Lumber was the culprit for the past many months, but a new survey from John Burns Real Estate Consulting found that labor shortages are contributing to massive delays for window orders, delaying many a new build.
Home builders cited windows as the biggest material shortage right now, with an average lead times for windows currently ranging from 4–15 weeks. The survey analysis notes that some window lead times extend well into the 20–45 weeks range.
Prior to COVID-19, lead times were typically 2–3 weeks, according to the survey.
Window manufacturing—even in the most automated facilities—is very labor intensive, which makes the industry even more susceptible to labor shortages and COVID precaution challenges and breakouts. Most window manufacturing facilities rely more on labor and less on capital than other building material manufacturers.
What’s ahead for new home construction in 2022? John Burns’ Building Product Industry Analysis and Forecast Report notes that a mild winter could help prevent shortages, while some builders have begun turning to alternative materials such as wood clad and fiberglass/composite windows. While those materials currently have shorter lead times, composite and wood windows are also experiencing delays due to resin and aluminum shortages.