How to Save Money on Building Materials Without Sacrificing Quality

When building or renovating a home, having a budget is key! Home renovations can be costly, and we all want to surround ourselves with quality materials while still maintaining low overall expenses. There are several substantial ways in which you can renovate on the cheap and obtain your dream home at an affordable price. There are lots of ways to find economically friendly building materials without forfeiting quality.

Here are some tips to consider to find cheap building materials without sacrificing quality!

1) Recycled construction materials: a way to save money

source: Unsplash

As environmentally friendly living remains in vogue, we must constantly find ways to stay green without sacrificing our wants and needs. An exceptional way to save money when renovating is to look for recycled or slightly-used building materials. Resources such as the charity Habitat for Humanity offer salvaged materials of good quality at discounted prices.

It may take a bit of time to find exactly what you're looking for, but it's worth spending the hours to dig and discover, as you may end up paying full price otherwise. An added bonus is the environmentally friendly territory recycling occupies, so also consider donating your unwanted materials for charitable tax credits and the good vibes that come along with them!

For those looking for some good places, Écohabitation offers you a directory (in french only) which include a list of companies that offer recycled materials to their customers.

2) Consider Seasonal Price Variations at Hardware and Renovation Stores

In Canada, we have a definite "offseason." As a result, towards the end of summer and in the seasons with unfavourable weather (think winter) prices of building materials often drop, and are discounted in order to push consumers to purchase when sales are slow. Big box home renovation stores organize sales and offer attractive prices during these periods. 

If possible, buy building materials during off-season months to keep down costs. Although discounts cannot be guaranteed, as it will depend on the city, store and current market, it is still something to be aware of when undergoing any form of renovation.

Even if materials are collected when the weather outside is awful, renovations can always be completed as soon as conditions improve. Also, keep this in mind when hiring a contractor, as prices will vary depending on the time of year as well as the weather outside.

3) Keep Renovation Projects Simple to Reduce the Number of Materials needed for the Work

In both design and practice, it is important to keep your renovation ideas streamlined and simplistic. It is also important to think about long-term costs that may accumulate as a result of multi-step jobs. Save in the long run by carefully contemplating all details, as there are many small ways to economize. Considering all of the little installation particulars is fundamental to maintaining a modest price. 

For example, limiting the number of recessed light fixtures can save a significant amount of money, as these cost more in both labour and installation than wall or ceiling mounted lights. 

Another way to save money is to Increase efficiency in the layout of your home. Maintain low costs by centralizing plumbing. Keep areas with plumbing, such as kitchen, bathroom and laundry room, in close proximity. If your renovation absolutely requires you to move the kitchen sink or toilet, consider replacing pipes at the same time to increase longevity. This will keep costs down in the long run and increase the resale value of your home.

4) Do Things Yourself!

source: Pixabay; TheDigitalWay

There are certain jobs where you should definitely consult a professional, and others that can be completed with a little bit of your own sweat and elbow grease! Think about doing some of the demolition work or finishing yourself: breaking down walls, insulating and sanding. Did you think about paying someone to clean up following renovations? Grab that vacuum or broom and put the money you had intended for simpler jobs into those that require more effort, and an actual expert.  Just think; jobs that require minor skill levels can be done by you alone, and should be! Just make sure to consult a professional for those more difficult endeavours!

If you do not have the time or talent to do the work yourself, there are other ways to save money. For example, instead of getting the contractor to buy the materials, go to the store yourself. If the contractor does it for you, they will charge a fee for the time spent at the store as well as other expenses related to transportation. You can also save money by picking materials up yourself instead of having them delivered. 

5) Do Not Forget to Plan Ahead!

Research and planning are key to successfully saving money when starting any form of renovation project. Lack of strategy generally leads to dashed expectations, as well as wasting both time and money. Make sure to carefully estimate all costs before undertaking any renovation job! It is recommended that you window shop and check all angles before committing.

Use available and helpful online-based material calculators which will aid in the careful mapping of your project, and can set intentions in stone by eliminating components you may want to work with but discover you can't afford. Also, search for materials online: compare prices, terms of shipping, payment options and warranties offered. Exploring every angle is crucial to maintaining quality, as buying low-end materials will only cost more in the long run and should be actively avoided. 

Author: Amanda Harvey