estimating materials

[ITE]

How much extra materials do you guys usually add to the exact total that you order? 10%, 15%, more, less? If you have a lot of extra material that you dont use does your suppliers work with you on returns? How do you handle this?

[Rich]

It depends on the material. Something that's easily cut or changed should be higher than something that's difficult to cut. If you think along the lines - if it's easy to cut it's easy to waste - like wall sheathing compared to brick.

Your supplier should take most returns but don't expect it to be dollar for dollar - there may be a re-stocking fee.

[Mike Finley]

Yeah, depends on the material - a lot of stuff I just return, other stuff you can't. Like tile, normally about 10% extra but if there are a lot of cuts or it is a diagonal layout maybe up to 20%. Usually you can only return un-opened boxes so it sucks when you realize you need one more piece and the only way to get it is to break open a box for it. Tile I usually leave for the home owner, I even leave them the grout too.

I billed them for every piece whether it gets used or not, if I can't get a refund for it, or I can't use it somewhere else, I give it to them, because I don't want to store it.