RENOVATE now

How to beat product shortages, unstable pricing and supply chain problems in your home reno

- JEN JONES

If you’re thinking about making some changes to your home, you might be wondering how on earth you’re going to navigate the long lead times and constant price increases you keep reading about. Ultimately, it all comes down to careful planning – which is the 101 of any home renovation, global pandemic or not.

Some of the choices you make in relation to materials and design can have a flow-on effect to construction, never mind the supply chain problems we’re already navigating. Here are 10 decisions you might want to think about if you’re planning to start a renovation this year.

1 FINISHING LINES

Although standard profiles of skirting and scotia are easy to source, custom profiles are not. If your home has a mismatch of trims, you’ll need to decide ahead of time if you’re going to replace any to match. Depending on the decision, your builder may need to measure up (off the plans) and place an order before walls are built – particularly if you’re trying to match existing heritage finishing lines that can’t be sourced off-the-shelf.

2 Lighting layouts