Whether you’re looking at home renovation or office renovation, the materials account for around half of the total cost. And even seemingly small mistakes in buying materials for your renovation in Singapore can cost you a pretty penny. So, let’s take a closer look at some invaluable tips for shopping renovation materials.
While you can get amazing deals on great products at your local store, you need to be careful. Check the box. Does it look like it has been opened or returned? If yes, don’t buy it as retuned goods may have some missing or damaged parts.
Also, be wary of things like cheaper paint, which needs more coats and will fade more quickly. Or that plumbing fixtures should ideally be brass, not plastic that just looks metallic.
Before you head out to shop for your home renovation, get recommendations from interior designers, showrooms and even lumberyards. They often have good relationships with the right people in the market and can point you in the right direction.
This often means getting the right materials at good price. Just be mentally prepared for some delays in delivery and also have a contingency fund for your renovation budget just in case.
Sometimes you don’t really get what you pay for. Many brands spend more on advertising than they do on the quality of their products. So do some research to see which brands are really worth it.
Times change – trusted names in the market can start to deteriorate while new players may offer best value for money. Or the opposite can be true as well. Your research will save you from choosing the wrong brand.
Ask around. See what materials people in your circle used for their home or office renovation, and what kind of results they had. Did the materials stand the test of time? Learning from the experience of others is a smart way to make a lot of right calls.
So learn from their mistakes and their good decisions. Their stories, both good and bad, will make your home renovation project go smoothly. You don’t need to learn some lessons the hard way!
Shopping local is not only good for your region’s economy, it’s also faster and economical. Local vendors don’t usually charge extra for shipping and you can choose the delivery schedule. On the other hand, online shopping for foreign materials can be a big headache. For instance, what happens when no one’s home and that big, heavy delivery arrives at your door?
It’s also a big concern when you’re ordering eco-friendly products. For instance, bamboo flooring is comprised of rapidly renewable grasses. So when compared to a product that’s coming in from across the world, one that’s produced closer to home might actually be a greener choice.
You often get great quality building materials for much less if you buy salvaged. Granted, you will pay more for labor. But on the whole you will probably save money. Plus, once again, you support your community. Why not make your home or office renovation a good thing for your community, not just for yourself?
Common items that you can buy salvaged include doors, masonry, hardware, glass, stone and wood. Items such as tubs and sinks are good to go provided the finish isn’t damaged. But don’t get any faucets unless you’re certain they work without any leaks. For light fixtures, remember that you will need to get them rewired.
The best way to determine how much extra materials you should order is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If those are absent, and you are confident about your measurements and installation method, you’ll probably do fine ordering 10% extra.
Make it 15% just to be on the safe side. In case of special orders, 15% is the minimum and you may need 20% depending on the situation. Again, a professional will help you make the right call.
Halting your home renovation to wait for the materials to arrive can be costly. As a rule of thumb, double the lead time to be on the safe side. Delays are natural and planning for them is just good sense.
Once the materials are on the site, your contractor will verify the measurements and answer any questions not addressed by the spec sheet. To avoid theft, it’s best to store materials offsite, your contractor can get it from there. Just don’t try to schedule the delivery to the exact moment they’re needed!
Renovation in Singapore doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Nor does it have to be a headache. If you follow the above tips when shopping for materials, you can make your life and home or office renovation project a lot simpler.
