Should I Hire a Contractor or a Builder?

Whether you’re planning an extension, renovation or self-build, it’s likely there’s one big question playing on your mind – should I hire a contractor or a builder? 

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Unless you’re a seasoned developer, it can be confusing to understand the difference between the two options and tricky to know which is better for your project. So, in this blog, we’ll take a look at what the roles of a contractor and a builder are and what you should consider when you’re deciding which to hire.

The role of a builder vs that of a contractor

Although both a builder and a contractor are able to help with home renovations, they play slightly different roles. So, it’s good to know the differences between the two.

A contractor should be able to handle all aspects of the construction or renovation work on a project, handling pretty much everything from start to finish. They can take a set of plans and make them a reality, dealing with paperwork, budgets and timescales along the way. They will coordinate the different trades needed, such as electricians, plumbers and kitchen fitters. These may be brought in as subcontractors or they may be part of your contractor’s permanent team. But whatever the situation, your building contractor will be the one to oversee their work and handle their payment. So, a contractor acts as a manager of a building project. 

A builder is more hands-on, taking care of the actual construction work. Although a general builder can handle many different aspects, such as bricklaying, installing windows and roofing work and can supply materials, they’re less involved with the overall planning and management of a project. They’ll typically focus on the building work, following the set of plans or instructions that you give them. That said, a good, experienced builder may be able to help advise you on certain aspects of your project and may be able to bring in other trades along the way, saving you some stress. So, when hiring a builder, it’s worth discussing and agreeing on the scope of their role and their responsibilities. 

As you can now see, whether you hire a builder or a contractor, they’re likely to be involved with your project from start to finish. But one takes on the role of an overseer and the other is more hands-on.

What to consider

Now you can see the differences between a builder and a contractor, which one should you use for your project? 

How big is your project? If it’s a complex build, such as a double-storey extension, self-build or complete or sensitive renovation, then a contractor might be the best option. They will be able to coordinate different trades and handle problems that crop up, saving you a lot of stress. 

On the flipside, if your project is only small and is fairly straightforward, you could be better off hiring a builder. Some contractors will say no job too small – meaning you can use them on smaller jobs such as kitchen or bathroom refurbs. But many will only take on larger projects. 

Have you had work done before and do you know a lot of local trades? This can determine how easy it is for you to handle the different aspects of a build rather than a contractor. If the trades in your area tend to be busy and hard to get hold of, it can certainly be beneficial to hire a contractor to do this for you.

It’s also worthwhile considering how much time you have available to manage your building project and how knowledgeable you are. Do you have the time necessary to do things like coordinate trades, manage timescales and budgets and sort out paperwork? If you’re working full-time and looking after family, this could be a big ask. So, it may pay to hire a contractor. 

You also need to think about how comfortable you are in communicating with strangers. Having a contractor means you really only need to discuss progress with one person and you’ll have the chance to build up a close working relationship with them. 

Still making your mind up?

Still not sure whether your project is big enough to warrant a contractor or not sure what your type of project might involve? Well, it might be an idea to do a bit more research.

Using a website like homehow can help you understand what’s involved with building projects like extensions, interior renovations and self builds. So, you can determine what trades and processes might be involved.