UK Construction Facing Roofing And Timber Shortages

High demand for products, rising prices for shipping, and delays at UK ports are among the causes for shortages of roofing materials and time, according to there Building Materials Federation (BMF)

The BMF - whose members manufacture around 76 per cent of building products in the UK – has received reports of long lead times for some roofing products, while timber prices are surging by an average of 20 per cent, according to the Guardian.

John Newcomb, Chief executive of the BMF and co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council’s Brexit Movement of Building Products and Materials Group, said: “We’ve had a report of a merchant being quoted as far ahead as August availability for some roofing products, particularly pitched roof tiles.

“We are also facing significant issues with timber supplies. Merchants have seen an exceptional demand for building materials since the first lockdown.”

However, there was an average year-on-year growth of nine per cent in membership to the BMF in November, alongside the industry's expansion. The output from the construction industry grew by 12.4 per cent in the three months to November, according to the Office of National Statistics.

Newcomb said that going from December’s figures, the BMF is predicting an unprecedented double-digit growth and that several roof tile manufacturers are taking extensive steps to meet the demand.

The BMF is also looking into the massive surge in costs of building products shipped in containers from the Far East.

Newcomb added that the federation continues to see issues with the availability of products imported in containers, mainly from the Far East, such as screws and fixings, tools, plumbing items, bathroom suites and shower enclosures.

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