A few weeks ago, I went to Home Depot to buy a new garage door. I was surprised when the employee told me that they were out of stock and wouldn’t be getting any more in for at least six weeks.
I found this hard to believe, so I did some research and discovered that garage doors are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
Why is this the case? And what do you do if you need a new one now?
Read on to find out.
Why Are Garage Doors so Hard to Get Now?
These days, it seems like everyone is looking for a new garage door. Whether it’s due to people fleeing cities for more suburban or rural areas in the wake of the pandemic, or simply because homeowners are finally getting around to that long-awaited garage makeover, there’s no doubt that demand for garage doors has soared in recent months.
But as anyone who has tried to purchase a new garage door recently can attest, they’re not exactly easy to come by.
There are several factors at play, from manufacturing shutdowns related to the pandemic to port bottlenecks and shipping delays. As a result, even if you’re willing to pay top dollar for a new garage door, you may still be facing a long wait.
So why are garage doors so hard to get right now? Let’s take a closer look.
Increase in Demand for Suburban Housing with Garages
There has been a sharp increase in the demand for suburban housing with garages in recent months. This is large because many people are leaving crowded cities due to the COVID pandemic.
However, even though the demand for new housing remains high, the supply of homes on the market continues to lag. As a result, prices for suburban homes with garages have skyrocketed.
For many people, this has made it difficult to find affordable housing. Nevertheless, the increase in demand for suburban housing is likely to continue in the months and years ahead.
Supply Chain Issues with Garage Doors
Where Are Garage Doors Made?
Garage doors are made all over the world, but some regional manufacturers are particularly well-known. For example, Canada’s Wayne Dalton is a leading manufacturer of garage doors, while America’s Amarr offers a wide range of options, including custom carriage-house style designs. Clopay is another popular U.S. brand, and Germany’s Hörmann is a global leader in garage door technology.
When it comes to materials, most garage doors are made from steel or aluminum because they’re strong and durable. However, there is a growing trend towards fiberglass and wood composite doors because they offer more insulation and can be painted or stained to match the exterior of your home.
Manufacturing Shutdowns and Slowdowns
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread throughout the United States, many businesses were forced to close their doors temporarily.
However, some businesses, such as Clopay – the largest manufacturer of garage doors in the US – have been deemed essential and have remained open.
Clopay, like all other garage door producers, has faced severe challenges in keeping its doors open. Getting steel and raw materials for the doors is one of the problems that they have faced. Dealing with sick workers and receiving parts are two more issues that they have had to face. They also saw an enormous rise in demand.
Port Bottlenecks
The term “port bottleneck” originated in maritime shipping, referring to a situation where a limited number of loading docks or ships caused delays in unloading cargo. The term has been used more recently to describe any situation where a bottleneck in the supply chain causes delays and disruptions.
For example, during the 2020 pandemic, home builders and homeowners trying to import garage doors from manufacturers in Canada, Germany, and elsewhere ran into port bottlenecks. The same thing can happen when there is a surge in demand for a particular product.
In 2021 as COVID restrictions opened up and vaccines rolled out, demand for all goods shot up, causing port bottlenecks around the world.
Shipping Delays
Shipping delays have become a common occurrence in recent months, as shipping costs have soared and empty shipping containers are in the wrong place to pick up garage doors. The situation has become so dire that businesses are now being forced to choose between waiting weeks or even months for their goods to arrive or paying exorbitant prices for expedited shipping.
The causes of the delays are numerous and complex, but they can be boiled down to three main factors: a shortage of shipping containers, a lack of available truck drivers, and port congestion.
The shortage of shipping containers is perhaps the most visible symptom of the current shipping crisis. Empty containers are piling up at ports around the world, while shippers struggle to find enough containers to meet the demand for exports.
The container shortage is a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which decimated global trade last year and led to a sharp decrease in the number of containers being shipped. As a result, many container ships were sent back to their ports of origin with empty containers, further exacerbating the problem.
The second major cause of shipping delays is a lack of available truck drivers. The trucking industry has been grappling with a driver shortage for years, but the problem has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Many drivers are reluctant to travel long distances because of the risk of exposure to the virus, while others have been forced to quarantine after coming into contact with someone who has COVID-19. The result is that there are not enough trucks to transport the goods that are waiting at ports and warehouses around the world.
The third major cause of shipping delays is port congestion. Ports are struggling to keep up with the increased demand for shipping, as businesses rush to import goods after months of pandemic-related restrictions.
The result is a backlog of ships waiting to unload their cargo, which further exacerbates the shortage of available shipping containers and trucks.
How Have Garage Door Prices Changed Due to the Pandemic?
Garage door prices have doubled or tripled in 2021 as a result of the pandemic.
Many home improvement projects are seeing increased prices as a result of the pandemic, and garage doors are no exception. The price increase is likely because so many people are now staying at home, and therefore have more time to undertake home improvement projects.
Will Garage Door Prices Ever Go Down Again?
It is difficult to say when or if garage door prices will ever go down again. The pandemic has created a perfect storm of factors that have led to soaring prices and widespread shortages.
Prices may come down once the pandemic is over and the shipping industry has had a chance to catch up with the increased demand.
Average Time for Delivery of A New Garage Door
Garage door delivery times have increased significantly in recent years. Whereas a new garage door used to be delivered within less than one week, the current average turnaround time is now 6 to 12 weeks.
What Are Homebuilders Doing to Get By?
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, homebuilders have been struggling to keep up with demand. Many builders report delays in getting doors and other materials due to supply chain issues.
In some cases, builders are resorting to using plywood as a temporary fix. Local ordinances often require that doors be installed before a home can be occupied. However, some builders have been able to get these ordinances temporarily changed, allowing them to use plywood until doors become available.
While these measures may help builders to keep up with demand in the short run, they are not a long-term solution. Builders will eventually need to find a way to get doors and other materials promptly to avoid further delays.
What Are Homeowners Doing if They Need a New Garage Door?
If you need a new garage door, there are a few things you can do to try and get one promptly.
First, you can check with your local home improvement store or online retailers to see if they have any doors in stock. Many stores are currently sold out of doors, but it is worth checking back periodically to see if they have received any new shipments.
Second, you can contact a local garage door company to see if they have any doors in stock or can special order one for you. Be aware that most companies are currently facing significant backlogs, so it may take several weeks or even months to get your new door.
Finally, you can try contacting a garage door manufacturer directly. This may be the best option if you need a specific type of door or are looking for a custom-made door.
However, keep in mind that most manufacturers are also facing significant delays due to the pandemic.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Covid-19 pandemic has created a perfect storm of factors that have led to soaring prices and widespread shortages of garage doors.
If you need a new garage door, you may be able to find one in stock at a local store, but it is more likely that you will need to special order one from a manufacturer or dealer. Be aware that most companies are facing significant delays due to the pandemic, so it may take several weeks or even months to get your new door.