Design & DIY 9 ways COVID-19 could delay your building project By Allan Britnell Published: April 29, 2021 Updated: March 26, 2024 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 Photo by Artazum/Shutterstock Appliances According to CHBA members, the most-frequently delayed items are appliances, with 45 per cent of survey respondents saying these items were holding projects up. Factor that into your timelines if you were planning on a kitchen reno at home or at the cottage this year. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 Photo by Kononova Nina/Shutterstock Lumber One of the first material shortages the industry noticed last year was pressure-treated lumber, in part because so many people wanted to improve their outdoor living spaces. This year, all types of lumber are in short supply, and that’s impacting the cost of building projects. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 Photo by Artazum/Shutterstock Get ready to pay more A shortage of supply coupled with increased demand for new homes and cottages and renovations have resulted in lumber prices escalating. CHBA members across Canada project the average increase in the cost to build a new home or cottage will be about $20,000. For more on that, see "Soaring lumber prices leave cottage builders in a bind." View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 Photo by Mulevich/Shutterstock Prepare to wait longer According to CHBA members, a number of other key building materials are also on back order. These include plumbing materials and fixtures, windows and doors, light fixtures and electrical supplies, siding, flooring, and cabinets. The average delay across Canada is about six weeks, with members in Ontario reporting the longest waits at about seven weeks longer than normal. View in Fullscreen Related galleries 5 CL-approved DIY tricks to simplify life at the cottage Bestselling author Bryn Turnbull’s family cottage used to be covered in frog tchotchkes. Now, it’s a Georgian Bay gem 6 winter maintenance tasks that you never want to ignore 1 2 3 4 5 9 ways COVID-19 could delay your building project One of the many things that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted is manufacturing and the delivery of building materials and other goods. (The week-long blockage of the Suez Canal didn’t help with the latter.) The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) recently surveyed its members on which items are delayed the most. Here are nine ways you may see your summer building project impacted because of COVID. Related Story 4 outdoor lighting solutions for your cottage property