On The Job
Dormie Roberts, Associate Editor
MATERIAL SHORTAGES Have Contractors in Crisis Mode From paint shortages to labor challenges, contractors are faced with turbulent times as the economy is rebounding AMIDST A BUSY summer season, contractors are experiencing another interruption of work — a nationwide resin shortage. Paint is getting harder to come by, not only for commercial usages but also the homeowner who is looking to do home improvement projects. Projects across the country might be put on hold as delays have been made worse due to major disruptions of supply chains and wild weather.
What Happened? It has been an uphill battle for manufactures, especially for paint plants in Texas and Louisiana. Factories had some shifts in production due to the disruptions brought on by the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. Plants ran into staffing issues as production facilities, shipping ports and supply chain logistics all saw a slow down along with staffing shortages if employees were symptomatic. As a result, resins were already in a tight supply. 2020 also saw the busiest hurricane season on record. Twelve named storms made landfall along the coast, two of which reached Category 4 status before making landfall in Texas and Louisiana. Fast forward to February 2021, winter storm Uri came in with a vengeance blanketing the Gulf Coast with snow, ice and freezing temperatures resulting in power outages across the country. Months have passed but the gulf
32
states are still recovering from the weather implicated shutdowns. As it sits today, there is more demand than ever for paint as many contractors have used up their stockpiles and continue to complete striping jobs.
Through the Contractor's Eyes With the pent up demand and manufactures trying to rebound after back-to-back challenges, prices for commodities are on the rise, paint being one of the many products. Contractors are seeing these material shortages and price increases first hand across the entire country. Nick Howell owner of T&N Asphalt Services in Utah said his next order from his supplier will be 37% more expensive than his last order. "I have seen increases over the years but nothing to this extent," he said. "That is why I am so passionate about job costing. Truly understanding the labor and material prices to give an effective bid to a client is what they expect. We just have to be transparent about our side of the industry so the customer understands the situation we are facing." As contractors are scouring the market for paint with their suppliers,
industry groups and reaching out to other contractors for advice. Making the situation worse is the growing labor shortage. Throw that into the mix and it makes this year another turbulent one. "As a company, we are trying to strategize the most effective way to
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
PVM0821_32-33_OntheJobMaterial_DJ.indd 32
7/27/21 4:34 PM
an we sce to cu
