Building and construction delays
I received this data from the Federation of Master Builders today and it's crazy to see the construction delays – no doubt, we'll see similar delays on renewable installations:
89% of local builders have reported having to delay jobs due to a lack of materials or skilled tradespeople, according to the latest State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Adding to the pressure facing the industry, 97% of builders have reported skyrocketing material prices and expect this to continue into the last quarter of 2021, with 78% passing this increased cost on to the consumer.
Builders have been forced to hit pause on some jobs, in the face of increasing difficulty to hire tradespeople, such as general labourers and plasterers, with 42% and 37% respectively of builders struggling to get them to a job. Despite a slight easing, near half of FMB members are also facing pressure to find carpenters/joiners and bricklayers.
The FMB State of Trade Survey, which is released quarterly, is the only survey of its kind to track the experience of small to medium-sized (SME) construction firms in the UK. It found:
Delays and cancellations
- 82% of builders have delayed jobs due to a lack of materials
- 60% have been pressed pause due to a lack of skilled tradespeople
- Combined, 89% of builders have faced delays due to either materials or skills shortages
- 8% of builders have been forced to cancel jobs due to a lack of materials
- 12% have been cancelled due to a lack of skilled tradespeople
Skills shortages
- 42% can’t get hold of general labourers, up 6% on last quarter
- 37% can’t hire plasterers, a rise of 6% on last quarter
- 47% of builders are struggling to hire carpenters/joiners, down 6% on last quarter
- 45% are struggling to hire bricklayers, a fall of 2% on last quarter
Price rises
- 97% of builders are facing material price rises, with 93% expecting this to continue into Q4
- 77% of respondents have been forced to raise their prices in the past quarter
Pre-order: The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
- 26 Forums
- 2,158 Topics
- 47.4 K Posts
- 36 Online
- 5,736 Members
Podcast Picks
Latest Posts
-
RE: Humming sound on new install.
@jamespa just spun it up to do a hot water boost and tu...
By AdamK , 3 minutes ago
-
RE: Is Your Broadband Router the Weak Link in Your High-Tech Home?
It's the UK Government who want to set your heating sch...
By Transparent , 2 hours ago
-
I agree with @jamespa. If you are not using the tank ...
By Old_Scientist , 4 hours ago
-
RE: Is a Valliant Inline 6kW heater a BUS buster?
Much of that is true in principle, but its not likely t...
By JamesPa , 17 hours ago
-
RE: Heat Pump Servicing & Maintenance – Good Value or Rip-Off?
@dgclimatecontrol I attach the responses from 2 potenti...
By pash44pump , 21 hours ago
-
I didn't want to say that, bus since you have said it n...
By JamesPa , 21 hours ago
-
RE: Midea ASHP – how to set weather compensation
Mostly, I think, but with some caveats. I set the TI...
By cathodeRay , 23 hours ago
-
RE: Buffers, hot water and cooling
@dgclimatecontrol thanks, that's helpful.
By JamesPa , 2 days ago
-
RE: Failing heat pump system - seeking thoughts on a rebuild
I realise im overdue an update on my situation. first...
By Cleardene-ashp , 2 days ago
-
RE: Replacing Worcester oil boiler with an ASHP
@toodles thanks. I was told by the engineer that this h...
By JulianC , 2 days ago
-
RE: Who’s Caved and Switched the Heating On Already?
@allyfish Dogs have owners - Cats keep staff. You are o...
By Toodles , 2 days ago
-
RE: What crazy nonsense are inverter limits and why are they imposed?
A week later, I'm finally picking up this comment... ...
By Transparent , 2 days ago
-
RE: COP is not the only measure of efficiency
We keep all our TRVs fully open using the whole house a...
By Old_Scientist , 2 days ago
-
RE: Havenwise App Help & Forum Support – Get the Most from Your Heat Pump
I am pleased to say at 4pm today we have added another ...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 3 days ago
-
RE: Renewables & Heat Pumps in the News
To unpack this a little.... 1) how many of us in this...
By Lucia , 3 days ago
-
RE: Vaillant aroTherm Plus 10kW thoughts?
@realevil the fans and fan speed / coil size (height, w...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 4 days ago
-
RE: Mitsubishi Ecodan 11kw Defrosting Issue.
@morgan this can just be done by your sepecilist when t...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 4 days ago
-
RE: Anyone still weathering it out with Agile?
@toodles I guess it all comes down to import averages. ...
By Tim441 , 4 days ago
-
RE: 300 Liter Tank - Do I have to heat it all?
The size of DHW tank affects the anti-legionella cycle....
By Transparent , 4 days ago