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How to Build a Materials List That Won't Send You Back to the Store

6 min read·Updated July 7, 2026

The anatomy of a materials list that gets you through a project in one shopping trip. The categories most DIYers skip.

The 5 categories every list needs

1. Primary materials — what the finished project is made of. 2. Fasteners + connectors — screws, nails, brackets, adhesive. 3. Consumables — sandpaper, tape, drop cloths, caulk. 4. Transitions + trim — the small items where two materials meet. 5. Tools you don't own yet — rentals or purchases.

Waste factor: the number nobody tells you

Add 10% to any material sold in units (tile, flooring, siding). Add 15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns. Add 20% if you're new to the material.

Why Matly exists

This is what Matly does. You upload a scope; it generates the five categories above, applies waste factors, and cross-checks compatibility. You leave the house once.

Skip the checklist

Let Matly build this list for you.

Upload a photo or contractor quote — get a full materials list in 60 seconds.