We all know that renovations are more likely to experience delays than not. Often, the cause of this can be put on tradesmen, as they are the visible face of the project.

According to a recent survey conducted by Magnet Trade, weather conditions emerged as the primary culprit, causing delays for 20% of respondents engaged in home remodels.

Only 12% of renovation delays are caused by tradies. Primary areas of concern are:

• Weather conditions - 20%
• Hidden damage - 20%
• Shortage of materials - 16%
• High demand for tradesmen - 13%
• Tradesmen showed up late - 12%
• Lack of funds - 11%
• Tradesmen did not arrive - 8%
• Obtaining permits - 7%
• Disagreements with tradesmen - 6%

The survey revealed several top reasons for renovation delays in the UK. The primary concern, cited by 20%, was weather conditions, with hidden damage also coming in at 20%.

11% of people surveyed attributed lack of funds as the reason for their renovation delay, with most people saying this aged 25-34.

Tradie wait times are known to be an issue, as 13% of renovation delays are the result of the extremely high demand for tradesmen.

However, the data revealed that only 12% of renovation delays were caused by tradesmen turning up late, and even less, at 6%, were the result of a disagreement with their tradie!

Shortages of materials are causing significant delays i renovation projects

Other reasons included a shortage of materials, with 16% of people saying this was an issue. These shortages, a result of lingering pandemic effects, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical issues, have impacted both the availability and cost of materials.

For example, electrical components remain difficult to procure, affecting project timelines and then budgets.

Labour shortages are compounding these issues, with the construction industry needing to add approximately 501,000 new workers to meet demand in 2024, according to PBMares.

Contractors and project managers are advised to adopt early planning, real-time monitoring, and fostering strong relationships with suppliers to mitigate these issues and prevent them from impacting renovations.