Do you know the quantities? How much to allow for extra for the pattern? The cuts? The allotted breakage? Do you know how to read the box code for the same dye lot? Do you understand quality differences between .89© ceramic and $6.79 porcelain? Do you understand the TCNA requirements for setting materials for your particular tile type and size? Are you willing to assume the liability for all of that? If you don't buy enough tile and the contractor has to make a second trip after you've purchased more, how much will the extra $200+ trip charge cost you vs having it done once and right? If you buy 24x24 tile and the contractor has assessed the structural integrity of the floor based on a 12x12, are you willing to accept the additional cost for the prep needed to make it stable enough for your choice?

You pay the contractor for his knowledge, skill, and liability. The only way that you don't pay for that is if you yourself have the sklls and assume the liability. Are you willing to be the one on the hook for problems here? Are you willing to pay more money when problems due to your actions or selections mean more work or poorer results?

In addition to all of Sophies questions, what does the contract say about your purchasing the materials? Depending on the wording you may still have to pay him. You need to tell us what type of contract it is as well.

I think the labor cost just went up 40% :) Check your contract and keep Sophie's point's in mind. Good for you asking the question first.

WOW! Well Sophie those are a lot of considerations. Let me clarify. I am only considering purchasing and picking up the floor and backsplash tile myself. The GC already determined the amounts needed. The contract has line by line items and their costs, according to the contractor those are his charges if he performs the task. The line for tile had one for purchase and one for install. The tile purchase line has a 30% markup as do all the other services. I was just trying to trim where I can. I was told the tiler would provide all other materials. I did speak with the GC about doing this and whether I needed to check each box for breakage at the point of pick up, he said no. A 10% overage was already figured in. I am not trying to short the GC, I just want to be smart about my costs. If this is a silly place to try and save okay, that's why I am asking the pros!

Who pays for the delays when the tile arrives wrong ? mismatched dye lots? broken? wrong size?

While all good questions the truth is many GC's don't have a clue about dye lots, TCNA requirements, etc.. My experience has been most push it off on the installer or the salesperson where you order it - at least here in Texas. The best option is to research the tile you want to use and where it can be used. Ask lots of questions of both your salesperson and installer. You'll probably have a better understanding than your GC!!

I just wanted to save where I could. The GC has already figured the sf of tile and I was trying to save on the 30% cost of ordering it and delivery. I will probably be the one questioning dye lots and TCNA! The last time I had tile installed the person just showed up to put it down they did not do any of the things the Pros are questioning. My GC ordered it, had it delivered and the job commenced. So, I guess if I let GC handle this I have no responsibility, that is the bottom line, otherwise I could be blamed for wrong tile, wrong size, wrong grout, wrong substrate, not enough materials etc. Even if I was only ordering the tile! Given the bad tile jobs documented on this site I guess my best bet is let GC handle all purchases and watch the installation!

https://tile-assn.site-ym.com/store/ViewProduct.aspx?id=3484938 Purchase the book and you will have the answers in writing. Certainly the installer will have a copy:)

One other thought is the 30% markup on the retail or wholesale cost. As my GC explained it to me, many times he can get a product for a lot cheaper than I can so even with his markup, I'm still paying a heck of a lot less than retail and then I don't have the hassle of worrying about it either.

How many square feet of material do you need?

I think there are a bunch benefits to you getting the material yourself. For one, you can pick it out from anywhere that you'd like (some contractors will tell you that you have to pick out material at a certain place).

Additionally (and this will make me sound a bit cynical) you'll know exactly how much material you're getting. While they're the minority - I've seen plenty of contractor's over-measure, do the job and then keep the leftover. I think there's less of a chance of that happening if you order & pick up your material.

If you do get your own tile I would suggest letting the GC and/or the installer know what you've picked out in case there are any concerns related to installing certain types of tile (large format, natural stone, glass, etc).

I hope that helps!

@ Brian, You approach will certainly decrease the odds of getting a quality installation as most professional tile setters won't even bother to look at a job with all the material purchased by the homeowner. Refer to the previous posts for the reasons. I apologize to reabutt for going off topic here.

None of that (described above) is exactly rocket science. Most of us have to make the decisions ourselves anyway and the square footage and overage calculations are not difficult.

We bought and delivered our tile to the site. Our GC didn't care-- I think he even told us how to get the discount on it, maybe just by dropping his name when we ordered it. (He did care about things being on site when needed and we always came through on that.) But he was a guy who helped us figure out when we could do things to save a few dollars, and in return we trusted him, and we never got in the way of the critical path on the project. I would say just talk to him, don't surprise him.

I also consulted with the tile installer regarding details of the layout so I got the right amount of bullnose, etc. I had a lot of respect for the stuff he had to figure out and he came up with elegant solutions. We had a little more left over than I would have thought, but not enough to worry about.

Thanks everyone for weighing in. I have discussed this with the contractor he is fine with it, he just told me to check the boxes for damage at delivery so we could call it in within 24 hrs to the Tile Store to get replacements if tile was broken. The GC has his own tile people so my purchasing the tile must not be a problem for them. I am using a Design/Build co. and they know the tile and design and have already approved it.

lori_ Thanks, This really should not be that hard! After all I am only buying and transporting what has already been approved by GC.

I do need to make sure that grout and other supplies etc are determined by "someone" and that "someone" is bringing those to the site! I will add to the list of questions then decide.