Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 May 12, 2010 2:23 pm Hi everyone We are considering extending our house upstairs, and have been thinking: Would it make a big difference price-wise if we were to source our own timber material for the frames, etc and get a carpenter, builder etc to just construct? as opposed to having the carpenter buy the material. Has anybody built in this manner? how much do you estimate that you saved? and more importantly can anybody recommend where to source these materials from (warehouse / factory direct), not Mitre10, Bunnings, etc. We are in Melbourne. I think there is a place in Clayton off Warrigal Rd somewhere, but I can't remember the exact address. Much appreciated Re: sourcing own materials 2May 12, 2010 2:44 pm Any timber supplier (bowens, bunnings, dahlsens, mitre 10 and many more) supply all these products and more. There are no factory direct places for timber. Even the big builders like Metricon, Hotondo, Porter Davis and the like all use one of the above or similar. You are unlikely to save a lot as the discount the builder gets to buy the product is the smae as the magin he would make on doing it. Realistically, you are going to find it would cost about the same for you to supply the material. "I never learned a thing until I finished school" - Unknown "You can get anything accomplished, If you don't mind who gets the credit" - Ned Hay Re: sourcing own materials 3May 12, 2010 3:00 pm Hi, The pine for framing isn't really that expensive and depending on your carpenter they can probably just refer you to their usual timber yard who'll be able to source whatever you need for your project. You're on the right track though. The big difference will be if you decide to get a builder to quote you on the whole project including materials or decide to build as owner builders which is much more involved and you'll end up needing to source all of your own materials but you can make huge savings. There is lots of useful information on this forum to give you an idea of what's possible. Good luck Re: sourcing own materials 4May 12, 2010 9:13 pm Be careful sourcing your own materials (if you are not doing the work as well) Tradies can claim the materials are the cause of problems, that not everyting they require is there etc. etc. Most tradies wont charge you a markup on materials anyway, their profit ias in the labour and the bits they have left over and take off site. (builders on the otherhand often include a markup on materials) You can make savings however sourcing your own plumbing fittings, lights and flooring. Re: sourcing own materials 7May 18, 2010 9:40 am Depending on where you are I built a 3br extension 11.2 x 6.4m and it cost me around 10000 for the entire lock up stage. By the way I am an owner builder. A really cheap place for all materials is the tile importers in melbourne, funilly enough I dont think they actually sell tiles just all building materials. I need to replace some lengths of aluminum shower frame but I can't seem to find any suppliers of this stuff. Neither the blue or orange home centers carry these things.… 0 5400 That's a fantastic result! Happy you got it sorted out. cheers Simeon 6 8640 in the stormwater pit or the drain? Those dont look like theyd fit in the drain. Separately, the pits do get stuff in them during the course of the build. For the most… 1 7933 |