Buying Building Materials: Quantities, Quality & Lead Times

These big ticket items, along with staircases, are materials that you would only expect to buy once as they should last the life of the property. So, spend wisely and get the best quality option you can afford within budget.

• These big ticket items, along with staircases, are materials that you would only expect to buy once as they should last the life of the property. So, spend wisely and get the best quality option you can afford within budget.
• Of course, if your budget can stand it, you can buy what you wish, but in my experience, most of us are trying to make a modest budget work very hard, so some compromises are inevitable.
• Kitchens and bathrooms always look good when new, no matter what they cost and are relatively simple to replace according to change in preferences and requirements.
• So, my advice is to always spend what you can on the major items listed above and resist the urge to splash out on designer trends that may lack aesthetic longevity.

Delivery & storage: what to consider

• Delivery & storage: what to consider
• Build schedule A comprehensive schedule that governs the timing of deliveries and works, is vital to keep your project on time and to budget
• Access If your plot doesn’t have adequate access for articulated lorries and plant vehicles, you’ll have hefty delays on site. Worse still, your local authority has the right to decline planning approval where it deems that suitable access can’t be guaranteed
• Plant Check whether you need forklift trucks or cranes for unloading bulky materials, and ask whether your merchant is able to supply this service free of charge

Receiving goods Always ensure there’s someone available to accept deliveries – otherwise expensive materials could be dumped anywhere on site, or being taken back to the depot. Keep a log of all deliveries, including details such as the product and quantity delivered, company and driver name

• Receiving goods Always ensure there’s someone available to accept deliveries – otherwise expensive materials could be dumped anywhere on site, or being taken back to the depot. Keep a log of all deliveries, including details such as the product and quantity delivered, company and driver name
• Security Theft and bad weather are the bane of building projects, so secure storage is a must for everything from materials to tools. That could mean anything from a lockable garage to sturdy site fencing. Get suitable self-build insurance in place, too.