Buying materials

[Robsco1]

Hi all,

 

I'm currently getting quotes from builders for trench digs and foundations, built up to DPC.

 

Is there any benefit or risk in buying all the blocks and bricks myself, or do builders tend to get better discounts?

 

Also, when looking at a few places for trench blocks, they seem to range in price from £7 to £10 - from what I can tell all the same dimensions and load capacities - is there anything else I should be looking out for, before simply going for the cheapest?

 

£6.50

https://www.emerysltd.co.uk/300mm-3n-mannoklite-trench-blocks-yellow-band-24-per-pack-20010272?gQT=1
 

£10.50

 

https://www.turnbull.co.uk/product/-/40656?gQT=1

This one for £1.50 per block looked rather out of the ordinary.

https://www.cornwhaul.co.uk/bricks-blocks-concrete-products/300mm-trench-blocks?gQT=1

Thanks,

Rob

 

[ToughButterCup]

One of my early errors was to assume that self-builders got worthwhile discounts.  We generally don't. Because most often we're one-off customers. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try....

[Robsco1]

I'm asking the builders to include a breakdown of materials in their quotes, so I can at least see if I could get the bricks and blocks cheaper, as I prob have more time to shop around - my concern is then if I'm missing some feature of the materials that's important.

[Russell griffiths]

The third block you listed is half the size of the others, so you need to buy twice as many, and lay twice as many. 

[crispy_wafer]

Speak in person to the merchants to get best prices.  Do a rough work out of qty's and get yourself a baseline price.  Also, make sure your builders would be ok with you purchasing materials!

[nod]

There’s nothing wrong with buying them in yourself 

But if the builder buys them in He will add 20% to the cost 

[saveasteading]

6 hours ago, ToughButterCup said:

errors was to assume that self-builders got worthwhile discounts. 

But also that the builder does.

Most small builders are happy to have one account at one BM.

Everything on its merits. When you prove you are a good payer it can get better too, especially if you send a nice big enquiry.

[Temp]

7 hours ago, Robsco1 said:

Is there any benefit or risk in buying all the blocks and bricks myself, or do builders tend to get better discounts?

 

Assuming this is for a new house..

 

If you buy them you have to pay VAT and reclaim it later. If the builder buys them they should be zero rated to you as well as his labour.  Make sure his quote doesn't say "Plus VAT".

 

If you buy them you also get to keep any left over. If he buys them he may insist any left over are his (dubious). 

 

 

[Iceverge]

25 minutes ago, Temp said:

you buy them you also get to keep any left over. If he buys them he may insist any left over are his (dubious). 

 

 

Most builders would who supply would just quote for the whole thing eg "extension" not the "extension + pile of unused crap in the garden" so I would say the material not used is rightfully theirs. 

 

In theory these who are better at reducing waste and taking the offcuts to the next site can offer a more competitive price in the first place so I don't think you're really loosing out. 

 

 

 

[SBMS]

And when there’s an issue with the materials or they’re not on site and your builder has 5 brickies ready to lay… that’s £1000 gone. We are open book with builder. He sent across everything - labour, materials and then his %. But critically I could see what he was paying for blocks etc. some volumes were low so I didn’t bother looking but I found a couple of materials in volume - such as blocks that I could Source slightly cheaper. Sent the cheaper prices to him and his merchant matched them all. So I don’t think there’s a massive incentive for builder to get better price on materials if it’s open book. But it does mean you can get better price and the builder pays for it and manages it so no VAT to cover. Best of both worlds?

[twice round the block]

We've got trade accounts at 3 builders merchants. 

I do a bulk list of items required for each stage and present it to the B.M's and see who comes out cheapest. 

 

The only items that stay constant is red building sand and the brand of cement so the muck is the same colour throughout the build.

[saveasteading]

Talk to the builder.

Some are happy to reduce their turnover, for insurance, account levels,   even vat threshhold. and exposure to risk of you or another client being slow payers.

Or they may hate having clients question everything or being late with deliveries...or getting orders wrong.  so insist they include supply.

Don't expect the builder to prepare the materials enquiries, help with managing deliveries, sort problems while you get the discount.

Equally tell them what concerns you.