Property renovation and extension- worth getting trade account?

[martin1959]

i will be starting a refurbishment and extension to a bungalow in the next few weeks, costing around £80k.

I will be running the project with a friend who is a builder and I am paying him a day rate. We will bring in other trades as required. Just wondered if there would be any benefit in opening a credit account with Jewsons or similar, for when we want materials delivered. Would it enable me to get trade prices, or are trade prices in builders merchants not really worth having (bit like Trade Point at B&Q where any discount is negligible)

If so, which is the best National building supply chain to go with.. (based in Essex)

Thanks

 

[23vc]

I didn’t think the tradepoint discount was too bad, last time I checked.
Having a credit account doesn’t necessarily mean you get stuff cheaper, discounts tend to be negotiated separately.

Having said that travis Perkins account (not necessarily credit just cash account) gets you a fixed discount and you can get the prices online.

 

[martin1959]

Thanks

Is there really much difference in the prices of

Jewson
Travis Perkins
BSG Buildbase
Wicked
Trade point


Or are they pretty much the same. For example, if I required 30 sheets of Celotex insulation would these be the best places to go, or would I be better just looking for a one of deal online somewhere.

Sorry for the probably very amateur question. But I found out the prices my tiler paid from Topps Tiles were around 50% of retail on adhesives and grout (not tiles), and assumed other trade discounts would be better than retail, but probably not 50%

 

[Leofric]

For the bits and pieces I have been buying recently Toolstation was considerably cheaper than Wickes , but why not ask your friend ,if they are a builder they should know the best deals in your area for building materials.

 

[scbk]

If you have a good local/independent merchant, they are often a lot better on price and service than any of the big chains.

But as above if your mates a builder he should get you the best price going.

 

[23vc]

You’re not going to get some magic discount anywhere, unless they know you and you spend a lot there all the time. So it’s a case of a bit of shopping around/haggling on a case by case basis.

I built an extension on my place. Most stuff was from my local merchant, unless they couldn’t get down to the price I wanted:
- cavity brickwork, insulation, timber, plaster - local merchant
- fixings, plumbing, electrics - local plumbers merchant/ toolstation/screwfix
- PIR/rockwool insulation - online or travis Perkins
- lintels - online or travis Perkins

Even things like right now I’m plastering, all the Boards and dab adhesive from local merchants, but they’re randomly charging about 2 quid more than travis Perkins for multifinish plaster, so I use TP for it.

 

[noseall]

A lot depends upon how much time you have and how you value that time. Both my extensions at home were furnished with materials bought from one supplier. I didn't have the time or inclination to shop around saving pennies. Loyalty and the preferential treatment I received paid for any discounts 10 times over.

 

[23vc]

Agreed, I’ll go through phases of not giving it any thought as it’s not worth the hassle, but when there’s only a couple of hundred in the budget for a given month or whatever, then it’s worth a bit of time on tinternet.