The Decisive Have a Scheduling Advantage
The Decisive Have Scheduling Advantages. They say the early bird catches the worm. When it comes to roofing, siding, window, and door replacement, decisive homeowners (the early birds) often enjoy project scheduling advantages. We thought we’d tackle this topic for a couple of reasons, including the number of customers who ask how long their project will take to complete. We also receive a fair number of questions about project timelines. Some answers are based on events beyond our control, but many delays can be reduced by making prompt choices and decisions.
The ‘Best’ Are Busy
There are some universal truths when it comes to buying the best of anything. The best doctors, the best beauticians, the best entertainers, and the best siding, window, and roofing companies.
The first truth is that the best are busy; you usually need to accept some wait time before service. If they are not busy, you should be very concerned and reconsider your choice!
The second truth is that surprise schedule delays & disruptions sometimes occur for reasons beyond anyone’s control.
The one area affecting all home improvement project schedules that the homeowner totally controls: decisions. Sometimes ‘analysis paralysis’ enters the equation, creating weeks of scheduling delays that ultimately frustrate the homeowner due to indecision early in the process.
Pushy Sales Person?
The main reason our sales team sometimes calls to nudge you is scheduling. Schedule date opportunities sometimes arise due to material or decision delays in other projects, which can be an advantage for homeowners already scheduled for crew availability. HES schedules projects promptly once the homeowner has made all design and style decisions. The decisive homeowner has the best chance of on-time (or sooner) project completion.
The Best Are Always Busy
With all due respect, award-winning Home Exterior Systems (HES) is, by many quality measures, among the very best residential exterior contractors in the nation, let alone in Houston. We’re not the largest or the fastest, but top brands and customers recognize us as among the best contractors, using only the best materials and installing them by certified specialists. As with all top contractors, we are busy.
Many Moving Parts
Exterior renovation projects require many tasks to be completed on schedule, with little margin for error. For example, a home renovation that includes roof, window, and siding replacements requires time for all materials to be available and delivered exactly when needed at the job site. Most of the time, the order of the material installation matters too, for a proper outcome. Finally, note that crew members live some distance away (the Houston metro area is large), and each must arrive on time every day for each stage of the project.
Each Project Unique
Every Home renovation project is distinct and unique. There is no such thing as a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all job if done by the book by a top-notch crew. Every roof, wall, and opening is imperfect. All have some degree of differences in wear, exposure to the sun, wind-driven rain, landscaping elements, etc.
Expect Surprises
Every roof and wall surface carries the potential for hidden problems and schedule impact. It is only after we remove old roof or wall material and expose the openings that we can estimate the schedule impact. A certain degree of rot and damage is expected and absorbed by the crew, but there are limits to that. Shoddy quality, code infractions, or severe damage can delay a job while remedies are presented and must be approved by the homeowner, especially if additional materials are required. The decisive, prepared homeowner makes all the difference in moving forward amid these surprises.
A Symphony Of Activity
The moment you approve your home improvement project proposal and decide on options such as colors and features, dozens of tasks begin. Most importantly, materials orders and crew availability are loosely scheduled based on current lead times. Most common materials under normal market conditions (no recent widespread storm damage, etc.) are readily available in popular colors and styles. However, whenever the words ‘custom’ or ‘special order’ are involved, some delay is introduced into the material lead times.
Custom Roofing, Siding, Doors, and Windows = Weeks To Make and Ship
Many materials are custom-made to exact requirements by manufacturers that strive to meet daily lead-time commitments. Entry Doors and Windows are among the more complex to manufacture and transport, and custom pre-finished siding and roofing materials also involve some waiting time. Depending on the situation, standard lead-times may be 12 weeks or more. Of course, these are merely estimated targets, and they are regularly updated and communicated as we update them.
The Clock Starts With Homeowner Decisions
When an HES team member calls to ask about your project decisions, such as window grids, entry door style, or shingle color, they are not trying to be pushy salespeople. They’re trying to help you get in line sooner. Remember the mantra: the decisive have scheduling advantages.
All HES team members know from experience that the wait time homeowners face can be excruciating, especially when repairs are needed. The sooner we complete the schedule steps we can control, such as style and design decisions, the better the odds of generating a reliable schedule. As for things we cannot control, Mother Nature has a significant impact on schedules, too.
Foul weather in the Houston area is infamous for disrupting all manner of exterior renovation. Crews can only do so much safely in heavy rain and wind. We do our best to adjust and stay on schedule, but that is all we can do. If your project is delayed, we ask for your patience and understanding. We pledge to do our best.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, this helps shed light on why some projects stall or sputter, and why the decisive have scheduling advantages. Sometimes, it’s not anybody’s fault, and we just try our best to work around it. Sometimes, however, delays can be minimized by timeliness and follow-up. If you need an exterior contractor in the Houston area, we would welcome the opportunity to earn your business. Please give us a call.
