Building Hub

Hiring the right people for structural work

Building work, whether it's a full renovation, a bookcase, or repairing a brick arch, comes with a genuinely wide range of risk. Getting the basics right before you hire matters more here than almost anywhere else in home improvement.

Before any structural change, our guide on how to tell if a wall is load bearing covers the warning signs worth knowing, and understanding building foundations is worth a read if your project involves anything at ground level. For a bigger renovation involving multiple trades, our guide on hiring a main contractor explains when it's worth having one person coordinate the whole job.

Whoever you hire, our guide on what insurance your builder should have covers how to actually verify it, not just take their word for it.

The stages of a building project

• Confirm the structural basics first - how to tell if a wall is load bearing and understanding building foundations

• Decide whether you need a main contractor - see the benefits of hiring a main contractor for a home renovation

• Vet whoever you hire properly - check what insurance your builder should have before work starts

• Know your options if something goes wrong - see how to deal with cowboy builders

• Check planning permission for smaller structures too - even something like a carport has its own size limits

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Questions for your builder

Qualifications and Experience

• Can you show me a written contract and a detailed estimate before work starts?

• Can you provide references from recent clients I can actually contact?

• Are you a member of a recognised trade body, such as the Federation of Master Builders or the National Federation of Builders?

Project Specifics

• Who's responsible for confirming whether any walls involved are load bearing?

• Will this project need a structural engineer or building control sign-off?

• What's your realistic timeline, including likely delays?

Quotes and Contracts

• Is the quote itemised, so I can compare it properly against others?

• Do you ask for cash payment upfront, before any work has started? (A red flag if so)

Insurance and Guarantees

• What level of public liability insurance do you hold, and can I see a current certificate showing the insurer, policy number, and expiry date?

• Does your cover apply to the specific type of work I need done? (Some policies exclude higher-risk work like roofing or scaffolding)

• What happens if I'm unhappy with the finished work — what's the process for raising it?