Window, door shortage slowing down construction

Supply crunch is being experienced differently across different segments of sector, insiders say

The “spotty” availability of windows and doors — key items used to build residential and commercial highrises, as well as single-family homes — is contributing to local construction delays, one expert says.

Lumber shortages have already been identified as one impact of the serious global supply chain issue created in large part by COVID-19.

But while lumber’s effect was felt fairly uniformly across the building industry, shortages of supplies such as windows and doors — also tied to supply chain issues and increased consumer demand — are being experienced differently by different segments of the building sector, insiders say.

Bruno Giancola, vice-president of project management for the Tridel group of companies, a major Toronto-based developer, says the firm has noticed delays getting windows.

“The big commercial glazers (window suppliers) in Canada get some material, not all, but some from China. They seem to be experiencing a little bit of manufacturing and transportation issues,” Giancola explains.

“You’re missing one widget that goes into the assembly or manufacturing of a commercial window and it can stop you in your tracks,” Giancola says, adding these delays are happening more on the commercial construction side of things than residential developments.

Giancola went on to say the situation has had some effect on the scheduling of work at The Well, a massive mixed-use project near Spadina Avenue and Front Street West that Tridel is involved in with other major developers.

“We’re seeing a little bit of that (delay) in the commercial section at The Well,” Giancola says.

“But we’re working with our suppliers to schedule stuff to minimize the schedule delays.”

The delays are an issue in the industry, but the problem is spotty and not common across the board, he adds.

“In some cases where you have buildings that have typical floors, some of the window manufacturers have pre-made a lot of that stuff. If you work with them properly and organize yourself properly, things seem to be doing OK,” Giancola adds.

In the U.S. after appliances and lumber, the next hardest items to find for construction are doors and windows, according to a study last May by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

According to the survey, 57 per cent of builders noted a “serious shortage” of appliances.

A total of 47 reported a serious shortage of framing lumber, while 54 per cent saw a serious shortage of oriented strand board and 48 per cent said there was a serious scarcity of plywood.

Some 38 per cent said there was a serious shortfall of windows and doors while 49 per cent noted some shortage of those items.

Back in Canada, Milad Tousi, owner of Graystone a builder of luxury custom homes in the GTA, said there’s a shortage of windows and doors, but he feels it’s “not severe” for his company and is resulting in only a one- or two-week delay beyond normal wait times.

Valérie Gonzalo, a spokesperson for Lowes Canada, says that while stock shortages for standard doors and windows aren’t being seen at the company, special order doors and windows, for which lead times are longer, are experiencing delays.

“Suppliers have longer delivery delays due to a variety of reasons, including the lack of employees, an increased demand for renovation and new construction products and the challenges in getting the various components/parts from their vendors,” Gonzalo says.

“You’re missing one widget that goes into the assembly or manufacturing of a commercial window and it can stop you in your tracks.

BRUNO GIANCOLA TORONTO-BASED DEVELOPER TRIDEL