Finishing materials for renovation: how to buy at a good price with delivery
Make a list room by room
Finishing is not one product but a set: floor, walls, ceiling and sometimes the facade. To make your request clear, split it into zones. For example: “living room floor — laminate”, “bathroom — vitrified tiles and PVC panels”, “hallway — decorative plaster”. Each zone needs its own area and its own requirements, so sellers can work out everything exactly.
Which requirements matter in which room
- Kitchen and hallway — resistance to wear and moisture, easy cleaning.
- Bathroom — moisture resistance and an anti-slip floor.
- Bedroom and living room — looks, a warm feel, and sound insulation from laminate.
- Balcony and outdoors — resistance to rain, sun and heat.
For laminate look at the wear class (for example 32 or 33), the thickness and the type of lock. For tiles — the format, grade and size tolerance. For gypsum boards — moisture resistance of the sheets. For wallpaper — the base (non-woven, vinyl) and whether the pattern needs matching.
How much to buy
Work out the area, then add an allowance for cutting. Coloured and patterned materials (tiles, patterned wallpaper) need a larger allowance. When buying tiles, laminate or wallpaper, take them from one batch, or the shade may differ. Keep the leftovers for later repairs.
What to put in your request
- Material — laminate, vitrified tiles, wallpaper, linoleum, PVC panels, plaster.
- Quantity — in sq m, sheets, rolls or packs.
- Size — tile format, thickness.
- Properties — wear class, moisture resistance.
- Colour and texture — concrete look, matt.
- Brand or collection, if you have already chosen.
- Delivery — address, carrying up to your floor.
- Budget — for example up to $1.43 per sq ft.
Example: “I need 60×60 cm matt vitrified tiles with a concrete look, 45 sq m, and class 33 laminate, 40 sq m. Delivery to Sydney, carried up to the 9th floor (there is a lift). Budget up to $1.43 per sq ft.”
How search works on BlaBlaPrice
Finishing materials are bought in many different shops, and the price per square metre depends a lot on stock and batch. Instead of walking around showrooms, you post a request, and sellers answer in the chat with offers: the collection, price per sq m, timing and delivery cost. Each seller sees where their offer ranks and can improve the terms. BlaBlaPrice shows the best offer first, and the seller's reviews are next to it. Contacts are hidden and opened only to the seller you choose. More in how it works.
How to compare and what not to forget
Compare by the price per sq m including the allowance, not by the price of a pack. Find out whether the underlay, skirting and thresholds are included, and whether delivery and carrying up are. For wet areas, ask about suitable adhesives and grout. For walls you will also need paints and varnishes, and when finishing the renovation, look at windows, doors and glass. The base for walls and floors comes from bricks, concrete and blocks.
