Get in the lead and avoid the delays 

Unexpected delays can cause huge disruption to a self-build project, costing you valuable time and money. Here, Ben Brocklesby of Origin explores why it is vital to research likely product lead times when planning a project, particularly for crucial components such as doors and windows

It’s crucial that anyone project managing a build takes lead times of key materials, parts, and products into consideration during the planning stages. If an essential element of the build is delayed and progress can’t continue without it, it will have a knock-on effect on the entire project timeline, costing time, money, and a huge amount of inconvenience as you rearrange suppliers and tradespeople. 

Getting the timing of external products, such as doors and windows, right, is also key. If they are delivered too early, they are vulnerable to becoming damaged while sitting on the building site. If they arrive too late, your property could be left exposed to the elements, risking damage to the progress made, and holding up further work.

AVERAGE LEAD TIMES

The average lead time for doors and windows is around six to eight weeks. However, this varies significantly depending on the supplier you opt for, the tradesperson undertaking the installation, and their availability. 

For example, there are doors and windows on the market that are available to be specified when they are required, even if that’s in as little as 24 hours when ordered in a popular colour. While most projects don’t need quite such a quick turnaround, this offers complete peace-of-mind and is invaluable if you’ve been let down by another supplier, or plans have changed at the last minute.

AVOIDING DELAYS

While the supply chain issues affecting the availability of many materials are easing, it’s still important to opt for suppliers that you can trust to deliver when you need them to. One way to identify trustworthy suppliers is by checking out their track record on delivery. Some companies do promise to deliver your product in full, on a day that suits you, allowing you to time the arrival of your doors and windows to align perfectly with the rest of the build schedule.

It’s also beneficial to look for suppliers which fabricate products in-house, here in the UK. This will mean the supply chain is much shorter, therefore reducing the likelihood of third-party delays. Plus, by ordering products that are made in the UK, you won’t be reliant on overseas shipping, removing another potential hold-up from the process.

CONCLUSION

While researching suppliers’ credentials and lead time commitments requires some time investment at the beginning of the project, it is vital for safeguarding the rest of your build’s timeline, helping to ensure the project runs as smoothly and cost-effectively as possible.

Ben Brocklesby is director at Origin