9 ways COVID-19 could delay your building project

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.

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.

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."

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.