Lead times getting longer for brick and blockwork

Grant Prior 11 years ago
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Lead times for brickwork and blockwork are continuing to increase as contractors are forced to look overseas for alternative suppliers.

But latest data from Mace Business School shows fewer companies are predicting  increases in lead times over the next six months compared to previous surveys.

Mace said: “The industry continues to be busy but there are signs that most companies are resourcing to provide the capacity to cope with the current increase.

“Fewer companies are also forecasting increases in lead times over the next six months compared to last quarter forecasts.

“Brickwork and blockwork lead times continue to increase due a combination of shortages of transportation and manufacturing capacity issues.

“The typical four week lead time for brickwork has increased to 11 weeks, the highest level since our records began in 1999. The previous high of 10 weeks was back in 2007/8.

“The lead time for Blockwork has gradually grown over the past 25 years but at 7 weeks has not come close to the peak of 10 weeks in 2007. ”

Latest lead time information by trade:

Rotary Piling All companies are reporting being busier with work and enquiries and contractors are reporting shortages of concrete trucks and PFA. However this is being contained and there is currently no change at 6 weeks for the third quarter.

Pre-cast Piling has remained at 7 weeks following the increase six months ago.

Concrete Works lead times remain at 7 weeks for a year. Previously anticipated increases have not materialised and no changes are anticipated in the next 6 months.

Structural Steel Frames Lead times remain at 14 weeks. Companies have more enquiries and are busier than six months ago. They anticipate lead times increasing in the next six months.

Cladding – Natural Material lead times remain at 31 weeks for the second quarter having following a period of increase over the past year. Contractors are reporting being busier with enquiries and workload and anticipate that lead times will continue to increase over the next 6 months.

Cladding – metal panellised system lead times have remained at 27 weeks since Q1 2010 and no change is forecast by contractors.

Cladding – curtain walling system lead times have remained at 43 weeks since the beginning of 2012. Workload and enquiries have increased and they anticipate lead times increasing over the next 6 months.

Atrium Roof lead times remain at 26 week with changes reported

Roof Finishes – asphalt / membrane lead times have remained at 7 weeks for a year there are reports of enquiries being on the increase but they do not anticipate lead times increasing in the next 6 months.

Roof Finish – profiled metal lead times remain at 14 weeks for the second quarter following the increase last quarter, no further increases have been reported.

Façade Cleaning Equipment lead times remain at 33 weeks, companies are currently busy and enquiries have picked up but they anticipate lead time remaining the same. Design approval is taking longer which is being offset.

Brickwork lead times have increased again this time by a further two weeks to 11 weeks. This is due to contractors being busier and shortages of stock and haulage contractors that are able to deliver the bricks. Many projects are having to procure bricks and blocks from alternative suppliers from overseas to meet lead times.

Blockwork lead times have increased by one week to 7 weeks, there continues to be longer lead in from block manufacturers and haulage companies. Companies do not anticipate lead times to increase over the next 6 months.

Drylining lead times remain stable at 8 weeks, with no changes forecast despite being busier.

Demountable Partitions lead times have increased by one week to 8 weeks, contractors currently have more work and enquiries and continue to anticipate an increase in lead times over the next 6 months.

General Joinery lead times remain at 13 weeks with no change forecast in the next six months.

Specialist Joinery lead time remains at 23 weeks despite being busier than last quarter.

Raised Floors lead times remain static at 6 weeks with no change since 2007. Contractors enquiries and workload has increased and they anticipate longer lead times in the next six months partly due to supply issues with timber.

Suspended Ceiling lead times remain at 13 weeks with no increase reported for the next 6 months.

Architectural Metalwork lead times remain at 16 week and there is no increase forecast for the next six months.

Decorative Wall Covering lead times remain at 4 weeks with no change anticipated despite reporting increased workload and enquiry levels.

Internal Stone Floor and Wall Finish following the sharp increase last quarter, lead times remain at 28 weeks this quarter, further increases are anticipated in the next 6 months.

Soft Floor Finish lead times have remained at 8 weeks since the end of 2010, companies are busier with work and enquiries and are forecasting increases in lead times over the next six months.

Passenger Lift-non standard lead times remain at 26 weeks, workload and enquiries remain unchanged with no change in lead times forecast.

Escalator Lead times remain at 19 with no change forecast for the next 6 months.

Electrical Package lead times remain at 15 weeks for the third quarter. Contractors are busier with projects but lead times are not anticipated to increase in the next 6 months.

Mechanical Packages lead times remain at 17 weeks for the second quarter. Contractors are anticipating an increase in the next six months as a result of increased enquiries and workload.

Ductwork the lead time for ductwork remains at 8 weeks with no change to lead times forecast for the next six months despite some contractors forecasting being busier.

Sprinklers Lead times remain at 8 weeks, contractors reporting increased enquiry and workload levels but do not forecast an increase in the next six months.

Security Systems Lead times remain at 6 weeks. There is no further increase anticipated in the next 6 months.

Controls lead times remain at 7 weeks with no change forecast despite increased workload and enquiry levels.

IT Infrastructure Equipment lead times remain at 6 weeks no change in lead times are anticipated in the next 6 months.

Data and Voice Cabling lead times remain at 11 weeks with no changes forecast.

Hard landscaping lead times have increased by one week to 11 weeks, this is the second increase in six months, no further change are forecast in the next six months.

Logistics Services lead time remains at five weeks despite being busier with enquiries and work there is no change forecast in the next 6 months.

 

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