Getting the quantities of your building materials right can sometimes be difficult, and although miscalculations and over-estimations are common, they can still be costly.
I always advocate using supply and fix terms when hiring electricians and plumbers because they can fit and charge solely for the materials needed and they will have all the essentials in the back of the van.
Sure, they may be making a mark-up on products they provide, but you get the security of knowing if it needs fixing under warranty, the trade will sort it out for you.
On the other hand, if you bought the materials yourself, you will be responsible for any mishaps and could end up with a garage full of surplus materials after failing to estimate the correct quantity of supplies.
When it comes to bricks and tiles, don’t be tempted to scale and calculate directly from your set plans, buying only the precise amount for the job at hand.
Tiles, blocks and bricks can break in transit, some will need to be cut and others will be spoiled or damaged on site, so make sure you over-order by at least 10% to allow for wastage.
Allow more for reclaimed materials, say 15%, as they tend to be more fragile, and finding suitable matches to what’s already been purchased can be challenging if you run short.
How Can I Avoid Additional Costs?
How Can I Avoid Additional Costs?
It’s so easy to get carried away with your material choices. Falling in love with a designer bathroom suite, for instance, can add thousands of unnecessary pounds to your budget, when a contemporary and unbranded product will look and function just as well for a few hundred.
Remember that increased complexity of design will directly mean a direct boost in material costs. This is because you will need more of the expensive details and junctions in areas requiring guttering, roofing or plumbing, to name a few.
You should also be aware of bespoke material costs. Modern manufacturing companies are geared for computerised design and manufacture, so all the products in their catalogue can be selected and produced by using a simple design programme and pushing a button.
