Mike Hardwick shares his top tips for this important part of any major building project

Builders’ merchants are a great resource for self builders - make use of bulk order discounts

E mbarking on a self build or renovation project will be one of the biggest shopping trips you’ll ever make. The options available for materials are quite simply eyewatering and the decision-making process can be one of the hardest parts of the build, not least because of the number of choices you will be expected to make in a relatively short space of time.

While many of the structural materials involved will be determined by your architect or designer, your choice of finishing materials will have a massive effect on how your new home looks, feels and operates. So it’s worth taking the time to get it right. Let’s take a look at how to approach buying your materials.

Who can help?

The simplest way of approaching what materials to use is to leave the decision up to your builder - after all, that’s the way that most speculatively built housing is managed in the UK. However, as a self builder I’m assuming you will be looking at getting something better in terms of both quality and performance.

Your architect or designer will have many suggestions and access to product guides listing the available options and suppliers for materials that will meet your specifications. A good professional will be up-to-speed with new materials on the market and if they’re suited to your project. This becomes particularly important when building a high-performance home, such as a Passivhaus, where the suitability of materials is critical to achieving certification. You can also employ the services of a quantity surveyor (QS) to assess all of the materials required, how much they will cost and the likely cost to fit them.