My builder won't install it
Most builders say no to owner-supplied product because nobody shows them the evidence, it might arrive late, and they carry the risk if it is non-compliant. Fix those three and most of them say yes.
The short answer
Talk to your builder before you order, not when the container lands. Show them the certificates, the packing list and the delivery date, and agree in writing who supplies what.
Why builders push back
- Liability. The industry association's own advice to builders is that without evidence a product meets the building code, the safest option is not to install it, and that final certification could be withheld.
- Delay. A late owner-supplied delivery holds up trades and is a recognised ground for an extension of time.
- Warranty. They do not want to be blamed for a defect in a product they did not choose.
- Margin. A prime cost item supplied by the builder carries a markup. Owner supply removes it. Few builders say this out loud.
What Elje does about it
- A compliance pack per job: every certificate, test report and register search, in one place, before you order.
- A call with your builder before the order: what arrives, how it is labelled and packed, and what they supply locally, like cavity sliders for pocket doors.
- Cartons labelled by room and install order, with a packing list your builder signs on delivery.
- The delivery date written into the plan, so they can schedule trades around it.
- Need an installer? We introduce one who has fitted China-made joinery before.
Questions
Can my builder charge a fee to install my product?
Yes, and many do. An install-only price or a handling fee is fair. Get it in writing in the contract.
Should the owner-supplied items be listed in the building contract?
Yes. List every item you supply and who installs it. It protects you, the builder and, if you have a construction loan, your funding.