Why you should never trust a builder than can start next week: Industry experts say good tradesman take seven months to find because they already have several jobs on the go
- The Federation of Master Builders said there is a national shortage of builders
- According to the FMB most builders will usually have a completely full schedule
- The FMB also provided rough estimates for the amount of time jobs should take
Alarm bells should ring if a builder says they can start work at short notice, industry experts have warned.
This is because good builders ‘will already have a number of jobs on the go’, they say.
A national shortage of builders means it now takes up to seven months to find a decent tradesman and have the construction work completed.
In its warning, the Federation of Master Builders said that having a new kitchen or bathroom fitted is likely to take five months – from finding the right builder to the work being completed. The estimate for a loft conversion is six months and up to seven for an extension.
The Construction Industry Training Board estimates the UK needs an extra 35,000 builders and tradesmen each year between now and 2020
As many school-leavers are heading to university rather than learning a trade, building firms are struggling with the demand for trained staff. And the availability of EU tradesmen is reportedly dwindling ahead of Brexit.
Chief executive at the FMB, Brian Berry, said: ‘When looking to appoint a builder, alarm bells should ring if they say they can start next week.
‘If homeowners want a new extension fully completed in time for Christmas, they should be contacting builders for quotes by May – at the very latest.’
The shortage also suggests that customers face paying a premium if they want to ensure their builder has a strong record and employs trained staff.
Chief executive at the FMB, Brian Berry (pictured) said: ‘When looking to appoint a builder, alarm bells should ring if they say they can start next week. If homeowners want a new extension fully completed in time for Christmas, they should be contacting builders for quotes by May – at the very latest.’
Research by the federation puts the average annual salary of a trained bricklayer at just over £42,000.
However it says those in areas of high demand can earn around £90,000 a year. The UK average for a plumber is £48,675 and £47,265 for an electrician.
Mr Berry said: ‘We need to be training more UK-born apprentices to reduce future reliance on migrant workers from Europe, or else the construction sector will grind to a halt.’
The Construction Industry Training Board estimates the UK needs an extra 35,000 builders and tradesmen each year between now and 2020.
The National Federation of Builders warned new immigration proposals – restricting people who earn less than £30,000 a year from coming to the UK – will block foreign tradesmen.