The Building Work Handbook (Updated Edition)

Whether you’re a professional builder or a homeowner about to embark on building work, The Building Work Handbook contains everything you need to know to ensure everything runs smoothly. Thorough, clearly explained advice and information will guide you through the whole process and answer any questions you have. This book covers the initial visit to discuss requirements, preparing and understanding estimates or quotations, negotiating a contract and gaining local authorities’ approvals, right through to commencement of work, dealing with disputes and claims, snagging issues and completion.

Most books on the market are aimed either at builders or homeowners, not both. However, it is useful for a builder to be aware of concerns a client may have, and likewise for a client to understand the process from a builder’s perspective, as a lack of understanding is often the cause of problems during building work. As there are more technical issues that a builder needs to be aware of, the balance of client-specific and builder-specific text is weighted towards the builder (approx. 60/40).