Cheapest place to buy materials from?

[bert]

apart from aggregates where is the best/cheapest place to buy plastic drainage bits from? any nice and cheap online suppliers?

[Tony McC]

Tricky question. Most of the contractors in the Brew Cabin will use a particular supplier, usually a civils merchant, and will expect at least 30% discount. These discounts are not generally available to DIYers unless they open an account and convince the supplier they will be spending several thousand quid over the coming months.

For non-trade accounts, I think ScrewFix seem to be relatively cheap, but then they don;t offer what I would consider to be a comprehensive range, just selected highlights of the more popular products - so, if you need a reverse slipper bend, it's a fair bet ScrewFix won't have it, but if you want a P-trap and hopper, you're probably OK.

[Bob_A]

I've used Screwfix and also Toolstation. Both good for diy.
http://www.toolstation.com/shop....8
Also worth noting is that with Toolstation you only need to spend £10 to get free delivery.

[GB_Groundworks]

we have a special customer arrangement with tp and get 60-80% off underground drainage from wavin/osma haha, but there are a few of these plastic warehouses popping up.

its not wavin/osma but cheaper brands and often wont quiet fit the main stream brands, my mate uses them which is annoying when we turn up to do the connection with all osma or wavin stuff and his is all like 112mm rather than 110mm takes a lot or persuading to get them to marry up.

[lutonlagerlout]

shop around and make sure it has a BS kitemark
floplast stuff works well for us
LLL

[msh paving]

Giles, i get the same deal with TP on osma 60/80% on pipes and fittings,hardly ever buy osma to overpriced, i use floplast from my local man fitting £2.5-3.9 each pipe £11 6m manholes cheapest £25 to £60 for bretmartin or clarksteel
the last 2 years or so i have been buying osma from ebay sellars always a bargin to be had with 5 or 6 fittings or m/h bases

MSH

[rab1]

I`ve been on jobs where the M/C has ordered a 40ft full load and had it delivered directly to a skip and then hand picked a few items as it`s cheaper than buying from a BM.

To be fair the builders are the big boys of the Construction game and can buy direct.

[pickwell paving]

one of the firms we work for buy it direct from hepworth, they can get it cheaper than one of the national bm's can buy it!

[rab1]

Talking to my mate today who's a Buyer for a multi national main contractor. The biggest discount they can get from most BM is around 15-25% as they dont buy from them unless their desperate for something and only need a tiny amount, the rest of the time when ordering they get quotes directly from the manufacturer.

[flowjoe]

All depends what you spend and with who, 70% + off price list is the norm if you spend plenty, But you get very little off the pipe bedding and aggregates that go with it so its a loss leader i suppose.

We buy on-line and store at the yard and have had the BM`s on offering to match any price we get, as long as we pick it up out of their yard as opposed to bulk buy.

If you are DIY you may as well buy from the big DIY sheds as you need it rather than over order and pay a 15% charge for re-stocking, Thieving Barstewards that they are

[dig dug dan]

further to previous postings, i actually found a great supplier on ebay for drainage channels. I brought 20 of the heelguard drinagae channels from this seller

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAINAG....e06a7a2

that works out at £9 a length inc. delivery. Screwfix want nearly £17 for one length!

I have installed them and they are great. you need to order end caps seperately though, but they do corners and 4 way junctions if you need them

[lutonlagerlout]

I LIKE THE FACT THEY HAVE A FITTING FOR 110MM PIPE
DAN ,oops caps
i spoke to my supplier and he says aco who are based 5 miles from me dont want to have a deal with anyone buying less than 100,000 units,they will sell them but close to what we pay in a BM
its that kind of arrogant attitude that sinks firms in the end
putting a female fitting on the bottom of your drainage channel makes a lot of sense as I hate cutting little holes in acos and their silt boxes cost an arm and a leg
LLL