unstable and uncertain world.” Humberto says. “We ask our clients to be patient and flexible during this time. Luckily, Code Red Roofers has been very proactive in the ordering of materials to stay ahead of the curve as much as we can.”
What can you as a client do during this unprecedented supply-chain shortage we are experiencing?
Start by having reasonable expectations for work completion. Projects that in the past could have been completed in a matter of weeks now may take a couple months for completion, depending on the acquisition of materials needed. Understanding that some of these delays are out of our control helps ease frustrations if your work has a longer-than-normal lead time.
Sign your contract as soon as you are able. Signing your contract as soon as you are able to do so ensures that you are locked into that rate for your roof. In the current state of affairs, prices are subject to change week-to-week, so signing quickly can help ease the hurt of inflation.
Communicate with your sales technician. If you are needing the work done within a certain time constraint, it is highly important that you let your sales technician know that BEFORE signing. By doing so, we can provide you with a more realistic time-frame of when the work may be able to be completed. Plus, the earlier you can decide on things such as roofing material selection, the faster our production team can order the proper materials needed for your project.
Code Red Roofers thanks our valuable clients for their patience and adaptability during these uncertain times. If you are in need of a new roof or roof repair, fill out our FREE ROOF ESTIMATE FORM here.