Delayed builders hope Level 2 speeds up getting supplies

Builders say jobs have been delayed at financial cost, with a backlog under click and collect for materials resulting in ‘strategic planning’ of the day’s work under Levels 4 and 3.

The contactless orders has “slowed things down” as they were taking at least a day to process under recent lockdown regulations, says Duncan McVey, a contracted builder.

“If I need to go get something it’s normally because we need it straight away,” said Mr McVey.

Builders have found it has affected their ability to complete jobs on time, causing financial stress.

For Josh Hay, this means working overtime without charging his clients more.

“I quoted a job two days and it’s now taken three. That’s defiantly caused a financial upset, because now I am going into the third day and I can't really charge for that,” said Mr Hay, contracted builder and director of JHB.

With six jobs on the go, planning ahead is not the easiest option for builders like Mr Hay due to the nature of contracted building.

“I would usually pop in two times a day and just get bits and pieces that I hadn’t thought of before I started the job”.

But click and collect for Mr Hay means ordering materials two days before they are needed.

“So, it has definitely delayed a few jobs and it hasn’t been very efficient.

“I am slowly learning to get the materials I need on time,” said Mr Hay.

He also had to factor in delays and costs in providing PPE, signs and sanitising stations to keep his staff and clients safe, to meet regulations under Level 3.

At every new site the builders attend they require a safety briefing in the morning which is “probably a good hour of the day you can’t really charge for,” he said.

After a few days of waiting for supplies to be ready for pick up Mr McVey found an alternative solution.

“We found another hardware store where you can just sign in with a QR code, so I just get everything from there,” he said.