Renovating your house? Here's where you can buy tools, materials and supplies online

Social distancing provides you with the perfect opportunity to tackle that long-standing list of cosmetic renovations for your home.

You will most likely need to purchase new building or garden materials to complete your projects. With many stores closing and people encouraged to stay home, having these materials delivered is the best option.

Many companies are still operating as normal, but some are experiencing an unprecedented demand for their products, so there may be delays. Order early so you don’t have to wait to start your project, and check websites or contact them directly to ensure your order is on its way.

So who’s delivering, what can be purchased through ‘click and collect’ and what do you need to buy in person?

Bunnings offers many products online for delivery, and the website has an online delivery filter to show what’s available. The range covers most common jobs renovators would be undertaking, including tools, materials and safety gear.

Mitre 10 also offers home deliveries, but as each store is independently owned and operated, there will be variations on what is available for delivery. Contact your local store to see what they offer.

It also may be worth phoning to confirm any order. Don’t go stripping the sitting room of furniture ready to start painting, or digging up the backyard, before ensuring you have everything you need in hand!

Where to buy paint online

Transform your interiors or exteriors — or even furniture or pavers — with low cost and little effort. Although it’s time-consuming, ensure you thoroughly prepare surfaces before starting to paint – it’s the difference between an amateur job and a professional finish.

Some paint deliveries may incur a ‘dangerous goods surcharge’ or shipping charges, so check the cart totals before clicking the ‘buy’ button.

• Bunnings offers a selection you can order online with a delivery fee, which is calculated in the checkout process.
• Dulux offers sample pots and swatches so you can try out colours before committing.
• Temple and Webster offers a range of 20 colours to select from and also sells brushes and rollers as a set, and all purchases come with free delivery.
• Alternative colours and paint products can be found at colormaker.com.au and paintonline.com.au.

Where to buy plants online

Autumn is the perfect time for making over your garden. Putting plants in now will give them time to get established before spring.

If you are unable to get to your local nursery or hardware store, try these websites to have your plants delivered

• Garden Express offers an extensive selection of trees, shrubs, edibles, bulbs and accessories.
• Plants In A Box has a large range of popular plants including succulent and indoor plant starter packs.
• Australian Plants Online offers a range of tube stock, bulbs, gifts and accessories.
• The Diggers Club also offers to deliver a huge range of bulbs, roses, trees, shrubs and succulents.
• Bunnings does not deliver live plants but will bring you artificial ones.

Where to buy garden and landscape supplies online

Revamp garden beds, add mulch, fertilise your plants to give them a boost, or add a feature such as a birdbath or a fountain.

• Australian Native Landscapes supplies mulch, pebbles and soil as well as garden features.
• Bunnings offers potting mix, mulch, compost, fertiliser, pots and more.

Where to buy seeds online

We all know now is the perfect time to grow your own food so plant winter vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, onions and parsnips.

• Bunnings offers seed starters and growing kits online, but most vegetable and flower seeds must be purchased in-store.
• The Diggers Club offers both seeds and seedlings delivered to your door.

Keep in mind, seeds and seedlings are now in high demand. At the time of writing, Eden Seeds had stopped taking new orders to fulfil a backlog, while The Seed Collection is only taking orders from existing customers.

If you are heading out grocery shopping or to buy essential items, look for seeds in supermarkets, Kmart or The Reject Shop.

Where to buy pavers online

Lay a new patio, renew the verandah or put in an enviable pathway with pavers or bricks. Have your supplies delivered through companies such as hunterstone.com.au, or bricksblockspaversonline.com.au.

• Hunter Stone sells a range of natural stone and concrete pavers.
• Bricks Blocks Pavers Online stocks pavers, bricks, Hebel blocks as well as cement and landscaping supplies.
• Bunnings delivers a selection of their range of pavers, and others are only available through click and collect.

Where to buy timber online

Make a table, repair a pergola, add decorative mouldings, build a deck.

• Bunnings offers a range of timber online for delivery.
• Demak is offering free delivery on all orders within 10 kilometres of Melbourne stores.
• Master Woodturning sells a huge range of timber supplies including decking materials, skirting boards and doors.

Whatever projects you complete over this period, you will be rewarded with a great sense of accomplishment and your days will be filled constructively, helping you to stay positive and make the most of this time.