6 Most Common Mistakes When Buying Finishing Materials

Choosing finishing materials is one of the most pleasant, yet complex stages of renovation. Andrey Lyamin-Borodin shares tips with those who have decided to do the renovation themselves.

Andrey Lyamin-Borodin
EXPERT
General Director of the online renovation service Rewedo.

1. Buying the Last Item from a Batch

Purchasing such material involves risk. The planned quantity might not be enough — for example, tiles don't cut well and there's a lot of waste — and you'll have to redo the entire job.

Either buy this material with a significant surplus or completely avoid products from the last batch.

2. Forgetting About Waste Related to Pattern Matching

Depending on the type of material and the nature of the pattern, a significant portion of the material may be wasted on pattern matching. If not taken into account, this can lead to conflicts with contractors. Additionally, you’ll have to spend time again making trips to the store.

Design: Julia Sukhanova

3. Scattered Procurement of Materials for Electrical and Plumbing Work

It's not advisable to separately select and purchase materials for electrical wiring, plumbing, or air conditioning. These works require a large list of compatible items. For example, preferred switches and outlets may require non-standard mounting boxes.

4. Choosing Floor Covering Without Accounting for Subfloor Costs

Different floor coverings require different subfloor preparations, and their costs can vary significantly. Always consider the total cost of the entire project.

For example, engineered flooring does not require plywood underneath and can be glued directly to the screed, reducing both material and labor costs. However, choosing solid wood planks (even at a good price), the full estimate for subfloor preparation may disappoint.

Design: CO:interior

5. Buy Now or Later?

If you have a design project, it's best to purchase all key items from it (or reserve or order them) right away. Several months later, the required item may no longer be available.

For renovations without a design project, it's better to make large purchases as close to installation time as possible to ensure you can return any items that don’t fit.

6. Online Shopping

Not everything should be bought online without a physical test. The most frustrating mistakes are with vanity fixtures.

Those who want to assemble an unusual set of sink and faucet will find themselves with a fun challenge involving calculating heights and angles of tilt to ensure hands are comfortable for washing and water doesn’t splash around.

Design: Julia Parskina

Read also:

• How to Save on Finishing Materials: Useful Tips from Professionals
• DIY Renovation: 5 Mistakes You Won’t Make Again
• Finishing as a Decorative Element: 11 Ideas for Your Home