The quality of construction materials affects virtually every aspect of a building, from its structural integrity to its aesthetic appeal and everything in between. Therefore, it’s imperative to identify a reputable building material supplier before embarking on any construction project.
But as many first-time builders would agree, selecting the right construction material provider can be a daunting task. That’s especially true if you do not understand the quality parameters to look out for in the ideal building materials and the criteria for identifying reputable suppliers.
Fortunately, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to picking the right building materials provider. Below are the top factors to consider when scouting for these companies.
Type of Construction Materials Required
Building materials come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Your choice depends on the specific construction project you’re working on.
For instance, multi-storied commercial buildings will invariably require heavy steel bars for anchorage and reinforcement. However, the same may not be necessary when building a log cabin.
Therefore, the first thing to do is understand the nature of the construction project before picking the right building material provider.
Product Range
Working with a supplier that deals in the specific construction materials you’re looking for is commendable. But it’s even better if the company stocks a wide range of other products besides those you need for your upcoming project.
The logic is straightforward – companies that deal in various building materials likely cater to a wider clientele. And that reflects positively on their reputation.
Intech Anchoring Systems has established itself as a go-to building materials provider. From deep foundation products to earth retention materials and venting management solutions, the company provides it all. Better yet, Intech makes its products available for both commercial and residential construction projects.
Supplier’s Ability to Deliver the Full Material Schedule
Congratulations on honing in on a building material supplier that provides a wide range of goods. But before you order any products from them, you’ll further need to establish that the company can deliver the complete material schedule.
One way to ascertain this is to physically visit the company’s hardware stores or warehouse.
Never engage a building material supplier merely based on their product range. The last thing you want is to be subjected to more extended wait periods between the construction project.
Product Quality
Admittedly, it’s exceedingly difficult to test the quality of most construction materials until you’ve used them on your project. That’s a notable drawback, especially when it turns out that the products aren’t as great as they’re marketed to be.
Fortunately, there are several resourceful guides on checking the quality of construction materials. Be sure to understand the minimum quality threshold required for every building product before purchasing it.
In some cases, a manual inspection might be all it takes to tell premium-quality construction materials from substandard ones. For instance, noticeable cracks in concrete, lumps in cement bags, and corroded roofing sheets indicate poor-quality materials.
Delivery Logistics
We’ve already highlighted the significance of engaging a building material supplier with a proven ability to deliver all the materials required for your construction project as a proactive way to avert delays. But it’s not enough. You’ll also want to factor in other logistical aspects involved in getting the materials to your construction site.
The primary element to note here is the distance from the supplier’s outlets to your construction site. A longer distance may cause delivery delays besides having you pay a heftier transportation cost.
Accessibility is another key element that may affect building material delivery logistics. Poor road network and heavy traffic may cause delays even if the supplier is located only a few miles away from your project’s site.
Delivery Schedule
Material delays on a construction site are simply intolerable. But so are premature deliveries. While you want the construction products to be available for use as and whenever required, having all the materials delivered at once may be infeasible. That’s especially true in cases of limited storage facilities.
Therefore, it’s best to engage a supplier with reasonable delivery schedules. This shouldn’t be a problem once you’ve established the company stocks all the required materials. You’ll simply need to order the quantity that you can momentarily store as the construction project goes on.
Some suppliers may even allow you to order all the materials and store them in their warehouses free of charge for a reasonable duration.
Pricing and Cost Efficiency
When all is said and done, you can only embark on a construction project once the materials are available. And you can only put the building products together if your budget allows it. That explains why you’d naturally opt for a construction material supplier that offers reasonable rates.
The easiest way to go about this is to compare quotes from multiple potential suppliers on credible price comparison websites and then settle on the most affordable one.
Remember that cost efficiency doesn’t only boil down to the actual material pricing. It also encompasses associated charges like transportation and storage fees.
Summary
The right building products impact every aspect of the construction project. Therefore, due diligence is paramount while scouting for these materials. A huge part of the research process entails finding a company that suits your needs. Feel free to bookmark this article as your guide on the minimum threshold a reputable construction material supplier must meet.