| Of course, you can buy almost any given item for | | | | you going to get mad and try to subtract the cost |
| less at a discount sale than your contractor will | | | | of the additional materials from the contractor's bill? |
| charge you for it. That's because the contractor | | | | No contractor will stand for that. |
| builds in a markup on the item. So on the surface, it | | | | Remember, breakage is always a possibility with any |
| would appear that buying the materials yourself will | | | | work. If you supply the materials, you are responsible |
| save you money: on a big job, big money. | | | | for replacing what breaks at an additional cost. If the |
| However, most contractors won't agree to work | | | | contractor supplies the materials, he or she will be |
| with you on that basis. They simply won't take the | | | | responsible, at no additional cost to you. |
| job if you insist on purchasing the materials yourself. | | | | What If Materials Don't Fit? |
| Some renovators think the reason is that | | | | Let's say you hire a contractor to put in a sink, which |
| con¬tractors want to pad their profits, make | | | | you supply-When the contractor arrives, she |
| more money. Actually there's a much different | | | | discovers that the sink that you bought is the wrong |
| motive. | | | | size. Now what happens? |
| When a contractor bids a job, he or she knows | | | | You have to go back and get the right size sink, if |
| (presumably) what materials are required to finish the | | | | one is available. Meanwhile, the contractor has just |
| work and when they are needed. You, on the other | | | | lost a considerable amount of time. |
| hand, probably do not. Consider tile work. | | | | Even if the sink fits, do you know the right size for |
| You may be having someone retile a bathroom. You | | | | all the plumbing connections that go underneath? I |
| go to the hardware store and discover some tiles | | | | know that when I hook up a sink myself, I often |
| you would be happy with for $4 a square foot. On | | | | buy twice as many fittings as I need (planning on |
| the other hand, the contractor shows you tiles, which | | | | returning the excess), just to be sure I've got the |
| you would swear are identical, and wants $6 a | | | | right size when I need it. Even so, frequently there's |
| square foot. | | | | a part that should fit but that simply won't because |
| You balk. Why should you pay the contractor 50 | | | | the old fittings in the house weren't standard. Now, |
| percent more for the tiles? So to save money, you | | | | it's back to the store, once again with inherent |
| try to make an arrangement whereby you'll supply | | | | delays. |
| the tiles and the contractor will supply only the work. | | | | What If Materials Break Later On? |
| If you were a contractor, would you agree to such | | | | Who's going to guarantee performance? I don't want |
| terms? Not if you wanted to survive in the business, | | | | to pay the installer's price for flooring, so I buy it on |
| and it has nothing to do with padding the markup. | | | | my own. Six months go by and the flooring is starting |
| What If Extra Materials Are Needed? | | | | to curl and peel. In alarm I call the installer and |
| While you may indeed be able to buy the surface | | | | demand that he fix it. |
| tiles for $4 a foot, what about the trim? (The trim | | | | But the installer says that it's not the fault of the |
| often costs more than the surface tiles.) And exactly | | | | installation; it's the fault of the materials. So I take a |
| which trim pieces will you need? And how many of | | | | sample piece back to the store where I bought it |
| them? It's very unlikely you'll know. | | | | and complain. Now the supplier says it's not the fault |
| Irwin's second law of renovation: You never know | | | | of the materials; they were installed wrong. |
| exactly how much or which materials you'll need until | | | | In short, I get banged back and forth between |
| you're halfway through the job. | | | | installer and materials supplier, each blaming the other |
| Even if the contractor specifies the trim pieces that | | | | and neither willing to accept responsibility for |
| he or she will need, it's almost always the case that | | | | warranting performance. On the other hand, think of |
| needs change after the job starts. Extra or different | | | | how much easier it would be if the contractor |
| pieces are suddenly required. Now, who goes to the | | | | supplied the materials. There could be no question |
| store to get them? If it's the contractor, it's on his or | | | | whose fault it was, and it would be up to the |
| her time, which is not being paid for because you're | | | | contractor to make it right. |
| buying the materials. (That time going to the store is | | | | I can almost guarantee you that if you get the |
| part of the contractor's markup.) | | | | materials and labor from two separate sources, when |
| If it's you, will you be sure to get just the right | | | | something goes wrong, each will blame the other and |
| piece? Do you have time to sit around and wait for | | | | neither will take responsibility. |
| the contractor to indicate when a piece is needed? If | | | | The Bottom-Line Trap |
| you're not there when the piece is needed, does the | | | | Don't compare what it would cost you for materials |
| job stop until you show up? | | | | with what it will cost the contractor. Remember, built |
| What If Some Materials Are Broken? | | | | into the contractor's price is the cost of going back |
| It's almost always the case that during the course of | | | | to the store for new or different parts and of |
| installation, there is some breakage. Who covers it? | | | | supplying a warranty. That's the extra you're paying |
| If the contractor buys the materials, then the | | | | for. (Be sure the contract specifies that the |
| breakage is covered in the markup. If you supply the | | | | contractor will indeed offer you those ser¬vices |
| materials, then you're going to have pay a second | | | | and warranties. |
| time when things break. And when that happens, are | | | | |