Not the time to panic


Even though some government and other agencies may be broadcasting a roofing material shortage, the overall picture remains encouraging for the rest of the year and into 2024.


Because of the supply chain issue and labor shortages, many roofing supply companies planned ahead and had materials ready to go. This is what you should do when you are planning on re-roofing your building or doing repair work on your building’s roof.


Planning ahead helps get you the materials you need on time and at the right price. Cal lour company for a roofing inspection. These inspections will tell you what you need in the way of roofing materials and make your planning go smoother.


Why was there a roofing material shortage


Most of the sources of this problem seemed to have been cleared up. The first major problem that impacted the roofing industry was the interruption of the supply chain process.


Whether it was a labor issue, a blockage of the Suez Canal, or Covid-related shutdowns, roofing materials were very hard to find. Then labor shortages and other labor-related problems cut down the workforce and the manpower to produce the materials was not there.


Then, there were those COVID-related shutdowns where manufacturers could not produce anything for a very long time. All of these factors, and other ones, changed the lead times to 1 to 1 1/2 years for a little while.


However, since those factors have been resolved, the lead time to receive roofing materials has returned to pre-pandemic levels. This does not mean that you do not plan ahead.


Even a 2 to 4-week delay in receiving roofing materials can delay a project making it more costly to complete. That is why your building’s roof needs to be repaired or replaced you plan ahead.


You want to make sure you are going to receive the materials when your start work date approaches. Planning ahead means being prepared and ensuring you get the materials you need on time and without extra expenses.


Roofing material costs keep rising


Since the supply chain and manufacturing times have returned to normal and there are plenty of roofing materials available, there is another good reason why you need to pre-plan your roof construction.


While lumber prices are dropping other roofing materials’ costs keep rising. When you pre-plan, you can lock in some lower prices and avoid over-paying for materials.


Plus, you can save on labor rates if you call for estimates for the work. Competitive estimates help cut the costs of labor and lock in that expense before it gets too high.


What pre-planning does is help you construct the roofing expense to meet your budget and avoid cost overruns. Watching the bottom line is a very good reason to start planning your new roof ahead of time.


There is no reason to delay the planning or preparation till just before you are ready to start. If you wait, your project may be delayed and your costs will go up.


Going green


When you plan ahead, you have time to investigate the many roof material options available today. It is also a good time to consider going green and providing a more sustainable roof that is both environmentally and building-friendly.


Considering this option can also help you decide if the roof design can be altered to accommodate the new technology available as well as lower construction costs.


Finding ways to be both economical and environmentally friendly is good for business and a great marketing tool. There are different green roof options to look at.


You could go solar, use green or blue roof options, and a cool roof design. Planning ahead gives you the ability to gather all the data you need including costs and decide which is the best road to take.


Plus, the impact on your energy costs should help lower your operating expenses over the long run and add to your savings. Going green is an effective way of protecting your bottom line and producing better profits.


In addition to that, you get a sustainable roof that looks good as well as holds up to the weather in your region.


The 2024 forecast


Currently, the forecast for next year is looking good. While there still may be some roofing materials in shorter supply, the roofing material industry is returning to normal and suppliers are becoming fully stocked.


But this return to normal does not mean you should not plan ahead. Those rising roofing material costs will always be a factor in re-roofing your building or repairing the current roof.


He only real question waiting to be answered in 2024 is whether roofing suppliers will return to the ‘just in time’ method of conducting business or if they will elevate their stock on hand to make sure they have more than enough materials to meet the rising demand.


The other issue that needs to be addressed will be the labor factor. There may still be a labor shortage in 2024 and that may not change for some time. Many experienced roofers may have retired or moved on to less strenuous work and filling the void may take some time.


This is why you need to plan ahead. You need to identify the challenges that are coming in the next year to ensure that your roof is completed before anything major happens.


Planning ahead ensures your roofing project is completed without a hitch.
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When you are considering doing work on your commercial roof, call our roofing company. Here at Motor City Roofers, we handle a variety of roofing tasks to help you plan ahead and meet your roofing goals.


We do inspections, make recommendations, and do the re-roofing or repair work. We are an all-round roofing company that helps you meet your budget and your deadline.


Call us today so you can get your roofing materials ahead of time and beat the rising materials and labor costs. Planning ahead always shows good judgment and business sense.