It’s a no-brainer – Everybody likes saving money.
Between getting an item cheap or for a higher price, 10 out of 10 people prefer spending less. But there’s a difference between building something cheap and getting something cheaply made. When it comes to choosing your building materials, quality is everything. Although the less expensive option can save you money in the short term, it could cost you more later on. You might need a major repair sooner – or worse. Whether you need floor protection, paint, tools, or any kind of building materials, cheaper isn’t always the best way to save money.
I have a limited budget. Where should I invest in higher quality materials?
When you’re doing a new project for your home and have a limited budget, think of it like making a cake—or pizza if that’s more your style. No matter how nice and pretty it looks on top, if you use rotten eggs or bad flour, it won’t taste right.
The same idea applies to many projects in home renovation too. If you put in a new kitchen floor for example but skimp out on the base layers for beautiful tile, it might look incredible. However, if something goes wrong underneath, it’s a lot of extra work; including taking out a portion of that tile to get access to the damaged section.
So I should always get the most expensive option?
Not necessarily. A lot of factors go into the cost of building materials. Newer, more experimental materials are sometimes more costly than the tried-and-true conventional options. But, they can end up having just as many issues later on that no one knew about yet. There are also many kinds of luxuries that might be unnecessary for your project. Smart-home features like surfaces that wirelessly charge your electronic devices might be a tad excessive if your goal is to build new feeding troughs for livestock, for instance. Unless you want to supercharge their diet!
How can I find the right balance of quality and price?
If you’re unfamiliar with doing projects on your own, congratulations on taking the first step! Having control over what you want and how you want is liberating. However, all of the choices can also be overwhelming. You might be worried that you’ll spend too much – or not enough on your supplies. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Talking to the experts can help you decide if you’re on track or might be better served by making some slight adjustments. You can get help with finding that perfect wood for an outdoor shed or how to remove unwanted fixtures and turn that space into extra storage. Whatever improvements or renovations you have in mind, remember that your vision should start with getting the right materials for the job.
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Upgrading your building wrap to a solid state, I.E. 
When considering flooring material in wet areas, you can use concrete based flooring products instead of the timber-based products – which you may then have to cover with a tile underlay (e.g. for tiling). Using a concrete based flooring product initially, saves you labour in the long term because you have installed the product once only.