Hiring a builder safely in Northern Ireland: payment schedules, contracts and red flags
How to vet a builder, structure stage payments, what to put in writing, and the patterns that almost always end in a dispute.
Latest guides
Building Regulations in Northern Ireland: a homeowner's overview
How NI Building Regulations differ from the rest of the UK, when you need approval, and how to apply through your local council.
How to verify your tradesperson's credentials in Northern Ireland
A practical checklist for verifying Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, FENSA, OFTEC and more — directly on the public registers, on the day of hire.
Coming soon
Planned
Single-storey extension costs in NI: 2026 price benchmarks
Realistic cost ranges for a 20–35 sqm rear extension in NI, broken down by trade and material grade.
Planned
Choosing between Gas Safe and Oftec: heating system basics
A plain-English comparison of gas vs oil heating systems in NI, including running cost, installation cost and maintenance.
Planned
Damp in older NI homes: causes, fixes, and what to ask a tradesperson
How to tell rising damp from condensation, what genuinely fixes each, and how to spot dodgy "damp-proofing" sales.
Planned
Solid fuel and biomass installations in NI: what HETAS means for you
Why HETAS-registered installers matter for NI households running stoves, and how to verify a registration.