Slower but steady for contractors

By COLLIN GALLANT on April 16, 2020.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Medicine Hat’s handy men and women appear to be using new-found time to complete projects, and some contractors appear to be operating better than perhaps expected during the coronavirus slow-down.

Figures with the city planning department show inspections are still being completed, a walk through any neighbourhood features bins for demolitions, and small contractors tell the News they’ve stayed busy, albeit not as busy as usual.

There is still large uncertainty however, about how the sector may perform as economic concern grows and a lack of new major projects becomes apparent.

But, others are expecting warmer weather could lead to deck, roof and exterior renovations – items outside homes to giving homeowners comfort and contractors work.

“Honestly I would have expected a harsher slow-down … it’s been a slow month, but not a dead stop,” said Kent Snyder, manager of the city’s planning department, which has started posting weekly figures of inspections – about 120 per week since March 15 – to highlight continuing activity.

That follows a positive start to the year in building permit statistics that continued in March, said Snyder, but very few new development permit applications are coming in.

That situation could lead to slower conditions this summer and next fall as the lag catches up.

TBC General Contractors in Medicine Hat has several projects postponed this month but has several others that are going ahead in vacant homes and businesses that have seen closures to the public.

“We’ve yet to send anyone home an hour early because there’s nothing to do,” said Ryan Thares, part-owner of TBC.

Current projects include gutting vacant homes, work in temporary closed businesses, and building cabinet set-ups that will be installed at a later date.

“We would get calls about ‘can you install one window?’,” said Thares. “That sort of stuff is on hold. But with the weather turning warmer, there could be more exterior work, decks – the things where you don’t need to be inside a home.”

City inspectors are also trying to stay out of occupied homes as much as possible. New Alberta safety council rules allowed inspectors to work virtually via video conferencing on cell-phones, doing a walk-through with a contractor who displays work and answering questions.

Construction is considered an essential service, thereby allowing work to continue with precautionary measures in place to protect the health of workers.

The biggest question for the Medicine Hat construction industry is the pandemic’s effect on new home building, especially after record low activity in 2019.

New home customers could further cool to making major investments, and owners of existing homes may pause smaller renos or general maintenance, or choose to tackle the work themselves.

Mike Antler owns Alley Cat, which provides bin removal for contractors and residents, small teardown and large item disposal.

He says there are some obvious do-it-yourself work projects ongoing, and spring cleaning and yard work is coming.

“We have had calls from folks who request bins because they’re laid off, out of work or have more time,” he told the News.

“We have been fairly steady, slower, but steady over the last month, and as it gets warmer I expects you’ll to see move activity in coming months.”

Snyder said the next several months will provide a more clear picture, and whether new work will replace current projects as they are completed.

Figures from the city’s planning department for permits and inspections – required for more substantial work, electrical and plumbing jobs – from March 15 to April 10 were 155 for building code inspections, 196 electrical and 142 mechanical.

(Note: This article has been edited to correct a spelling error in a person’s name.)

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