Find Builders in the UK

Builders construct, repair, and renovate buildings. They work on new constructions, additions and extensions, and interior and exterior renovations. This is to deliver a property with as much practical and visual quality as possible.

Typical tasks include laying foundations, putting up walls, repairing ceiling and wall cracks, and finishing interiors – though that’s far from a complete list. To do their work, builders must often coordinate with other professionals and tradespeople, like architects and structural engineers.

Builders sometimes take on the role of project manager, too. In these cases, they take control of the project, coordinating with subcontractors, procuring materials, and making sure that all work meets the relevant compliance and safety standards.

Finding a reputable builder can make your project run efficiently and smoothly. Conversely, cowboy builders can significantly undermine your project, causing delays, budget issues, and, in worst-case scenarios, total project failure.

For further details about what to expect from builders, check out our Builders FAQ.

The cost of hiring a builder in the UK changes depending on several factors, like the size and complexity of the project, your location, the materials used, and the builder’s experience. Keeping that in mind, average hourly rates range from £20 to £50.

If your chosen builder prefers to charge for projects on a case-by-case basis, you could pay anything from a few hundred pounds to several thousand pounds for smaller jobs, and tens of thousands of pounds for major works.

As always, the total cost you’re charged is important, but not the only factor. Before you hire a builder, make sure the payment terms are absolutely clear. They should be laid out in a written contract that you can point to in case of later disagreements.

You should expect to pay £300 per day, on average, although like with hourly rates for builders, day rates can vary considerably too. You must account for your location, the type of work being carried out, the complexity of that work, and the builder’s experience.

For example, the cost of bricklaying will differ from the cost of constructing a foundation from scratch.

Less experienced discount builders might charge less than that, while more experienced, in-demand builders could charge quite a bit more. Then there’s the type of work you’re requesting help with.

Builders will charge different amounts for taking on the role of bricklayers, scaffolders, and general labourers. The cost of scaffolding installation will certainly differ from the cost of groundworks or bricklaying.

If you’re unsure about whether you’re being quoted a fair day rate, seek quotes from a minimum of three builders. This will give you a much better idea of what’s reasonable and which builder is the best choice for your project.

In general, it’s a bad idea to pay your builder upfront for the entire project. Doing so would allow cowboy builders to make off with your money without lifting a finger. In any case, reputable builders are very unlikely to demand full upfront payment.

Still, you might be asked to pay a portion of the total cost upfront, with 10% being the typical amount in such cases. Alternatively, you could pay in stages as the work progresses and milestones are reached. This approach makes sure the builder is motivated and accountable throughout the project.

Specific licensing for builders is not legally required in the UK, with many builders gaining experience through apprenticeships and on-the-job trainee schemes. Despite that, most reputable builders will hold some type of formal qualification.

Common qualifications include National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ), though many construction workers hold qualifications from City & Guilds. Regardless of the specific type of qualification, you can ask for proof and check it's legitimate with the issuing body.

Consider checking whether your chosen builder has a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, too. Asking to see their CSCS card and checking their details on CSCS Smart Check is the best way of verifying that they're able to work safely on a construction site.

Whether local builders hold formal qualifications or not, you can also check if they belong to any reputable trade bodies. For the building and construction industry, these are the most well-known organisations:

• National Federation of Builders (NFB)

• National Association of Building Contractors (NABC)

• Federation of Master Builders (FMB)

• Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA)

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

• National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC)

Holding membership with these industry bodies means adhering to quality and safety standards, whether acting as a builder, demolition specialist or civil engineer.

When hiring builders, asking the right questions is essential for finding a qualified, reliable, and cost-effective professional. Keep these questions in mind whenever you're in the market for a construction expert.

• Do you have previous experience with my type of building project? Can you provide any evidence?

Whether you're planning a large extension, a loft conversion, or something more minor, you need to feel sure you're hiring a builder who knows what they're doing. If they have previous experience with your type of project – and can prove that – they're worth exploring.

Always ask about their previous experience, and demand evidence of the work they've produced. Any reputable builders should be more than willing to show proof that they know what they're doing. If they're reluctant to share their past work, consider other professionals.

• Do you hold any formal qualifications?

If you'd prefer a builder who has undergone formal training, you're well within your rights to ask whether they're qualified, and for proof of those qualifications. Any professional with a qualification – National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) and City & Guild qualifications are most common – should be willing to show proof.

Professionals should have cards or certificates with their qualification information listed. You can check this information with the issuer to make sure it's legitimate. Remember, too, that formal training is just one of the factors you should consider when hiring a builder.

• Do you hold public liability insurance and employer's liability insurance?

Accidents, injuries, and damages can occur when construction is taking place at your property, so you need to make sure your chosen builder is covered with public liability and employer's liability insurance.

When the builder is at fault, you could be due compensation that the insurance provider would pay out. If a builder can't provide evidence of their insurance coverage – or if they say they're not insured – it's best to choose a more reliable and prepared service.

• Can you provide references from previous clients?

The most effective way to gain insights into a builder's service quality, value for money, and communication style is by reading reviews and requesting references from previous clients. You aren't just going to find out whether they produce quality work, but how they handle accidents, mistakes, and hiccups when things aren't going well.

Reputable builders should have no problem providing recent references for you. If professionals cannot provide references or are reluctant to do so, it suggests they're hiding something. In cases like those, browsing other local services is sensible.

• What are your payment terms?

When hiring a builder, you obviously need to know how much you're paying for their services, but that's one of many considerations. Ask about payment dates, payment methods, deposit requirements, and all other payment and cancellation terms and conditions, too. You don't want any surprise charges or fees partway through your project!

Ideally, builders should give you a written contract that outlines all of these terms in fine detail. Later on, if there are any disagreements about what they've agreed to, you can simply point to the contract. Builders who are vague or evasive with you should go straight to the back of the line.

• What warranties or guarantees do you offer?

You'll want to hire a builder who stands behind the quality of their work and, practically speaking, that means you'll need someone who provides guarantees or warranties. When something goes wrong with your project, guarantees and warranties protect you, ensuring the builder makes things right.

Most reputable builders offer guarantees or warranties, but not everyone. Always ask builders whether they provide warranties or guarantees and, if they do, ask what their terms and conditions entail. Coverage periods and terms vary from one builder to the next.

• How do you handle disputes or issues that arise during the project?

Builders that offer guarantees or warranties will be easier to deal with when issues crop up, but you still need to know what the process is before something goes wrong. Take a moment to ask how they handle disputes during or after the project.

If they fail to give you a satisfactory answer, it's possible the guarantees or warranties they offer aren't worth much at all. In those cases, you're better off moving ahead with other builders that seem more reliable and trustworthy.

Concerned about a possible disagreement? Read TrustMark's guide on what to do if a project goes wrong now.

Any builder you hire should have public liability insurance and employer’s liability insurance. These will cover any accidents, injuries, or damages that occur during the construction process at your property.

As an additional measure, builders should have insurance for their tools, equipment, and vehicles. If theft occurs and they’re left without essential items, this insurance coverage will help them replace the items more quickly.

Builders are not legally required to have public liability insurance, so before signing any contracts, ask for proof that they have insurance policies in place. Reputable builders will have no problem showing you these documents.

House extensions come in various forms and sizes, and picking between them often comes down to your personal circumstances. Here’s a quick run-through of the different types of house extensions:

• Rear extensions are the most common form of house extensions. Here, you’ll extend your home into your garden, creating more interior living space across either one or two floors.

• Side extensions are often built on properties with side alleys, though this isn’t always the case. These extensions can add some much-needed width to narrower homes.

• Front extensions are less common since many properties don’t have much space at their front. Nevertheless, if you have the room, these can drastically expand your living space.

• Wrap-around extensions are a combination of side and rear extensions. These usually form an L-shape that wraps around your home, adding both length and width to the building.

Some of these extensions are more or less likely to work well with specific property types. For example, wrap-around extensions are a more common choice for detached and semi-detached house extensions, since they have the room needed for expansion. For a terraced house extension, rear extensions are the likeliest option, since you can’t expand on either side.

Any of these options can be one or two-storey extensions and could be the right fit for you and your property. The key is finding a house extension builder with experience in your preferred type of extension.

House extension costs can vary enormously, depending on the size, type, and complexity of the extension you want. Remember, you might need to hire a structural engineer and an architect alongside builders. That naturally increases costs.

That said, you should expect to pay between £2,000 and £3,000 per square metre for extensions. According to that range, a 30 square metre extension would cost between £60,000 and £90,000 – and costs can run much higher than that for larger extensions.

Before you start calling architects and house extension builders, use these figures as a guide to learn whether you can afford an extension – and if you can, how large that extension could be. You can pair these average costs with a construction cost calculator to figure out your future expenses.

Whether you need planning permission for a house extension depends on the type of house extension you’re building. If you build a house extension within permitted development rights, you won’t need to apply for planning permission.

Permitted development rights let homeowners make alterations to their property without planning permission, as long as they adhere to the conditions and limitations set out in those terms. This could mean laying a brick wall doesn't require planning permission, but extending your home does.

If you’re at all unsure about whether your planned extension falls under permitted development rights, speak to your local planning authority for clarity.

Pro tip: planning a loft conversion? Read our guide to learn whether you need planning permission for a loft conversion.

The time it takes to complete a house extension will vary depending on the type of extension you want, the size of the extension, and the efficiency of the builders and other professionals involved in the project. In general, though, extensions usually take several months to complete – with some taking much longer when issues arise.

The planning and design phase could take quite a while, and then getting the “shell” (the foundation, walls, and roof) of the extension in place will usually take a couple of months, at a minimum. From there, the interior infrastructure (plumbing, electrics, ventilation, and so on) needs filling out, before the finishing touches.

Bearing all this in mind, it’s common for extensions to take months, despite some extensions being completed more quickly. Given this, it’s no surprise that homeowners prefer to build extensions during the summer when the weather is better.

Loft conversions are a great way to expand your living space within your property’s existing structure. There are several types of loft conversions to consider, though – here’s a summary of the five most loft conversions:

• Roof light loft conversions are the cheapest and quickest way to convert your loft. You simply add skylight windows without changing the pitch or shape of your roof.

• Dormer loft conversions are box-like structures that project from a property’s existing roofline. These conversions provide more living space and greater headroom.

• Hip to gable loft conversions are suitable for properties with hipped roofs. The slanted side of the roof is converted into a vertical gable end, increasing internal space and headroom.

• L-shaped loft conversions are where two dormer conversions are built so that they join together and create an L-shape. This type of conversion provides substantial living space.

• Mansard loft conversions change the sloping side of your roof to an almost vertical side, which helps the conversion to blend seamlessly with your property’s existing architecture.

These loft conversions all have their strengths and weaknesses. You might prefer a roof light conversion if you’re looking for a small loft conversion. On the other hand, dormer loft conversions cost more, but will give you more space and style.

For a more in-depth look at what you can get, check out our guide on the different types of loft conversions.

The cost of loft conversion projects varies according to the type of loft conversion you go with, the size of the loft conversion, your location, and your loft conversion builder’s experience. With that said, loft conversions cost upwards of £20,000, on average.

Smaller roof light loft conversions are less expensive, while dormer and mansard loft conversions will set you back more. Consider, too, that you might need to hire an architect, structural engineer, and a host of tradespeople alongside your builders.

Before you start considering the cost of a loft conversion, you should first look into whether your loft is convertible. Due to the construction of many properties, it's sometimes not possible to press ahead with a loft conversion.

For a more in-depth look at what you can expect to pay, read our guide on how much a loft conversion costs today.

Many loft conversions fall under permitted development rights and will not require planning permission from your local authority – assuming you meet certain criteria. Some loft conversions will not be covered by permitted development rights, though.

Often, it comes down to the type of loft conversion that you’re planning. Roof light loft conversions hardly ever need planning permission, as you’re not altering the shape or pitch of the roof. Mansard and dormer loft conversions involve major changes to your property’s structure and are more likely to require planning permission.

For clarity, it’s best to always share your plans and check with your local authority whether you need planning permission for a loft conversion.

Loft conversions are widely considered desirable property features, so it’s fair to say they add to the appeal and value of your home – but by how much? According to a Nationwide study, homes can get a 20% bump in their value through a loft conversion. That’s tens of thousands of pounds, at a minimum.

Of course, specific figures for your own property are harder to pin down. The exact boost to your home’s value will depend on the area you’re based in, the type of extension you add, and the functionality this adds to your property.

For a more thorough look at potential returns on investment, read our guide on how loft conversions affect home valuations.

The time it takes to complete your loft conversion will depend on the size and type of loft conversion, and the efficiency of your chosen builder.

Roof light loft conversions are much simpler and likely to take no longer than 4 weeks. More substantial projects – like mansard and dormer loft conversions – will take longer. You can expect these larger works to take up to or beyond 3 months.

When hiring a loft conversion company, make sure you agree on a timeline for the project before committing to anyone. Yes, delays can render these timelines inaccurate, but it will give you a good idea of what to expect.

For a more in-depth look at how long these projects take, check out our guide on loft conversion project timelines.

Renovating can improve a property’s market value and saleability – but does that make it worth doing? Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer here.

You could renovate your property several ways – bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen renovations are all possibilities, and that’s just in the interior – and each renovation will affect the appeal of your property differently.

You should carefully consider the parts of your home that seem to need the most attention, as well as the potential return on investment for those changes according to current market conditions. High-quality renovations make your property more desirable, but overspending undercuts potential profits.

Finding a balance is key. For example, would the cost of kitchen fitting outweigh the potential increase in your property's value? If so, you need to ask yourself whether the practical improvements are worth the difference.

It’s also worth thinking about why you want to renovate. Is it because you’re trying to make more money? Or do you want the property to sell more quickly? By understanding your motivations, you’re better placed to decide whether renovating is the right call.

House renovation costs will vary depending on several factors, including the scope of the renovations, the materials used, and the labour required. If you want a high-spec kitchen with bells and whistles, you'll need to accept the associated kitchen renovation costs.

This goes for each area of the house that you're looking to renovate. Accordingly, property renovation costs can fall anywhere between a few and tens of thousands of pounds – or more.

Complete property renovations can cost more than £100,000. These projects typically include work on utilities (gas, electric, and plumbing), windows, flooring, interior walls, and so much else. This makes calculating an exact cost difficult, but you should expect to pay north of £50,000.

To get a more accurate idea of renovation costs, speak to several local builders and renovation companies about the scope of your project. Ask for detailed quotes that include planning, labour, and material costs. These will be estimates, but taking quotes from several house renovators will give you a decent idea of what you’ll need to spend.

For more in-depth information, read our guide on the cost of house renovations.

In the UK, builders cannot perform noisy work at any time on Sundays – whether in the morning or afternoon, it simply isn’t allowed. Considering the type of work that builders usually get up to, this more or less restricts any building work from taking place on Sundays.

If builders are caught working on Sundays, they will usually receive a warning for the first offence, while prosecution is a serious possibility for repeat offenders. Occasionally, local authorities will make exceptions, like when Sunday is the only viable day when work can be carried out.

As with Sundays, builders are not allowed to perform noisy work on bank holidays unless there is no other suitable alternative – something that local authorities will not usually accept. While the exact definition of noisy work is not given, local authorities generally agree on this restriction.

If you need more specific guidance on whether work is allowed (on particular days or at certain times) in your area, it’s best to reach out to your local authority for guidance. Any builders breaking the rules could risk prosecution for repeatedly offending.

Rules about when builders can start work change from one local authority to another. In general, though, builders can carry out noisy work between 8am and 6pm – with emergency work being the only exception.

To learn the exact times builders can start working in your area, you’ll need to check your local authority’s website, which will usually have the information you’re seeking. Given their experience in the space, your builders should already know the times they’re allowed to operate in.

Builders sometimes offer guarantees or warranties for their work, ensuring that you’re protected should any flaws or defects appear once the work is finished. This isn’t always included, though, and you should always check if it is when hiring house builders.

This is most common with new build properties, where you might be purchasing the property before it’s complete – this is widely known as a builder’s guarantee or builder’s warranty. If builders will not guarantee their work, this could be a sign of dishonesty.

For smaller projects where guarantees are less common, it’s best to set out your expectations early, agreeing with your builder on what they’ll deliver and at what cost. Creating a written contract using specific language can help keep builders motivated and accountable. If a builder won’t agree to a written contract, that’s concerning – you could be dealing with a cowboy builder.