Photos by Jessica Overcash
A 12-week wait for windows. Cabinet deliveries delayed again and again. Contractors who are booked up and can’t start your project until June (maybe).
COVID-19-related setbacks and supply chain issues have contributed to major delays for most renovation projects as local designers, contractors and suppliers struggle to rebound from the pandemic and keep up with demand.
The Alexandria area, just like the rest of the country, experienced a dramatic increase in the demand for home remodeling projects since the pandemic hit. In fact, a recent study revealed that more than half of Americans say making their home more useful and comfortable is extremely important.
Still, plenty of Alexandria homeowners are finding ways to forward with plans.
“My kitchen is too small.”
“We need more storage.”
“I would love to have a proper home office, separate bathroom sinks, and how about a soaking tub?!”
From new countertops and hardwood flooring to updated fireplace surrounds and fresh paint colors, we all have a renovation “wish list,” says Kaki Ernst, an Alexandria-based Interior Design Consultant and owner of TruleyHome. Ernst says she’s heard these “asks” almost daily since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I love what I do, and I am lucky to be as busy as I am,” Ernst says. “I want all of my clients to be happy with not only the end result but also with the process … yet that’s where the challenge lies today.”
Alexandria is experiencing a white-hot housing market where buyers are willing to pay premiums for what they want and contractors are paying above-market rates for materials to meet or at least come close to deadlines.
So long as demand for renovations ranging from simple bathroom upgrades to complete kitchen makeovers continues to skyrocket, designers and contractors say it will continue to be difficult to efficiently deliver their products and services, especially due to the major shortage of construction materials. This, along with other factors, stem from a “perfect storm” of obstacles including a lack of skilled labor, unexpected weather, tariffs and port congestion — there simply isn’t enough inventory and manpower to keep up with current demand.
In today’s evolving supply chain, there is no quick and easy solution, and it is difficult to go it alone, according to a spokesperson for Ferguson, a local bath, kitchen and lighting gallery. From shipping delays and lost products to raw material shortages, the most experienced homeowners dive into their renovation projects thinking the same rules apply. But that’s not the case anymore and consulting with a trusted partner is the secret ingredient to navigating supply chain challenges.
Remodeling in a COVID-19 world: The local perspective
Ernst says she has been working on an Alexandria kitchen remodel since January 2021. She ordered appliances last April, with an original delivery date set for August. The kitchen work, she said, was mostly completed as they finally received the refrigerator in October. However, they are still waiting on the wall oven to arrive.
“The building and remodeling business is changing daily, and I feel my job, now more than ever, is all about communicating with my clients, vendors and contractors to keep us all working together and setting expectations for this ‘new’ way of remodeling,” she said. “The normal excitement and anticipation from receiving that first call from a client is now coupled with the need to deliver news they don’t want to hear. We can do that, but it’s not going to be quick. Sharing the news of material delays and how this will impact scheduling their dream projects is like a raincloud on a sunny day.”
Cindy Beckham, a TruleyHome client, says while she didn’t have to change their original kitchen design, she did have to adapt her family’s schedule along the way.
“Our expectation was the project would be completed by early September, and for the most part, it was,” Beckham said. “Kaki and our contractor worked hard to meet our deadline, but in the end, our refrigerator and oven were delayed due to the pandemic. I do feel bad for our contractor, who scheduled his team based on original delivery dates. The most unfortunate part of the process was the lack of transparency and clear communication about realistic appliance delivery dates and the impact it had on our contractor scheduling his team.”
According to Ernst, pre-pandemic, design consultants and contractors were able to rely on scheduled delivery dates, but lately, this is just no longer the case. “This has become a major timing issue, from the contractors and suppliers to designers and the homeowner. Everyone is juggling new delivery dates and rescheduling the next vendor or subcontractor in line,” she noted.
It’s hard to find anyone in the construction business not struggling with supply chain issues. One challenge, says Matt Burton, a Northern Virginia project consultant, is “keeping up with changes in availability and cost increases that change daily.”
“Our vendors do a great job in keeping us up-to-date, but I have to do a lot of going back to clients and backtracking,” Burton says. “It’s to the point now where I use a lot of ‘ifs’ in my conversations versus promises or giving hope.”
Elisa Baber, owner of SweetSpace, says sourcing furniture in her local design business during the pandemic has been challenging.
“In a perfect world, as designers, we select furniture, procure it and then have an install with a grand reveal,” Baber said. “Now, everything feels very piecemeal, and we accept items as they come in because of the increasing lead times. Also, there is at least one item that is back ordered or no longer available between sourcing it and presenting it to the client. This often leads to frustration for the client and more work for the designer.”
As far as some of the biggest pandemic headaches, Baber adds that freight has been a major challenge to work around. Items that are “available and ready to ship” often turn into an additional six-plus weeks on top of the time it takes to craft and receive them. “These delays make it tough for scheduling installs, which typically need to be done weeks in advance. Truly, the only thing we can do is keep communication open with our clients and set expectations for the unpredictable.”
Tina Trumbo, an Alexandria homeowner who worked with Ernst on a recent bathroom and laundry room remodel, had to change her ideas and plans due to a lack of materials for her project. “We had to make different decisions on cabinets in order to not push the project out by months. We sacrificed quality for timeliness.”
Initially, Trumbo explained, she was concerned about being forced to pivot. However, it turns out the more affordable cabinets were perfect for her family’s purpose. “Even with extra time and delays, it has been worth it. We’ve spent so much time in our home during the pandemic, so the investment in new, fresh spaces will continue to bring us peace of mind and lower anxiety,” she says.
Trumbo advises other homeowners exploring remodeling options right now to work with a designer who is attentive and can help with not only picking out materials but acquiring them. “Our designer [Ernst], was able to source new products when the ones we initially wanted were no longer available. For me, the investment in a designer to take that off my plate was the best decision of our redesign.”
Tips to consider before diving into a remodel amid the pandemic
Ernst offers several tips if you find yourself ready to enter a remodeling project in the current climate:
- Create “look books” to help communicate your vision and desires for your spaces. This can be in the form of pictures from magazines, Pinterest boards or even a folder on your computer where you save images.
- Make decisions on finishes sooner to lock in costs, especially items like appliances, cabinets, tile and flooring. The pandemic has affected these items’ cost and timing the most.
- Give yourself plenty of time, sit back and enjoy the ride. Don’t start a project until you know you have all the materials in hand. And if you love it, buy it (in stock today may be gone tomorrow).
Ernst adds: “Building or remodeling your home is exciting and stressful all in one. Balancing the budget, design and timing is a huge undertaking. Surround yourself with people you trust and know they are working hard for your best interests. I build my business on forming these relationships with not only my clients but my vendors and contractors.”
