PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Building in the
Face of Challenge
Despite COVID-19, weather delays, materials shortages
and procedural red tape, general contractor Excel-7
continues to move toward completion of $8.2
million in expansion and upgrades at CFB Shilo
By Lisa Gordon
From at home do-it-yourselfers to commercial contractors,
everyone is feeling the pinch when it comes to the current
shortage of construction supplies. According to the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index
for the first quarter of 2021, most contractors continue to experience
building product and materials shortages. In fact, 71 per cent
of contractors south of the border say they are experiencing at least
one materials shortage, with the most common being lumber, steel
and PVC piping.
It’s the same here in Canada. In a member update released on
April 13, 2021, Western Retail Lumber Association president
Liz Kovach pointed out that the construction industry relies
heavily on raw materials and the processing of those materials by
international organizations.
“We are faced with challenges in each aspect of the supply chain,
many of which are created by the pandemic, but Mother Nature has
amplified the situation,” wrote Kovach. “Between hurricane season
on the Gulf Coast last fall, the freeze in Texas and of course past
issues such as the mountain pine beetle and forest fires, readily
available raw materials have been removed from production, creating
processing delays, long lead times and higher prices during a
time of unprecedented demand.”
Materials shortages have wreaked havoc with project timelines
and impacted progress at construction sites across Canada. It’s a
PHOTO COURTESY OF EXCEL-7
BUILDING RURAL MANITOBA | 31