I'm getting to a point where I'm going to send our drawings/spec to building merchants to prices the whole thing. E.g. Travis Perkins, Jewsons, etc.

Are any of these guys greener than the other? For example is one more likely to stock FSC timber , recycled concrete aggregate blocks, etc. than the other?

What about smaller independent building merchants. Does anyone know of any in the north-west london area?

Mostly they just use Eco as a marketing ploy sadly.

Eco merchants in Kent?

Posted By: tonyMostly they just use Eco as a marketing ploy sadly.

Ah if only marketing was (or is it were) that easy. No they have about 8 stores and this one carries the sheeps wool, hemp etc as opposed to more heavyside stuff

How about the one with the biggest stock of insulation at the best price. That will do less damage for the environment than all the 'artisan' stuff.

So they don't pay hardly any, if any, corporation tax, probably a lower rate on share bonuses, reduced council rates on commercial properties.
So that ticks the economic sustainable box then without burdening the company with any unnecessary social responsibility to the wider population. Neat

Yes
Penzance's Causeway Head and Market Jew Street seem to have a fair few charity shops, not much else apart from the mobile shops (as if we need them), bakers (well they do like their pasties down here), discount shops, a Smiths and Boots, a couple of books shops, kitchen wear, pet shop, and a place called Clarendon Imports that has a special section at the rear and is doing a roaring trade since 50 Shades of Grey went mainstream.
Really a reflection of the high cost of doing business, but then councils like to charge everyone as much as they can.

I'm with owlman on that, although I did used to stick with regular suppliers if they'd served me well in the past, even if they were slightly more expensive, because putting a price on goodwill is always problematic unless you're Steamy.

The shopping around bit was also covered here... http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=7214

Hi Shevek

Also try to check out how reliable they are on deliveries - no point in paying a good price if the merchant can't get the stuff on site when you need it and you end up constantly having the guys standing around because "they forgot to put it on the lorry", "oh sorry forgot to say it won't be in until next week now" "the driver is stuck in traffic and won't be with you until 5" etc etc etc

Shevek,
I looked at the 1 supplier route initailly before I built. I took my plans around the local suppliers and I soon got the impression that they did not want to know. If I called them asking for 25 bags of cement no problem. Plans, forget it. It is hassle to call all suppliers every time you have an order but no one supplier is cheapest for everything and once you have a deal set up for each product then no need to call again. I used email every evening with a shopping list to the suppliers. That way you have it all ready and you also have electronic proof of the quote. Not that suppliers try it on or anything!!
Eventually I did most of my trade with one supplier. Around 80% I guess. I built a good relationship up and that was very helpfull.
Good luck.

Hi,
A morning with a cell phone would be some sort of world record if you ask me, at least a week of ringing - they never call you back. Then you will find an alternative is offered to something, do the others offer that one? Don’t know, back round the houses again, and so forth do this 4 or 5 times. Then the cheapest is yes but we don’t actually stock it, which translates to we'll try to procure it after you’ve paid for it. So the total QS would be useful. Will depend a lot on who is doing the work, if builder is time only then at least you can cherry pick what you need.

Even with the internet offering everything you will be leaned on by folk to only use what’s in the merchant of preference by the builder and their preferred materials - regardless of what you spec (easier all round init mate).

I’ve used Burdens for wood fibre boards for example, was OK ish, they had to ring round to get the quantity, some were damaged (tough on me) pallet and truck problems. Everyone had look to see what it was.

Others worth looking at might be ecomerchant or Construction Resources or the Ty Sheep wool people etc just depends what you want and if its really part of the build. If you state wood fibre it does have to be wood & fibre, rather than what achieves the R value for the cheapest amount.

Here is a slightly exaggerated example
Building technologist (i.e. guy who does warrants / PPs) specifies Kingspan 110 mm, I say make it 120 mm - great. Builder turns up with Celotex 100 mm (probably only thought about it day before). Surveyor says probably 90 mm would be ok for regs, basically it’s the same stuff anyway, builder says no body has 120 mm on stock, its special order. Meanwhile the bods in expectation of the outcome are using the size 12’s to assist the fragile foamy stuff off of the truck. Directed to significant other it will take a week at least to get this “other stuff” and we’ve got other jobs on next week/month shall we go away for a while. Significant other says just get on with it you obviously know best cos it’s your job. I ask - shall we have a sensible discussion about how to resolve this.

Oh and what was the exaggeration? - My bravery in even suggesting holding up the proceedings.


If you take on managing all goods and materials you will be in control BUT you must do it properly otherwise you open yourself to blame whether it’s your fault or not, if left to others you have to accept that compromises may have to be made, even if they are as a result of other peoples failings.

Cheers, Mike up North

Would echo NickiB comment in so much that if you taking on a building project and not a builder then key to keeping the the eco principles up is manintaining enough sanity...

...on that basis I can't fault MKM who we used: decent discount, (especially after the inital intro by a builder, who pointed out just how many of his jobs / his account with them ultimately derived from me, via the tender list...), great service and delivery. Depending on how busy they are I can ping an email over via my phone and delivery there first thing next day no matter how much or how little.

J

Posted By: JTGreenI wouldn't feel the need to be tied to one supplier.

Echo that also. Although if you can get all the ordinary day to day stuff from one good firm it leaves mental sapce for shopping around for the important / eco stuff / bargains...!

J

...having re-read the OP, I would consider not bothering the local merchants. In my experience, merchants are very good at delivering basic bread and butter materials to site economically, where they are less good (to say the least) is pricing jobs and or project managing them, its an add on service rather than their core trade. You may only do this once, getting the costs right could be one of the most important aspects of the projects success or failure...

A good working cost plan that you can evolve over time and tweak to include specific quotes, your own budget items, such as lending costs, VAT cashflow etc is invaluable. No need for a QS necessarily, I would use a one man band estimator and make sure he gives you a price that includes messing about with it with him as you adjust it to include tender returns, design changes etc and keeping his spreadsheet.

J

Re timber, is there EU legislation which requires that all imported timber is certified by FSC / PEFC etc?

On that basis, the issue of CoC is a red herring as all timber is "sustainably" sourced?

Or have I got that wrong?