Builders

A reliable builder is essential to any renovations or building project you may be embarking on. Remember that building work is a very specialised field and you need to have the right type of builders on board before you start on any building work, especially if it is a large job such as a new home.

Ideally you will hire a building company or team that has a range of builders who each bring a specific set of skills to the project. Generally the team will be structured with a project manager overseeing the entire project. Then there will be the construction manager who is in charge of all logistics of the project from costing and sourcing of materials to choosing the right team members for the job. Working on the ground with the team is the building supervisor or foreman who will make sure the job gets done within good time and that the plans are followed properly. It is important to have an engineer have a look at your plans to see if everything is structurally strong and stable. The rest of your building team is made up of the carpenters, joiners, tilers, bricklayers and unskilled labour. This is where the real work gets done.

The type of building team you hire will depend on what you are having built. A building team for an office block may be very different to the team you would see on a home renovations job and while some builders deal primarily with structure, others specialise in fittings and finishings.

Most builders will have a good working knowledge of carpentry and structural engineering and should be able to read and interpret building plans. They will work closely with the architect, the engineer, plumber and electrician. While a general builder should be trained to work well within a team doing some general jobs, you will find specialist builders who will be called in to complete a certain part of the job. A good building company should have both types of builders in order to do the best for your building project.