- One in three construction companies receives inquiries for the installation of materials from abroad.
- However, the majority reject such perform.
- They warn of increased costs due to subsequent adjustments.
Homeowners are increasingly purchasing materials like air conditioners, flooring, and kitchen components from overseas to seize advantage of lower prices. A recent survey by the platform Ofri found that 34 percent of construction companies are receiving requests to install materials sourced from outside the country.
In these scenarios, the client typically supplies the materials, and the construction company is only responsible for installation. However, a significant portion of the 86 construction companies surveyed are declining these types of projects, with 51 percent stating they will not install materials supplied by the client from abroad.
Contractors Cite Concerns with Foreign Materials
The primary reason for refusal, cited by 31 percent of companies, is liability. According to Ofri, when the client provides the materials, the contractor has no control over their quality or delivery, yet remains responsible for the installation. Determining whether issues stem from faulty materials or improper installation can be problematic down the line.
Additional factors complicating these projects include a lack of compliance with local standards, quality defects, and difficulties with supply and replacement parts. Incorrect dimensions, missing components, and incomplete documentation often lead to rework and delays.
Construction companies view sanitary objects, windows, doors, flooring, kitchens, air conditioning systems, and photovoltaic installations as particularly risky. Philipp Noranil of Hustechnik GmbH cited the example of inexpensive bathroom fixtures frequently purchased from abroad. “In most cases, the connection standards or threads do not match the wall connections commonly used in Switzerland. This extra work can complete up costing the customer three times as much,” Noranil said.
What is most important to you when making major purchases for your home: price or quality and origin?
Ofri project manager Martin Bonauer referenced a case involving inexpensive windows purchased from abroad. While the initial purchase price was approximately CHF 30,000, subsequent adjustments to the building structure resulted in additional costs of around CHF 15,000. Bonauer stated: “The key for homeowners is to never order anything without discussing it with the executing construction company first.”
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