While tradespeople and construction workers are still allowed to operate during the coronavirus shutdown, the sector has seen heightened volatility.
For glaziers like Adrian Grocott, business has been very up and down.
"We've certainly seen quotes and new orders come off, to the tune of around 30 to 40 per cent," he told SBS News.
"Some weeks are relatively normal and other weeks have been very low,"
Maintenance and repair jobs are dwindling, with residential customers increasingly unsure about letting tradespeople onto their properties.
"Work that's considered non-urgent - it might be a crack in a pane of glass or 'my rollers are not working', or 'I need my shower screen replaced' that work we're finding it hard to get access into homes; and more so into blocks of units," Mr Grocott said.
While the shutdown has created volatile conditions more broadly for the construction industry, some professions have enjoyed a rise in demand.
Jeremy Levitt is the co-founder of ServiceSeeking, a website that lists job opportunities for tradespersons.
While there's a steady demand for home projects, large-scale construction has slowed. Source: SBS News
He said the public's demands are changing.
"As they spend more time at home, a lot of jobs are getting posted for electricians, for plumbers, for handymen to fix things, roofers, things that people need done around the home as they spend more hours enclosed in their houses and apartments," Mr Levitt said.
Meanwhile, the appetite for larger projects has reduced, and the industry is bracing for the shocks a looming economic recession will bring.
CEO of Master Builders Australia Denita Wawn is calling on governments to step in and back new infrastructure projects to cover the shortfall.
"Most people are working, nevertheless work is experiencing a downturn and forward contracts are not looking good at all, particularly for the residential sector," she said.
"For us to continue to work we will need more support, and we would much rather governments provide stimulus support to our industry as opposed to subsidies for those who cannot work."
Tradespeople are exempt from Australia's coronavirus restrictions in all states.
Tradespeople are allowed to continue working through the coronavirus restrictions in each Australian state. Source: SBS News
The health advice allows them to work, provided they maintain social distancing.
The health advice also allows home visits, and glazier Adrian Grocott says those working in construction are well aware of the importance of maintaining safe practices.
"Of all people, tradies are well-versed in the practice of assessing risk and establishing work methods to manage that risk," he said.
"It's actually what we do, every day."
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
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