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Choosing the right builder, especially when that builder will be working in your home, can be very difficult, but it?s very important that you get it right. If not, you may end up with a sub-standard builder, escalating costs and plenty of stress and liability. To help you make this decision, this article will show you a few things to look for when deciding on a professional builder, regardless of the type of project.

One of the first things to look for when deciding on a builder is their level of experience and how long they have been in business. Once the builder has answered these questions, try to verify the information online. This can be as easy as searching through Company House if the builder belongs to a Limited company, or it may mean searching through county incorporation records. Either way, make sure you verify how long the builder has been doing business.

One of the ways to discover whether or not your builder is suitable for the job is to ask around and discover what other people saying. This can either be done online or by asking the builder directly for testimonials or even comments made by past clients regarding his work. You can even ask to see some of these projects firsthand. Both builders and clients alike should have no problem showing off the work which was completed, provided the workmanship demonstrated quality and competence.

There are a few other tips for finding the right builder, including the bid or quotation they submit. Builders who take the time to compile a thorough estimate with all of the costs transparent, usually equates to a thorough builder. Don?t ever accept a ?ball-park? estimate from a builder when receiving a bid for your project. Chances are, if he can?t take the time to put together a quality, thorough bid, his workmanship will lack the same attention to detail.

In summary, finding the right builder can be complicated. You want to ensure he is experienced and licensed with the proper credentials, and that he submits a detailed, professional bid. Ask around about his reputation, and even ask to see some of his work. This is your right as a consumer and if you?re going to be paying out ?big bucks? for a home improvement project you need to make sure you hire the right person or company for the job.

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Your new extension has been designed, you found the apparently perfect builder and everything looked like it was going well. Then you notice small mistakes creeping in, and the project going off the rails. You need to sort things out; but how?

You could try and forget the issues and let the builder finish over budget and over schedule, or you could be pro-active, remembering that is it your money and your time. If you are unhappy with your builder, follow the steps below to try to fix the issues you are having.

Confront the builder with your concerns - So the project has left the rails and is heading into the trees; you cannot just leave it to crash, you must confront the issues head on. Make a list of all problems that you know of and contact the builder so that you can both go through all the issues one by one to find solutions. It is important to try to get the builders participation with finding solutions to the problems. Hopefully things will become much clearer for you and the problem(s) have simple resolutions.

Get some advice - If the project has gone over budget or is costing you money because it is behind schedule, or even if the building work looks unsafe, then you should contact your lender, asking them for help towards a solution. A building inspector can also be used to identify substandard building work.

Hire an attorney - If all else fails and all amicable ways of solving the problems have been exhausted, then it is time to end the contract and contact an attorney. A legal representative can guide you through the process of reclaiming money lost to the builder and solving any legal issues that could arise from the contract.

It is imperative that any issues that you have with the work being carried out are made aware to the builder as soon as possible, a delay will most likely cost you money in the long run. Additionally, remember that only in a very small number of cases should it be necessary to pay the balance for the project up front. Most of the time builders will only ask for an initial deposit and possibly payment for any specialist materials that they will need to complete the work before the project has commenced.

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For one reason or another, brick walls need to be repaired, replaced or extended every so often. Of course, you want to use exactly the same type and style of bricks that were used in the original structure, but this is easier said than done.

There are a couple of reasons why the original type and style of brick used may no longer be available. One reason is that the clay deposit that was used for the original bricks may have been depleted. The second reason is that the brick company that you dealt with before may no longer be in business, or may have discontinued that line of bricks. Though you may think that bricks have little style to them, it is actually quite common for subtle, fashionable changes to be made to them over time.

It is possible that you may get lucky and find perfectly matching bricks at your local brick merchant. However, for the most part, the solution is not so easy to come by. Hopefully, one day there will be a national database of brick colors and textures but, for the time being there is not, so you will have to do some investigative work.

The first thing that you should do is take some high resolution pictures of the original bricks, as matching from memory is impossible. Mail these photographs to brick distributors who will be more than happy to help you if they can. Give them as much detail as you can about the originals, such as the year they were bought, where they were bought from, dimensions, etc.

If perfect brick matching is not an option, then a color match is the next best thing. Whatever, a brick salesman says to the contrary, this is the best way forward. It might take a little bit of looking around, but finding an identical color match is definitely possible. Always opt for color matches over texture matches. You should not ignore texture altogether, but bear in mind that differences in brick textures cannot be seen from a distance. Color differences in bricks can clearly be seen from any distance.

Once you have found some potential matches, get some samples and take them back to your home for a proper evaluation. You need to compare the bricks from different distances. Look up close, then from 10 feet away, and then from the opposite side of the road. Do not make the final decision on yourself - ask for a second opinion from a family member or neighbor.

As a final point, do not forget about also matching the mortar. Examine the sand particles in the existing mortar; paying attention to the size and color of them. Matching the mortar is not to difficult, but will probably require you to prematurely age the new mortar. You can do this with a brick cleaning chemical.
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Find Out More - Brick Matching

Though they may look the same to the uneducated eye, each type of brick its own characteristics and properties…

1) Common Bricks

The term ‘common brick’ comes from the fact that, although they are fired hard enough to use for most purposes, they are of a lower quality than most other types of brick. Little attempt is made to have them look good, so bricks in the same batch may differ in color, and the edges of them may be uneven or chipped.

2) Engineering Bricks

Commonly thought of as the toughest brick available, an elaborate process is required to make engineering bricks. The process delivers a brick which has very high compressive strength with very low water absorption. As they are the least vulnerable to damp, they are nearly always used in preference to other brick types for any part of a structure that falls below ground level.

3) Facing Bricks

Facing bricks are those which make up the external face of a structure i.e. those you see when you look at it. They are hard burned to give them strength and durability, which they need to withstand varying temperatures and extreme weather conditions. There are several sub-types of facing bricks, so you will need to do a little research before purchasing them. The climate that you live in will make a difference to which sub-type you need.

4) Special Bricks

These bricks are used to add finishing touches to a building or structure. If you are prepared to pay a premium, then you can get a brick in practically any shape that you want it. As well as shape, you can also specify what color you want special bricks to be.

5) Concrete Blocks

Not a brick as such, but concrete blocks are an alternative that can be used to get the same result. Plain concrete blocks can be used when a wall is to be rendered and / or painted, trench blocks are a good and cost-saving choice for foundation courses, and ‘Thermalite’ blocks can be easily shaped into whatever form you want. If you need a stylish finish, then they are widely available with a natural stone look.

As which type of brick is best to use, there is no single answer, as it depends on what you are building and the location you are building it. Rather than just guess, you should ask a senior employee at your local brick merchant what they would advise. They should be able to talk you through which combination of bricks is best for getting your job done.