How Pre-Ordering Stone Can Save You Money on Your Landscaping Project
Planning a landscaping project – whether it’s a new patio, pool surround, driveway, or garden path – can be both exciting and overwhelming. Alongside design decisions, one of the biggest concerns for homeowners is staying within budget. One simple but effective way to reduce costs is pre-ordering stone rather than leaving material sourcing to the last minute.
For many Australian homeowners and landscapers, pre-ordering stone from trusted natural stone suppliers helps avoid unexpected expenses, delays, and compromises in design.
Why Timing Matters When Buying Natural Stone
Stone prices don’t stay the same all year round. During peak landscaping seasons-especially spring and summer-demand increases, and prices often follow. Freight costs and supply constraints can also push prices up with little notice.
By pre-ordering stone early, you lock in current pricing and protect your project from seasonal increases. This makes budgeting far more predictable, particularly for larger landscaping jobs where material costs form a significant part of the overall spend.
Lower Freight and Delivery Costs
Last-minute orders usually mean fewer delivery options and higher transport charges. When stone is pre-ordered, suppliers can plan shipments more efficiently, helping keep freight costs under control.
For regional or interstate projects, this can make a noticeable difference to the final cost. Planned deliveries are almost always cheaper than urgent or split shipments.
Avoid Design Changes and Unexpected Upgrades
One of the most common issues with delayed stone orders is product availability. When popular stone types sell out, homeowners are often forced to switch to more expensive alternatives or alter the original design.
Pre-ordering ensures your chosen stone is reserved for your project. This helps maintain consistency in colour, texture, and finish across your outdoor space, without the stress of last-minute substitutions.
Save More with Bulk Orders
Pre-ordering encourages accurate planning and allows you to purchase all required stone in a single order. Buying in bulk reduces the need for follow-up deliveries, lowers the risk of mismatched batches, and minimises waste.
This approach not only saves money but also makes installation smoother and more efficient.
Reduce Waste and Re-Ordering Costs
Careful planning during the pre-order stage helps you calculate quantities more accurately. This reduces over-ordering, which can inflate costs unnecessarily, and under-ordering, which often leads to expensive reorders and additional freight charges.
Getting quantities right from the start is one of the easiest ways to control your landscaping budget.
Keep Your Landscaping Project on Schedule
Material delays can quickly push a project off track. When stone isn’t available on time, landscapers may need to reschedule work, leading to higher labour costs and extended timelines.
By pre-ordering stone, materials are ready when your installer needs them, helping the project run smoothly from start to finish.
Access a Wider Range of Stone Options
Pre-ordering often gives you access to a broader selection of stone types, sizes, and finishes, including premium or less commonly stocked products. This flexibility allows you to achieve the look you want without paying a premium for limited in-stock options.
Better Coordination with Trades and Installers
When delivery dates are planned in advance, trades such as landscapers, builders, and tilers can schedule their work more efficiently. This reduces downtime on site, avoids rebooking fees, and keeps labour costs under control-particularly important for larger or multi-stage projects.
Final Thoughts
Pre-ordering stone is a practical and cost-effective strategy for anyone planning a landscaping project. By ordering early, you can secure better pricing, reduce freight and labour costs, avoid delays, and ensure consistency across your entire design.
With flexible pre-order options, competitive pricing, and Australia-wide delivery, Stone Shed offers a reliable way to manage costs while achieving a high-quality, long-lasting outdoor result.
FAQs: Pre-Ordering Natural Stone
Is pre-ordering stone cheaper than buying later?
In most cases, yes. Pre-ordering helps you lock in pricing before seasonal increases and reduces the risk of higher freight or replacement costs.
How far in advance should stone be pre-ordered?
Ideally, stone should be ordered once your design and quantities are confirmed-often several weeks before installation begins.
Can I pre-order stone even if my project start date isn’t fixed?
Yes. Many suppliers offer flexible storage and delivery options, allowing you to secure materials without rushing your build schedule.
Does pre-ordering guarantee colour consistency?
Pre-ordering helps ensure all stone comes from the same batch, reducing the risk of colour or texture variation.