When building your own home, certain building materials must be chosen and ordered well in advance of when they will be used. This is mainly due to how long the delivery time is once the order is made. By ordering these materials at the proper time you ensure that they will be on the job when they are needed.

Some of the materials that need to be ordered with plenty of lead time include windows, plumbing fixtures, roofing, siding, electrical fixtures, brick, flooring, interior trim and appliances.

Windows and certain plumbing fixtures should be ordered about the time the foundation is poured. Windows can take 3 to 6 weeks to get so order them accordingly. Ideally you'd like these ready for delivery once the roof is framed and covered with sheathing so they can be installed while the carpenter contractor is still there.

Plumbing fixtures such as bathtubs and shower stalls get put in place on the rough. Two to three weeks should be plenty of time to make this available for your plumber.

Roofing should also be ordered even if it is a stock item. Make sure the color and style you want is available so there are no surprises. If it needs to be ordered it gives your supplier time to order it for you. Once the plywood is on the roof you'll want to shingle it as soon as possible. This item should also be considered about the time the foundation is poured.

Siding and Brick should be considered once the rough framing is completed. This gives the other trades a chance to run electric, plumbing, or vents out exterior walls. Once that is done these exterior finishes should be at your disposal.

Electrical fixtures should be ordered once the rough is finished. If ordering these from an electrical supply house, specialty fixtures could take as much as six weeks.

Flooring is another item that should be considered once the rough carpentry is finished. You'll want to make sure items such as carpeting, ceramic or quarry tile, laminate, hardwood, or vinyl flooring is available when you need them.

Interior trim amd millwork should be measured up for and ordered after the drywall is up. While the taping and painting is being done, your order can be run. Once the painting is done your order should be ready for delivery. Give this two to three weeks lead time.

Once the painting is done, ordering appliances is in order. I know a guy who ordered his refrigerator for when the drywall was done so his favorite beverage was on hand as he worked on his new home.

Having all the necessary materials on hand is important to keep your homebuilding project moving smoothly. If your trying to meet a deadline this becomes even more important. If your paying on a construction loan, ordering materials with plenty of lead time can save you money.

(c) 2006 Mike Merisko