President's Column | Paint Shortage
Paint is the latest item to be derailed by supply chain problems. Here’s how to navigate the paint shortage and higher paint prices.
The latest supply chain problem is a paint shortage. More specifically, house paint.
Interior, exterior,latex and oil. All colors. All brands. Primer is in short supply, too.
Like other supply chain disruptions, the paint shortage has stemmed from an array of factors around the globe. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused labor shortfalls at paint plants and trucking companies, slowing production and delivery. Power outages caused by the epic February 2021 freeze in Texas slowed petroleum production and destroyed the existing supply of resins, key ingredients inpaint. Then Hurricane Ida shut down petroleum production in Louisiana in summer 2021. Throw in a fire at a paint polymer plant in Germany in March 2021 and you've got a paint shortage.
At the same time, demand for paint has soared. Most of us decided we needed to improve or repair our homes once we started working from home because of COVID. Sales at paint and wallpaper stores hit all-time highs in 2021. With demand up and supply down, you’re going to have trouble finding paint for your remodeling project, and when you find it, you'll pay more.
On average paint is up by 25% just in the last year.
The paint shortage isn’t likely to improve any time soon. Sherwin Williams, the largest paint manufacturer in the U.S., says it’s uncertain when paint production will be back to normal.
You’re wondering, “So, how am I going to get rid of these outdated red walls in my kitchen?!” We asked some painting pros for tips on handling the shortage. Here’s what they said.
#1 Buy paint in bulk and buy early.
If you are DIY-ing it, order your paint four to six weeks before you start your project and buy enough to do the entire job.
#2 Paint only the problem areas.
Sometimes you don’t need to repaint an entire room to make it look better. You just need to touch up the problem areas, and it's easier to find a small supply of paint.
#3 Clean your walls, baseboards and trim.
You can sometimes freshe