Resources
Free tools and guides
Calculators, checklists and plain-English guides to help you plan your materials. Every one ends the same way: send the list to Allan for one delivered price.
Tools and checklists
Everyone
Materials calculators
Plasterboard, stud wall timber, loft insulation and concrete. Add results to a list and get it priced.
Open →Builders and contractorsBuilders’ price check
Send the items from a merchant quote and get Allan’s delivered price for the same list.
Open →Regular buyersRegister as a trade customer
Order regularly? Register once and reorders become a quick call.
Open →SchoolsSchool holiday works planner
Tick your holiday jobs, get a materials checklist and an order-by date.
Open →SchoolsDT department stock order
Timber, sheet materials and consumables for the term, in one order.
Open →Venues and facilitiesPlanned maintenance checklist
Doors, walls, ceilings, floors and outside: tick what you need and get one price.
Open →Facilities and property managersFire door ironmongery checklist
What a fire door assembly usually includes, from hinges to seals.
Open →Project guides
- House extension materials, stage by stageWhat materials a single-storey house extension typically needs, from foundations to second fix, as a checklist to price with your builder.
- Loft conversion materials: what you’ll needA checklist of materials for a typical loft conversion: floor, walls, insulation, stairs, windows and finishing.
- Garden room materials: a checklistWhat you need to build a timber garden room or garden office: base, frame, insulation, cladding, roof and finishing.
Buying guides
- CLS vs C24 timber: what’s the difference?CLS and C24 aren’t opposites. CLS describes the size and finish of the timber; C24 is a strength grade. Here’s what that means when ordering.
- Which plasterboard thickness do I need?A plain-English guide to choosing plasterboard: standard thicknesses, special boards for moisture, fire and sound, and what to check.
- How much loft insulation do I need?The recommended depth of loft insulation, how to work out how many rolls you need, and what else to buy.