Got a home improvement or building project on your plate but only have a small budget to complete it? Doing it yourself is the way to make your dollar stretch further. Here a few tips the DIYer can use to get an exterior home improvement project done without breaking the bank.

Save Money On Labor

Of course, any time you can do the physical work yourself you’ll save money. The more items you can fabricate yourself, the farther your budget will stretch. For instance, if you can pour concrete for a patio path, do the stonework on an outdoor barbecue pit, or build a gardening tool shed yourself you’ll not only save money, you’ll end up with a very unique exterior “room” that perfectly reflects your personality and needs.

But don’t get in over your head; if you’re not comfortable climbing up on the roof, for instance, don’t risk your safety and peace of mind. Hire someone to do the jobs you can’t do and save money by completing other projects without any help.

Save Money On Building Supplies

Is it necessary to sacrifice quality in order to get the job within budget? No – not if you stick with standard sizes and materials. For instance, it costs far less to buy prefab windows in standard sizes than it does to order a custom window in an odd shape or size.

When building a deck or patio, the same principle holds true: opt for readily available materials. If you wish to add a bit of interest in the form of a fountain, for instance, buy a standard kit but customize it with your own little touches that make it unique. A concrete path may be cheaper to form than one made of real stone yet look just as nice.

Replacing the roof on your home can be an expensive job. The type of roofing material you choose has a big impact on overall cost but no matter which type you prefer, come in to Kay Supply and ask about our current inventory. We often have overstock of shingles and sometimes even metal roofing panels that we pass along to our customers at blow out prices. If you want to add an element that will stand out from the neighborhood crowd, you might want to choose something like copper flashing as a highlight to your new metal roof.

When selecting siding for your home, it’s often more economical to go with vinyl siding that looks like wood – and it’s also easier to maintain.

What about doors? The exterior door should be high quality, thick and well insulated. On the interior, however, feel free to skimp a bit since these doors don’t have to do as big of a job as the entrance doors.

There are some things you might want to avoid if your goal is to complete an exterior building project within budget. Wrought iron, bronze and steel are all expensive materials. Exotic woods are always going to be more expensive than pine, redwood, or cedar.

No matter how small your budget, Kay Supply can help you get your exterior building projects done. We invite you to stop in and see us at either of our showrooms in Taylor and Pinetop and find out how we’ll exceed your expectations in regard to service AND price.