Employing a builder Carpenters, plasterers and joiners

Carpenters and joiners

Carpenters are highly skilled in translating drawings and may undertake lots of different types of work, from building a set of cupboards or fitting a kitchen right up to creating a roof, timber-framed garage or house. Carpenters have to be accurate when measuring, keeping things level and getting angles right.

Key qualifications for carpenters include NVQs or membership of specialist trade organisations, such as the Institute of Carpenters. Joiners tend to be workshop based. They usually make window frames, staircases, doors and other sometimes complex structures that carpenters then take on site and fit. You may well visit a joinery shop if you are having bespoke furniture or fittings made.

The Institute of Carpenters and the Timber Research and Development Agency have lists of their members, which can be a valuable source for finding someone to work for you.

Which? members can find recommended plasterers, bricklayers and other tradespeople recommended by Which? members using Which? Local. If you're not a Which? Member, you can sign up for a Which? trial for just £1 for your first trial month. 

Plasterers

Plastering is an extremely skilled job. Plasterers are also usually trained to fit plasterboard partition walls, wet plastering, and rendering external walls. Many plasterers learn as an apprentice on a building site, while some have specialist qualifications, such as an NVQ or City and Guilds in plastering. Others may have gone on a private course to learn plastering – make sure your plasterer has on-site experience.

Plastering is a messy trade, so ask how they are going to keep your home clean while the work is carried out. The Federation of Plastering and Drywalling Contractors has a directory of members, including specialists who can carry out work such as lime plastering for older properties. 

Bricklayers

Bricklaying isn’t as straightforward as it might sound. These tradespeople can interpret plans and drawings, advise on the kind of bricks and mortar you need and calculate the amounts required.

Bricklayers should also be qualified to fix problems such as damaged pointing. They may also erect scaffolding.

Usually bricklayers are trained as an apprentices on building sites, but there are qualifications to look out for such as NVQs and SVQs, and higher qualifications which have bricklaying options, such as a Diploma in Construction, City and Guilds training or some form of relevant construction award.