Buying materials for builder

Blueysea

Bit of a newbie at dealing with builders/decorators as I've only recently become a home owner.

I want to swap my current carpet in the hallway/WC for laminate flooring, and get the bathroom carpet replaced with tiles. I plan to get someone in to do the work.

My question is should I go ahead and purchase the laminate/tiles that I like and then get quotes or should I expect the builder to want to buy his own materials? I assume it'd depend on the individual on whether he'd install the flooring I've already purchased but any advice would be appreciated.

Cazza

Get the quotes first and discuss your plans with the builder before you buy the materials. The answers you get will vary, some will be happy with you supplying the materials, some won't.


My DH is a builder and whilst he is happy for customers to do this in theory his most common grumble is about the choice of materials - some are more difficult to work with and will therefore make the job more expensive for you as it will take longer and incur a higher labour cost. Other things to take into account are quantities (with laminate & tiles you need to allow for wastage where they need to be cut) and sundries (e.g. you will need to allow for adhesive and grout for the tiles and underlay for laminate). The builder may want a quick set adhesive, or they may want one that sets slower because otherwise the bucket sets before all the tiles are down and you end up having to mix more and bin the first lot.

ST1991

Agree with above. Get quotes before buying.

If you buy a lower quality/cheaper laminate (like we did!) it can take alot longer to install. That extra cost in labor could balance out to less labor and a nicer floor.

Not judging on the cheap flooring by the way. This is a money saving forum after-all, and we installed it ourselves which although was AWFUL to do, now looks lovely. A more expensive floor would have taken us half the time to put down, but we worked within our tiny budget.

Sometimes the builder/laborer may also be able to purchase materials cheaper, too.

Mr.Generous

if a customer buys the materials and they are short / over / faulty I tell them, If I buy them I sort it out.