HOW DID COVID-19 AFFECT THE DEMAND FOR METAL ROOFING IN THE UK?
Demand for metal roofing hasn’t really changed during lockdown – it’s still as popular as ever. Some of the main reasons for this include continued growth in domestic house building and industrial and commercial new builds and refurbishments.
More opportunities are expected for suppliers and contractors once COVID settles due to construction projects in the healthcare and education sectors.
At the same time, lockdowns have posed challenges for contractors as well. Some contractors have indeed been able to continue as usual on their projects while maintaining social distancing.
But for others forced to stay at home or delay the start of new projects, this has caused dilemmas. Equally, some projects have also been halted or delayed due to supply chain issues.
Metal Roofing, in Particular, was a Popularly Searched Term, Experiencing a 108% Increase
Particularly promising periods were the first lockdown’s back-end, the start of the second lockdown, then two other peaks during the third lockdown.
This was accompanied by lesser periods of interest, including the end of the second lockdown, then a couple of other falls during the third lockdown.
We believe the growth in online shopping has probably driven demand for online distribution centres. These structures usually have expansive flat roofs, typically finished with profiled or single-ply metal sheets.
Another reason metal roofing has increased in popularity could be the remodelling or building of healthcare facilities in response to the COVID pandemic. Additionally, many new energy recovery, recycling, and waste treatment facilities have been planned for 2021, driving demand for metal roofing further.
The term ‘Lead Roofs’ Experienced a Similar Surge in Interest, with a 177% Increase
Demand was exceptionally high during the first and second lockdowns. This was particularly the case during the first half and end of the first lockdown and the beginning of the second lockdown.
Contrastingly, there were several dips in interest during the first lockdown and a significant decline towards the end of the second lockdown. By the third lockdown, things were looking more stable.
We attributed the reduced interest to reduced demand when many construction projects paused. On the flip side, increasing rates of lead theft could be a reason why this search term peaked.
This was particularly the case in rural areas, particularly for heritage sites like churches. Equally, some telecom, power and transport companies were also affected by this.
Although not as Dramatic, Steel Roof was Also Searched 14% More
In the first lockdown, this search term increased at the beginning and end. By the second lockdown, it peaked just before the end. Then during the third lockdown, it peaked several times.
Declines also occurred mid-first lockdown, at the end of the second lockdown, and several occasions throughout the third lockdown.
The UK is well known for having not the most favourable of weather conditions. This may go to explain why steel roofing has continued to remain popular. On the other hand, the price of metal roofs has increased. This couldn’t have occurred at a worse time, as the UK was amid the Coronavirus pandemic, and financially, many businesses and households were cutting back.
‘Metal Roofing’ was a Popular Search Term Here in the UK
In fact, out of all worldwide interest in that search term, it fell in 7th place overall.
So why did this happen? One reason could be that the coronavirus disrupted many labour markets and supply chains worldwide.
China, Iran and India, in particular, were closed down entirely, resulting in a considerable shortage of building materials there, including roofing.
Despite Global Shortages for Materials, Demand for Roofing has Remained Strong
The construction sector as a whole has experienced ups and downs as a result of lockdowns and COVID-19. With many construction sites having to close due to not being able to maintain social distancing, many who remained open struggled to find the necessary materials due to a global shortage.
Nevertheless, demand for roofing has been strong, particularly for lead and metal roofing.