Concerns among roofers about recruitment difficulties, prices and availability of certain supplies

If the order books are there, concerns now relate to tensions related to recruitment, prices, and the availability of certain supplies (structural timber, battens, under-roof screens, etc.).

In 2019, the FFTB launched an Observatory for Roof Renovation which surveys twice a year in September and February by telephone 800 artisans-businesses representative of the sector. This fourth survey, carried out in February 2021, covers an activity report for 2020 and the outlook for the first half of 2021.

-2,1%: a “contained” decline in 2019/2020 activity

The companies questioned estimate that their Roof Tile Renovation Works activity suffered a decrease of -2,1% at the end of 2020 compared to 2019, a rather better result than the whole of the renovation activity (in decrease of 9% for example according to the FFB economic report).

"The good performance of the tile renovation activity in 2020 can be explained by several factors" comments Olivier Lafore, in charge of this study for the grouping of tile makers of the French Federation of Tiles and Bricks, who specifies "we are obviously thinking of the nature of the outdoor work which means that the activity is less impacted by the constraints reserved for indoor work. Roof renovation is also more a matter of craftsmanship, more mobile and responsive than large structures. The sector was obviously struck by the confinement and sudden shutdown of construction sites and the activities of the trading networks in March 2020. The manufacturers gradually shut down the majority of production lines from that date, but the Stocks built up before confinement have, however, always made it possible to meet demand from businesses and the gradual resumption of construction sites. "
Olivier lafore

Serene companies on their order books

Roofers therefore consider themselves little impacted by the crisis in the perspective of the first half of 1 and display a low level of concern about their activity volumes: 2021 out of 1,9 on a numerical scale of 5 to 1.

59% of artisans and businesses thus declare that they have gone through the health crisis without any major consequences for the operation. 37% certainly express a concern but continue their activity normally. Only 3% of all the structures surveyed declared a strong concern which could lead to a recovery, or even a cessation of operations.

A dynamic outlook for 2021

Forecasts for the first half of the year are on average + 1,2% compared to the second half of 2020. It should be noted, however, that the Ile de France (-0,1) and especially the North-East (-1,6 ) are clearly out of step with other regions. The health context of February 2021 and the reconfinement announcements that emerged during this period may explain this gap in two dense and hard-hit areas in 2020.

Recruitment and tensions on certain materials: points of alert

Indeed, 58% of the companies questioned declared having recruitment difficulties (+6 pts / Sept. 2020) and 72% identified it as an obstacle to their development.

“Recruitment difficulties are recurrent for roofers and are currently added to the tensions on certain supplies, particularly lumber, battens ... We fear that these difficulties are blocking the recovery that we all need. "
Olivier lafore