Material Supply Self Build

What is the best way to go about this? Do you approach all the local hardware shops price them up using a schedule of materials see if they offer any discounts for having an account? Do you then give them a deposit and purchase on the strength of that? What have people done in the past?

Price around, haggle and lie to them about the competitors prices!! U will squeeze another % or 2!! What will suprise u is that the smaller builders providers are better and easier to deal with.

U need to setup an account with them, I did not have to give references except to Chadwicks, I gave them the heiton buckleys as a reference!!! Found Chadwicks slow with prices and slower with deliveres, they even delivered goods to my billing address (19 miles away) instead of the site!!! fools!!

Thanks yop, so it goes pretty much for all of tha materials you will be buying during the project go for several prices if possible and keep haggling. When speaking to builders providers would you need a quantity of material that you will be ordering or just get the unit rates they are prepared to give you?

U will need ur quantities for sure, your trademen will give u a list of what they want. For roofing materials in particular, timber, felt, slates, lead etc the differences can be up to 4k from different providers and don't worry about going outside for suppliers, for a big order they won't mind delivering.

Guys I know came across differences of up to 4k from local providers to providers who were up to 40miles away.

Local quarries are generally good to stone, hardcore, blinding etc, when paid cash.
I would not be so keen on them for plastering sand etc.

But again some will give u a per unit price, depending on the product.
But don't compromise quality either.

Thats great yop thank you.

I know I will be knocked for this but if you cut a deal with some of your VAT registered tradesmen they can claim the VAT back on the material. This is 20% and a lot easier than haggling around for it etc. Pay your tradesmen cash for the whole job - materials and labour.

Yes it is Tax Evasion of sorts but the people have only just endorsed our esteemed leader for similar activity so it does not seem to be a problem.

MrKeane said:

I know I will be knocked for this but if you cut a deal with some of your VAT registered tradesmen they can claim the VAT back on the material. This is 20% and a lot easier than haggling around for it etc. Pay your tradesmen cash for the whole job - materials and labour.

Yes it is Tax Evasion of sorts but the people have only just endorsed our esteemed leader for similar activity so it does not seem to be a problem.

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Alternatively for non-fraud VAT savings, if your tradesmen do supply and build, then the VAT rate is only 13.5% on both goods and services. For a big job, e.g. a roof, it makes sense to get the tradesman to do the ordering, or at least to do the sums to see who would be better off doing it.

So a good list to start with would be:-

• Steel for foundations
• Cement
• Sand
• Plastiser
• Insulation (wall&floor) more specialist these days?
• Wall ties
• Lime
• Concrete (Quarry to supply)
• Blocks 4" and L Blocks (Quarry to supply)
• Hardcore clause 304 (Quarry to supply)
• Sand (Quarry to supply)
• DPM/Radon barrier
• Radon Sumps
• Service pipes and ducting
• Lintels
• Window cills
• Timber for roof works, Joist, wallplate, runners, rafters, battens 2x1, felt, slates/tiles
• Hardwall
• Angle beads
• Ceiling Slabs
• Nails/Screws scrimming tape
• Roof insulation fibreglass
• Second fix timber works, Arcitrave, door frames, doors skirting

Any others that i should quantify before pricing?
Any body recommend suppliers in munster region?

They are two very good points on the vat also, deffinitely willl keep them in mind!

When I was doing it I broke it down into a few broad categories, quarry, builders providers, electrical and plumbing I think. I made 4 or 5 major purchases and tried to include as much as I could, going for the best price. Anything after that I just bought it as I went along.

You seem to have missed all stuff related to plumbing on you list!

Ya i was avoiding plumbing as i dont have a notion of what is involved with plumging or electrics! Any pointers would be great.