What a builder can help with
- Renovations and refurbishments
- Knocking through and removing internal walls (with the right structural support)
- Brickwork, blockwork and repointing
- Extensions, garage conversions and outbuildings
- Foundations, groundworks and drainage
- Managing other trades (electricians, plumbers, plasterers) on bigger projects
When do you need one?
- You have a project that involves more than one trade
- The work is structural or needs Building Regulations approval
- You want one person responsible for the whole job, start to finish
Checks before you hire
- Membership of a trade body such as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), or registration with TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality scheme. Check membership on the scheme's own website.
- Public liability insurance, and ask to see the certificate.
- Recent, similar jobs you can see or a past customer you can speak to.
- A written contract with the scope, price, payment stages and timescale.
What affects the cost?
Prices vary from job to job. The main factors are:
- Size and complexity of the job
- Whether structural work, steels or an engineer are needed
- Materials and finishes you choose
- Access to the property and waste removal
- Where in the UK you live and the time of year
Every job is different, so the only reliable way to know the price for your home is to get at least three written, itemised quotes for the same scope of work and compare them like for like.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
