It’s no joke that 2021 has been an insane year for the home industry: an increasing focus on home has created a boom for construction and remodeling, supply continues to be backed up at ports, and labor is in all-time demand.
My experience with a remodel this year was no different. There was a four-month lead to get an NWFA-certified installer and refinisher to transform 20-year-old pine flooring from orange to a clean, Scandinavian-inspired, look. Then there were eight, 12, and 16 weeks of waiting for countertops, fabricators, lighting deliveries (broken upon arrival, of course) and cabinet painting. The wait was ultimately worth it, but I’m on hold before pulling the trigger on any finishing touches. In hindsight, I wonder how much of a premium was paid for all that waiting. Everyone and everything are in high demand.