step-by-step

an step by step guide from your idea to finishing the project

The project is done, the paperwork is sorted and any issues have been sorted – enjoy!

Reviews and feedback

The construction industry is very poor at collecting feedback, making it difficult to understand what has worked, what hasn't and who is doing a good job.

Now that you have completed your project and learnt what has worked well and what could be better, you can provide some feedback. Please fill in our feedback form so that we can keep getting better.

The build process has been broken down into 7 main steps:

find a builder
agree fees & deadlines
sort out paperwork
start building
monitor
finish building
sort out more paperwork

find a builder

As with designers, finding the right builder can be a real challenge, but there are a couple of ways you can find someone:

Specific websites

Checkatrade

Word of mouth
Search engine
our find-a-builder page

Unless you are only willing to use one builder (because of their reputation or a unique product/style), then it's worth getting three or more quotes as they could vary significantly. Check these against your original budget, can you afford to do all the works (without using your contingency)?

agree fees & deadlines

Your builder should have proposed costs and a plan for completing the project.

Their costs should be based on the below items.

material costs and amount (e.g. flooring is £100 per square meter and your room is 5 square meters, so it should show 100x5=500).
installation costs (possibly included in material costs for some products)
any exclusions/assumptions
overheads & profit (the cost of running their business)

Make sure you understand this as there may be assumptions or exclusions which could cost you more (see Provisional Sum for more information).

Their plan should show:

What needs to be done
Any links between tasks (e.g. you can’t start painting before you put the walls up)
If they are dependent on you for anything the deadlines should be shown here
Make sure they show when you will get to inspect.

As with costs, check that the plan shows everything you are expecting and that you understand everything.

If you aren’t certain everything is covered it is worth sitting down with the builder (and designer) and running through your drawings, so you are clear that everything has been picked up properly.

sort out the paperwork

It's important to get the paperwork sorted before starting the works. A lot of the disputes on projects come from miscommunication, the paperwork is meant to make sure this doesn’t happen.

This includes:

the contract – so the full agreement is clear and both you and the contractor are protected if there is an issue. Do not rely on agreements over email, in person, or over text as the chances of their being confusion is much higher than you would think. The contract should cover dates for the works, costs, a description of the work to be done, when payments are due, a description or list of any documentation you will get at the end of the project (see sort out more paperwork).
Insurance – make sure you are clear on what is covered by your insurance and what insurance the builder will be providing. Insurances that might be needed include:
Your home (any parts that aren’t being changed by the works)
The works (typically provided by the builder)
The public (typically provided by the builder)

start building

Before the builder starts with any physical works they may need to:

take surveys
bring in machinery, equipment and
protect areas which aren’t part of the project
Set up a welfare space (toilet, somewhere for paperwork, somewhere to eat/drink
Put up signage about fire exits and first aid kits

monitor

Even if you have hired someone else to monitor the project and inspect any work done you should still make sure to look at the works on a regular basis. This will help build the relationship with the builder (people like to be appreciated), help capture anything you aren’t happy with, and you can check that any waste/noise isn’t impacting your neighbours too much.

If you see anything you aren’t happy with, take a photo and keep a record (e.g. via email) so that everyone is clear and it can be fixed sooner rather than later. The sooner the builder fixes issue the better as they are less likely to forgot or cause additional damage to finished parts.

Good Practice

A well-run project should:

Be clean and tidy, no rubbish, spills or dust
Have materials safely stored out the way
Have a space set aside for any tasks that involve cutting or hot works
Have workers in Personal Protective Equipment (hard hat, gloves, glasses steel toe-capped boots, high-vis jackets etc. And a sign/document saying what needs to be worn)
Be well-lit so people can see what they are doing and where they are going
Have welfare set up

If you see something which looks wrong, raise it. Look at the HSE website for more information.

finish building

The builder should be letting you know when you can come for a final walkaround to check you are happy with everything. The builder should leave your home clean and tidy, taking any rubbish away with them. This means no dusty surfaces, split paint etc. They also should not leave any materials behind.

Check the works are done properly. Do more than just a cursory glance. Look at everything that has been done, test everything (even if you feel a bit stupid opening all the cupboards or windows and turning on all the taps). If you've had any plumbing or electrical works done make sure they have been certified and do a quick test of these too.

Keep a list with photos of anything you aren't happy with and send it to the builder. Agree when these will be done.

sort out more paperwork

If you require any certification or documentation you should make sure you have a copy of this when the project is finished, or earlier. Check out our Completion Checklist to see what this might include.

The amount you need to pay on completion should be shown in your contract, but you may have agreed changes during the project. If you didn’t agree a cost for the changes as they happened the contractor should be able to show receipts to help agree a price (or you can search online to see how much something cost).

At the end of the build stage, you should have:

a finished project
all the documentation you need
made all the necessary payments

Its widely known that proper planning is needed for a any chance of success, but its a bit difficult to make a plan if you don't know what needs to happen.

The below provides an overview of the steps of a project. While its impossible to write a detailed plan that would be suitable for every project, this will give you an idea of what might be needed and who should be able to help.

Building projects are often broken down into three simple stages, design, build and use. Within each stage the are some standard steps, as shown below.

However, managing each step so it is completed properly and keep track of everything can be difficult if you aren't sure what you are doing or are juggling lots of other things at the same time.

Within the design stage, there are 5 main steps:

idea
find a designer
agree fees & deadlines
develop idea
get permissions

idea

Your idea can be anything from a clear and defined vision of what you want built, including products and locations to a vague thought about wanting to change what you have.

find a designer

It can be a challenge to find the right designer as there is so much to consider and so little information available

Some things to consider when looking for a designer:

have they done similar projects before? You don’t want to be someone’s major project but equally don’t want to be their smallest as you probably won’t be their priority.
Are they expensive (get a couple of quotes to compare) & do you understand their fee proposal (how much they want to be paid and what you are getting in return)?
Are there any red flags (bad reviews, or no reviews at all, or warnings on Companies House)?
Are they nice to engage with and seem interested in helping you?
What qualifications do they have? Are they members of RIBA?
Do you understand the terms and conditions of their appointment and are you happy with them?

agree fees & deadlines

Your designer should have proposed costs and a plan for completing the project. They may refer to the RIBA design stages, which are clarified here.

They should also clarify any exclusions and assumptions they have made. Something to consider:

Will they be helping you find a builder
Will they provide advice on construction costs
Will they help you get the permissions you need
Are there any parts of the project they can’t design

Their plan should show when you will receive the draft design documents and when you need to make decisions.

It is worth walking round your home with the designer and making sure they’ve understood what you asked for.

Make sure to have a signed contract agreeing the above before you start work.

develop idea

Work with your designer to finalise the design you want. Don't forget to refer back to your brief to make sure the design still achieves the benefits you want.

get permissions

Each of these are separate permissions and getting one does not mean you do not need another.

The common legal factors to consider are:

Planning Permission
Building Control Certification
Party Wall Award
Tree Protection Order
Freeholder/Management Agent Approval
Rights of Light

You will be responsible for making sure any conditions or restrictions are followed, so make sure you are aware of:

What do you need to do
When do you need to do it
If you need someone else to do something (e.g. the builder) who is should do it
What information you need to submit, if any
Whether you have completed this or its still needs to be done
Any comments or updates

At the end of the design stage, you should have:

documents detailing what you want the project to look like
any permissions you need
have a plan of what you need to do next and when
have a clear budget for the construction works