COVID’s Lasting Impact on Replacement Window Materials

By now, everyone has felt COVID-19’s impact on the supply chain. Everything from buying cars to getting construction materials has become harder — even years after the pandemic began. COVID’s impact has even made it more difficult for homeowners to make otherwise-simple home improvements, like replacing their windows.

Here are the long-term impacts of COVID on sourcing replacement window materials and how to plan for these shortages.

What’s Causing the Shortage in Window Materials?

Window manufacturers have been one of the most affected by backorders and shortages of glass and other materials. Some of the causes of window material shortages include:

• Lack of available labor: When the pandemic began, much of the workforce became sick and factories had to work with limited crews. This created delays that are still affecting us.
• Increased demand: Once COVID-19 started, many people began staying at home — and many took the opportunity to improve their surroundings. With more people renovating their space and replacing their windows came additional strain on the supply chain.
• Manufacturing processes: Some window replacement materials are more difficult to manufacture than others. For example, vinyl windows are usually made from materials from multiple manufacturers, and this lengthy process combined with delays results in shortages.

All of these factors create a perfect storm that ends up affecting homeowners and business owners looking to renovate their properties.

How To Plan for Home Material Shortages

Now that you know what’s causing window material shortages, what can you do about it? Planning ahead is key if you want your home renovation to go as smoothly as possible. To lessen the impact of material shortages on your home renovations, you should:

• Be proactive: Don’t wait until your roof is falling apart or your windows are damaged to replace them. Think ahead about what replacement projects may be needed in the future and work with a contractor to source materials.
• Invest in maintenance: You can avoid a frustrating replacement project by taking care of your home with preventative maintenance. Hire a contractor to look over your windows, doors, roof, and other essential home structures.
• Be patient: If you want to take on a home remodeling project, don’t rush the process. Wait until you have all the materials you need to complete the renovation to avoid putting your home in a messy or chaotic state for weeks or months longer than you initially planned.

While home projects can be a bit more tedious than they used to be, they aren’t impossible if you take steps now to avoid being affected by material shortages.

Choose Nu Look Home Design for Your Window Replacement

If you need to replace your home’s windows, you need to hire an experienced contractor who can handle the process from start to finish. Homeowners turn to Nu Look Home Design, Inc. for window replacements.

We’ll work with you to establish a budget and timeline and find the best windows available. You can trust us to keep you up-to-date on your home project and keep you informed about any potential shortages.

Looking for window replacement services? Schedule a consultation by contacting us online today.