He brought me an invoice for $60 for $320 of materials.

Lastly, I need to select a decking material.

Had 13 inches of fiberglass installed on another house for the price I paid for materials last time--it was actually cheaper, I think.

The problem is Home Depot doesn't discount for water heaters, roofing materials, paint, carpet, or copper plumbing just because you bought a cheap, small house that produces little rent.I personally don't look at houses that won't rent for at least $1,000/month.

It is truly unfortunate that we live in a society where we are often judged on our material possessions rather than our ability to fulfill our professional obligations.

Vinyl is a superior material, just make sure you like the color you pick.  

Problem is there is a lot of different material.

I was very hard and anal about the materials i wanted itemized and written in black and white to give me a close number to reno budget and I think I may have given the contractor a hissy fit in the process but I guess its normal to do those things in reading this post.

I taught finance and I can tell you that what I (or any teacher) will be looking for are the practical applications of the course material.  

That includes shut off valves and shower valves and all other materials and labor.