Which kind of builder do you need?
Match the builder to the biggest part of the job. If the work changes the structure of the house, such as an extension, a loft conversion or knocking through a wall, you want a general builder or main contractor who runs the whole project and brings in the other trades. If the work is one trade on its own, such as a re-roof, new plaster or a patio, a specialist firm is usually the better fit, because you are not paying for someone to manage trades you do not need.
Each service page above explains what the job involves, which approvals it usually needs in each part of the UK, the questions to ask and the red flags. Read the page for your job before you ask anyone for a price, so every quote you get covers the same work.
Build and extend
These are the jobs that change the size or structure of your home, and they almost always involve building control.
- Extensions: single-storey, double-storey, side-return and wraparound extensions, and who designs them.
- Loft conversions: rooflight, dormer, hip-to-gable and mansard conversions, with the fire escape and stairs to plan for.
- Structural work: removing load-bearing walls, steel beams, underpinning and openings, which need an engineer's calculations.
- Groundworks: digging, foundations and drainage, often the first trade on site for an extension.
If you are building on or next to a wall you share with a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply in England and Wales. It needs notice at least two months before party wall work and at least one month before nearby excavation (GOV.UK).
Renovate and finish
These jobs improve the house you already have. They are often a bundle of trades, so be clear who is responsible for each one.
- Renovations: whole-house and room-by-room refurbishment, including the hidden problems older houses bring.
- Kitchens and bathrooms: refits and new rooms, and where the electrics, plumbing and ventilation need signing off.
- Plastering: skimming, re-plastering, dry lining and render, and why lime matters in older walls.
Outside the house
- Roofing: repairs, re-roofs, flat roofs, chimneys and fascias, and how to spot doorstep roofers.
- Driveways and patios: paving, drainage and dropped kerbs, and the planning rule for front gardens.
Should you hire one builder or separate trades?
One main contractor costs more on paper but takes the coordination off your hands: they order the trades and answer for the result. Hiring each trade yourself can save money, but you become the project manager, and a gap between two quotes, such as who makes good after the electrician, becomes your problem. Whichever you choose, get a written quote for each part rather than an estimate, because a quote is a fixed price (Citizens Advice).
Not sure what your job is called?
Start typing the job in your own words, such as "new roof" or "loft", and the search box suggests the services that match. Add your town or postcode to see builders near you. For a price before you contact anyone, our cost guides show typical ranges with their sources.