Over the Top

Covering Those in Your Care: A Master Plan and the Supply Chain Problems

Submitted by Janelle Nightingale, Communications Manager, Coryell Roofing & Construction

School administrators begin each year with a calendar--a master plan, if you will--for how the school year will unfold. In-service days, holidays, sporting events, band and choir concerts, fall and spring breaks, and testing dates are outlined in advance so faculty, staff, students, and parents can know what lies ahead and plan accordingly. Well, a building’s roof needs a master plan, also. Keenan Young, General Manager of Coryell Roofing, explains that "a master plan is a long-term breakdown and budget for a client regarding their roofing needs." Young says that it allows school districts to "take stock of future needs and organize those needs" so that they can plan and be prepared for roofing improvements and repairs.

Having a master plan is more critical now than ever. Kelly Coryell, National Sales Manager for Coryell Roofing, says that "the construction industry is in the midst of a supply crisis that is inflating standard materials at an unparalleled rate--in short, it's not going to get cheaper to repair or replace a roofing system. According to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) news release on February 15, 2022, nonresidential construction input prices have risen 24.3% over the last twelve months. Some economists see inflation moderating in 2022, yet ABC states that "as of now, there is effectively no relief in sight for the nation's contractors."

The recent start of the war in Europe will only worsen the construction industry’s supply crisis. The chief economist for Associated General Contractors of America, Ken Simonson, writes that "[t]he war in Ukraine and the West's response are likely to have multiple effects on construction materials and costs and availability."

For the foreseeable future, manufacturers of roofing materials predict four to twelve months of fulfillment time for new orders. The longevity of each building’s health and the safety of everyone and everything within it depends on your actions taken today. “Prepare for the worst, hope for the best,” as the saying goes. Take urgent, responsible action to ensure that the safety and health of the lives and assets in your care are adequately covered.