Builder

A builder is a skilled worker who engages in manual labour such as maintenance for a residential project or a large-scale commercial construction job. A builder is also known as a construction worker, contractor, or tradesman.

A tradesman works on a building site like a small residential job to extend a house. It can also involve a commercial job such as refurbishing a small front shop.

Builders are not regulated, which means anyone can become a builder. Hence ensure they have insurance.

Before Work Starts

• You should ask builders for a detailed, itemised quote that includes materials, labour, and a clear breakdown of costs for each aspect of the project.
• The time it takes a builder to provide a quote can vary depending on the project's complexity, but generally, it should be within one to two weeks of the initial consultation.
• If you want to maximise your chances of finding the perfect construction worker starting your search for a good builder as early as possible is important. So what should you do before hiring a builder?
• The earlier you start to look for a builder, the better your project’s prospects will be. But how early should you do that exactly.
• Hiring a builder can be a difficult ordeal if you don’t plan ahead properly. When to look for a builder. Find out what points you need to consider!
• Builder’s risk insurance is an important factor in any construction project. What does risk insurance cover? Find out what it covers and what to look out for.
• Seeing an invoice without VAT can raise most people’s eyebrows. Why do they quote without VAT? In the construction sector, it’s perfectly normal.
• Understanding VAT regulations can be complicated, but it’s important when undertaking a large construction project. Find out whether labour work is charged with VAT or without.
• When you are paying builders for their work you need to know which method is the most appropriate. Do not just simply give them cash.
• Have you ever considered whether builders pay VAT on their materials?
• Thinking of starting building work but do all builders give contracts?

During the Work

Discover pitfalls and what to look out for during your construction work. Good management will save you time and save you the hassle of unpredictability.

• Even with perfect planning, it’s possible you might have to switch builders during a construction project. Are you prepared to handle the situation? How to go about changing current builders
• Dealing with a builder that suddenly goes out of business is never pleasant. What to do if they go broke and out of business.
• Working in the rain is occasionally not a problem for builders. Though can you work in rain? Find out what the exceptions are!
• Do builders work during the winter? Can you work in winter? What should you be aware of if they do work in the winter.
• It’s not common to give a tip to builders, and there are some good reasons for that. Though should you tip a builder? There’s still a lot you can do without tipping to help out if you feel like it.
• Having a plan for waste disposal is a crucial part of planning a construction project and avoiding unexpected delays. Do builders take care of rubbish?
• While there are standards for the working hours of builders. Nevertheless, how long do they work in a day. There are also some exceptions which you need to be aware of before starting a construction project.
• Builders are generally responsible for all defects arising from improper work done by them. But who is responsible for defects?
• Sometimes there are delays in your building project. Though how long can they delay it for?

After Work has been Done

• Dealing with a failed construction project is never easy, and requires immediate attention - What should you do when the job is done badly
• How to handle a dispute? - When building projects don’t go according to plan, it can cause problems both for the owner of the project and the builder(s).
• You started the building work but you are not happy with the work though can you break the contract with builders?
• Builders did a bad job so naturally you want to take builders to court but you don't have a contract. What should you do?