Worth the Wait

Along with inflation on items such as wood and metal, our industry has been exacerbated by supply chain issues. During the midst of Covid, a combination of labor shortages along with a soar in at-home projects created the perfect storm for supply chain issues. More than ever we are seeing delays and shortages in materials, and it is best to have an understanding of what’s going on behind the scenes to avoid frustration.

The majority of our projects involve custom requests with high-end quality materials such as hardwoods that are cut and treated in ways that cannot be replicated or substituted. In our opinion – they are totally worth the wait. If time permits, we recommend waiting for that specific material that creates the wow factor you want. Another reason to wait for the quality products – they almost always come with a limited lifetime warranty! 

Without proper planning you may find yourself at the end of a long queue of backlogged orders. To avoid surprises once you begin your home project, we recommend considering the following steps!

1. Take your time with the design! There is no need to rush your dream project. Most of the time when things are rushed, quality is compromised. 
2. When you’re ready to move forward with your project – create a realistic timeline for completion and add in time for backorders and delays. It is inevitable that delays will occur and without factoring that in, other parts of a home renovation can be affected. Strict completion deadlines are hard to follow these days, so we recommend adding a cushion of 2-4 months. If you are required to move out of your home while your home is under renovation, be sure to cushion your temporary rental by at least two months. 
3. Check with vendors to confirm what items are experiencing delays or inventory issues. If you’re deciding between multiple textiles or materials, knowing materials shortages in advance may help you with your design decisions.  
4. Create an inventory checklist and track ETAs for all items. Know what items have been delivered and when to expect deliveries. Shipping and logistics are facing significant delays and truck drivers are in short supply. This is imperative so contractors know when supplies are available in order to begin and complete their work. Missing materials can get costly if contractors are required to return multiple times to a jobsite. If items are delayed due to shipping, create an alternative timeline to keep your project moving. 

We are constantly working with clients to make sure the end-product is everything they wanted. These issues aren’t going away anytime soon so work with your design team to create the best plan up front. Give patience to the industry and know that we are doing our best to mitigate the impact on your project!