Building supplies are a critical element of your construction project. However, choosing and buying building supplies can be pretty challenging for most real estate developers and prospective homeowners. So, what should you consider when purchasing building supplies? Below are some insights.
Understand The Regulations
Conduct some research to establish what materials you can use when building or renovating the property. Typically, councils have regulations detailing the materials one should use during construction. For example, Australian law prohibits using asbestos as a thermal insulator, fire retardant or thermal insulator. Local building codes could also compel you to use specific materials. For example, you could be obligated to use fire-resistant cladding to safeguard your property against wildfires. Strata bodies could also determine the roofing or fencing materials to use. The rule is to comply with these regulations to avoid legal trouble once you complete the project.
Know The Required Quantities
Most people work with rough estimates when deciding the quantity of building supplies. Nevertheless, this approach often leads to the loss of funds since you could purchase more materials than you need. If you buy fewer materials, you incur extra expenses such as transport and site downtime. Besides, inflation could cause building supply costs to increase. Ask a certified quantity surveyor to examine the material quantities required to complete the project. Having an accurate bill of quantities helps you budget for the project and avoid material wastage at the site.
Assess The Quality Of Materials
What quality of materials do you need? Building supplies have varying qualities. For instance, any ballast you choose should have excellent drainage and should not absorb liquids. Besides, it should not crush or disintegrate under pressure. Based on your project, you could opt for broken stone, gravel, blast furnace slag, or brick ballast. What type of sand will you use? Your contractor could recommend fine, medium, or coarse sand. It is challenging to determine the quality of the various internal fixtures. Home improvement and interior design blogs can help you compare the quality and features of floors, kitchen counters, glass splashbacks, bathroom utilities, glass, insulation and roofs.
Consider Recycled Materials
Most people presume that recycled materials have low quality. However, this is not the case. The best practice is to engage your contractor to determine where to use recycled materials. For instance, crushed aggregate from demolition sites can be used as a base for your driveway and foundation. Besides, you could also reuse grills, fences, lights, counters, and ceramic fixtures. It is a sure way to cut the construction costs.
