Builder fears ‘catastrophic’ Gib delay
Builders fear for the survival of larger independent building companies as the Gib shortage worsens, saying it will be ‘‘catastrophic financially’’.
Campbell Mattson, the director of Location Homes in Taranaki, said orders were taking up to seven months to arrive.
‘‘I am aware of other building companies who have simply been told by their suppliers that they will not be able to have any Gib supply until next year, leaving partially built homes at a complete standstill for months,’’ he said.
‘‘This has resulted, in some cases, in companies having to lay off or stand down workers for extended periods. The effect of this one material component being inaccessible . . . could be catastrophic financially and certainly puts the homeowner under huge pressure with many projects extending out months.’’
Mattson said it appeared supply wouldn’t improve until Winstones opened a new plant in Tauranga next year.
‘‘It can’t come soon enough for the industry.’’
Gib is pre-filled into many code certification forms, despite Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) manager of building performance and engineering Dave Gittings saying the building regulatory system was material neutral. He said the building and construction sector was able to select whichever product or material to use in each situation. ‘‘Through the Building Code, MBIE sets the minimum performance standards that building products must meet but does not prescribe which materials to use to achieve them.’’
Gittings said MBIE was aware of the Gib shortage and in November last year republished product substitution guidance to support the sector to make informed decisions about using alternative products in light of supply chain disruptions.