Builder – A Broad Title – Know The Differences

The term Builder has a broad range of expressions and not all types will be working on your home. Not all types should be working on your home. Having a clear understanding about the meanings behind the terms will help you know who you're dealing with and who to choose for your project.

Builder ​

1. a collective term for anyone who works in the building industry - e.g. tiler/painter/labourer - these are trade workers not builders

2. the principal contractor with a university degree in building who only ever wears a suit and a tie - professional maybe, but not a home builder

3. someone who's putting something together - cabinet/shed/bridge/birdcage - not a home builder

4. a large company with a board of directors that does construction/remedial/civil works - professionals yes, home builders no

5. a residential building contractor (also a principal contractor) with staff and a collection of sub-contractors who is specifically educated, qualified and fully licensed to provide home additions/renovations/custom home building e.g. 'Built for Living' - yes a home builder

When interviewing builders, it can be difficult to know whether they are genuine or not. Most people don’t know whether the builder has come through acceptable industry pathways and learned a solid foundation of building knowledge and experience, or if they are any good, or if they are less scrupulous and have been ‘creative’ on their licence application.

Simple builder checks to follow:

• Do they come with genuine references?

• Are their licence details specific and current? A builder needs to have ‘builder’ on their licence

• What are their educational qualifications? and where from?

• What work have they performed/ what experience do they have?

• Have they worked through the ranks with hands on experience?

• Are they qualified to do work not just over $20k but to the value of you project?

• Are they personable, can you get a sense of their authenticity?

These are some of the areas for consideration when screening a builder to do work on your home.

The majority of professional builders, like Built for Living, will be happy to provide these sorts of details to you, details which also provide a level of protection for you.

Knowing they have proper qualifications also shows respect for the industry and their fellow tradesmen. Its representative of the sacrifices they have made to get qualified and bring that esteem to your project.

Sub-contractor

1. Someone performing specialist or trade work for a builder - e.g. electrician, plumber, bricklayer - not builders

2. A large firm who provides a specialist or trade service to large builders - not builders

3. Someone working full time for a subcontracting firm - either trade qualified or as a labourer - these are workers

4. Licensed specialist or trade contractor engaged by same type of firm to perform work independently on private residences/business - not builders

5. A third party engaged by a subcontractor to perform a certain portion of works of the contract between the builder and the first subcontractor - not a builder

Specialist Trade examples ​

1. Plumber/drainer/gasfitter

2. Electrician

3. Air-conditioning/refrigerant installer/repairer

4. fire protection services

Note - All specialist trades must be licensed regardless of job type or size and all persons working on your home must be appropriately licensed for any work over $5000. Don't be afraid to ask to see their licence and its currency - professionals will only be too happy to show you