Buying Cheap Building Materials and Making the Most of Second Hand Materials

Building materials typically make up about half of the total cost of a construction project. It’s crucial to maximise your budget by purchasing exactly what you need and making use of surplus materials effectively.

Often, leftover materials are abandoned or discarded after a project is completed. Learn about modern tools and resources that can help you calculate required quantities accurately and discover affordable options for building materials.

Factors Driving High Building Material Costs

In recent years, several factors including the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit have created a significant surge in building material prices, with some increasing by over 60%.

High fuel costs and the UK’s reliance on imported materials like timber have further escalated prices, impacting consumers directly.

Increased demand, exacerbated by material shortages post-Brexit, and a weakened exchange rate have reduced import volumes, contributing to inflated prices.

While these factors have led to unprecedented costs, there is anticipation that prices should stabilise and gradually decrease over time.

How to Calculate the Exact Materials You Need

To minimise upfront costs and avoid excess materials, it’s crucial to calculate the precise amount required for your project.

If you’re new to construction, there are several methods to achieve this:

• Consult a Builder: Builders can accurately estimate material quantities based on the project’s requirements.
• Hire a Quantity Surveyor: Quantity surveyors specialise in calculating material volumes and costs, but they require detailed project plans.
• Use Price Doctor: Our proprietary software, Price Doctor, automates this process. Upload your plans or design from scratch to get precise material estimates at a reasonable cost.

Where to Find Affordable Building Materials

With today’s soaring material costs, finding affordable building supplies is crucial for any successful project. While DIY stores are common options, exploring alternative sources can yield better deals:

Buying Building Materials Online

Getting affordable building materials traditionally required bulk purchases, a privilege mainly for professionals rather than DIYers. However, the internet has changed this dynamic significantly.

Online merchants with low overhead costs and efficient delivery systems can offer substantial savings compared to brick-and-mortar stores. You can now conveniently find and purchase all necessary materials from the comfort of your home, whether it’s for fixing a pipe or building an extension.

While the vast options available online require thorough research to find the best deals, the benefits outweigh the effort:

• Buy smaller quantities normally sold in bulk
• Negotiate prices and terms easily
• Locate products and supplies locally
• Experience the convenience of quick, straightforward transactions
• Compare materials, specifications, and sizes before purchasing

Benefits of Buying Building Materials in Bulk

Builders and tradespeople often benefit from purchasing materials in bulk due to their frequent use of the same items and storage capabilities. This practice allows them to secure lower prices per unit.

For DIY enthusiasts, bulk buying isn’t always practical. While purchasing large quantities like 100 meters of PVC pipe may seem cost-effective, the likelihood of using it all is minimal, resulting in wasted materials and money.

However, during a self-build project, bulk buying becomes advantageous when acquiring essential items such as bricks, timber, and even labour.

Key advantages include:

• Obtaining discounts on bulk purchases of materials like bricks, blocks, and timber.
• Possibility of reselling leftover materials at a profit.
• Potential for negotiating lower rates by block-booking tradespeople for extended periods.

Freecycle: Your Free Resource for Building Materials

Freecycle is a global platform where individuals can give away items they no longer need, including building materials, completely free of charge.

Operated by volunteers, Freecycle allows users to post items for collection without any cost. However, all listings must be offered for free to align with its community-driven ethos.

One potential drawback is the sheer volume of posts in large cities, which can require thorough browsing to find specific items.

Despite this, Freecycle remains an invaluable resource for acquiring building materials at no cost.

• Post unwanted items for free
• Collect items at no cost
• Access a wide variety of building materials in urban areas
• Contribute to reducing waste by offering surplus materials from previous projects

Facebook Marketplace: Your Source for Bargain Building Materials

Facebook Marketplace, part of the vast Facebook network, allows users to buy and sell items with no listing fees (unless you choose to pay for ads).

With its extensive user base, Marketplace features numerous building materials and hardware items for sale in various locations.

Utilise this free platform to discover great deals, but exercise caution due to the presence of potential scammers.

• Explore a wide range of building materials and similar products
• List items for sale at no cost
• No fees for buyers

Local Builders Merchant: Your Source for Affordable Building Materials

Your local builders merchant should be one of your first stops when searching for inexpensive building materials. While smaller independent merchants may not always match the pricing of larger chains due to their buying power, establishing a relationship with them can often lead to discounts.

Local merchants are well-connected within the community and can recommend reliable tradespeople for your project. They also provide valuable insights to help you avoid unreliable contractors.

• Establishing a commitment can lead to significant discounts
• Provides recommendations for reputable tradespeople
• Offers guidance on avoiding unreliable contractors
• Access to competitively priced local materials

eBay/Amazon and Other Marketplaces

Today, there are numerous online marketplaces available beyond Facebook, including eBay, Amazon, Snaffle Building Supplies (dedicated to building materials), ManoMano (specialising in tools), and more.

These platforms offer a wide range of advantages. For instance, eBay and Amazon feature listings from both major retailers and individual sellers, offering a diverse selection of new and used items at various price points.

Additionally, auctions on these platforms can provide opportunities for significant savings if you’re willing to monitor them closely.

However, the sheer volume of listings on these large marketplaces can make finding specific items time-consuming.

• Extensive product selection available
• Includes both new and second-hand items
• Easy price comparison between new and used options
• Potential for great deals through auctions
• Specialised marketplaces focus on specific product categories

Reclamation and Architectural Salvage Yards

Most towns and cities today boast a reclamation or architectural salvage yard nearby. These places offer a wide array of reclaimed building materials such as doors, windows, bricks, paving slabs, fixtures, and more.

They are especially useful for finding older or rare items like wall tiles, roof tiles, and specific types of bricks that are no longer available from mainstream suppliers. If you’re after period-specific items, these yards should be your first stop.

One downside is that some items are considered antiques and can be priced accordingly, especially if they are rare.

Nevertheless, there are many advantages to exploring architectural and reclamation yards:

• Find rare and unique items
• Wide selection of goods available
• Inspiration for creating specific styles
• Many yards are now online and offer nationwide delivery

Enviromate: The Building Materials Marketplace

Enviromate stands out as a dedicated marketplace exclusively for buying and selling building materials, unlike general platforms like eBay or Amazon.

Similar to other marketplaces, Enviromate facilitates local and national transactions, allowing you to find bargains and sell surplus materials, reducing waste and earning extra cash.

While deals may require travel, sometimes over long distances, the potential savings often justify the journey.

• Source affordable building materials easily
• Contribute to reducing landfill waste
• Earn money from unused materials
• Support a platform dedicated to sustainability

Comparison Sites for Building Materials

Just like you use price comparison sites for car insurance, broadband, or mobile phones, you can also use them to find the best deals on building materials.

These sites gather similar products in one place, allowing you to compare prices and features easily. This is especially useful when you’re working within a budget and need to find affordable building materials.

One drawback is that not all suppliers may be listed, potentially limiting your choices and missing out on better deals.

Despite this limitation, comparison sites offer several advantages:

• Compare prices and features across multiple suppliers
• Explore alternative products and ideas
• Conduct research conveniently from home
• Access a wide range of choices if many suppliers participate

Reducing Construction Waste

Minimise Waste, Maximise Sustainability!

The construction industry faces mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices due to dwindling landfill space and material shortages post-Covid and Brexit. Government regulations are pushing for better waste management and recycling.

While some materials cannot be recycled due to composition or age, many can be. Given the environmental urgency, reducing waste is now an imperative.

Studies show that up to 20% of construction site waste can be saved or reused. If top contractors sold half of their reusable waste, estimates suggest over £100 million could be generated.

To contribute positively, order only what you need, minimise waste, and responsibly sell or recycle excess materials.

If you are planning a building or DIY project, but you’re on a tight budget, it is essential that you do your homework and shop around for the materials you are going to use and also ensure you calculate exactly what you are going to need, this way you are sure to minimise waste and maximise savings.