Extension - buying our own materials - help!!!

mrssarahh

Hi - sorry this is going to be a long one!

We've just got planning permission to convert our car port to a dining room. Found a builder (hubby has worked with him in past - good bloke) and he has quoted us for his labour but says we are better to buy the materials ourselves to keep costs down.
He will give us a list and tell us all the quantities.

My first question is - where is the best place to buy building materials and is there anywhere where we can get a discount or reward card as it will probably be alot of money in one place!

Secondly - there is a new housing estate being built at the other end of the village by the same company that built our house. Do you think its worth a trip up there to see if there are any deals to be done - I'm thinking maybe bricks and windows??

And lastly (for now) - can anyone add to the list for the budget - have I forgotten anything important:

builder - labour
bricks and other materials (per list from builder)
plumber (for radiators)
electrician
plasterer
building regs fees
skip
concrete (for foundations - hubby digging - and floor)
furniture and decorating

Thanks for any advice!

Bishop_Basher

Most of the major builders merchants are much the same, Travis Perkins, Jewsons etc.
Compile a list of materials, go to Yell.com and search for builders merchants in your area, get 4 or 5 prices ask if they can do you a deal. Some places do a one off 'self-build' accounts.
Get written quotes if possible take it to B&Q who will pricematch, and if you have a trade account you'll get money back too.

Doozergirl

Introduce yourselves to your local builders merchants, explain what you're doing and ask for them to pass on their trade discount in return for your custom on the project. It's hard to compare because you will probably get a list of materials a few days in advance, so we tend to stick with one and shop around for the expensive items. ie. bricks, thermalite blocks.

seconds and co website is good for insulation. Look for a local independent firm for your windows. Howdens for joinery more than the builder's merchants - negotiate a trade discount there too.

You've forgotten a carpenter in your budget and flooring generally deserve it's own budget section. Windows certainly do.

Don't bother with the housing estate - they won't be interested. They will have negotiated their own deals with suppliers. Don't be surprised to see the Jewsons lowloaders on site!

philweatherall

My first question is - where is the best place to buy building materials and is there anywhere where we can get a discount or reward card as it will probably be alot of money in one place!

Be very careful about going to the timber merchants. Ignore DIY stores for exterior or structual materials as a merchants will be better. Visit a couple of Merchants and exaggerate the job a little, inform them that you are shopping about to get competetive prices. tell your builder to go with you and also get him to check over prices. Merhchants are salesman and have many different price bands unlike retailers. Not to be rude but if they see that you don't know your stuff they will try to get every penny.

Carpenters are a big thing to miss off as they will need to be there pretty much for the duration of the job, plus like already quoted flooring is not cheap.

Feel free to ask any questions

Phil Weatherall (Carpenter)

Copjunk2

It's worth seeing if there are any Self-Build Shows in your area. We went to one when we were building our extension and got a trade account with Jewsons. We also got some materials from Howdens through our joiner's trade account. I would think given the current downturn in the building industry builders' merchants will be falling over themselves to get your custom. You do have to be organised to ensure that you have the materials when the workmen require them.

peediedj

i recently had a coservatory built,builder was labour only,as i work in a builders merchant i got the materials very cheap,saved a fortune,but fairly stressful trying to organise things

planning_officer

Check the planning permission - if the standard condition "materials to match existing building" is on it (as it probably is) - that's the starting point for the bricks - check what the existing house is constructed from.

mrssarahh

Thanks planning officer - it does say that on the planning permission.....next question - how do i find out what the bricks are? I have searched all the "brick match" things on builders merchant websites but out of all the thousands of types and colours of brick I can't find ours!!
Is there anything that I would have with the house documents or anything to tell me what they are called?
Also - would plastic windows that look like the wooden originals be OK? Or would they have to be exactly the same?
Thanks

robv_3

Speak to the local builder merchant. They will send someone to look and advise what bricks to choose, get samples etc.