Specialist Contractors

When should I hire specialist contractors?

Specialist building contractors do as the name suggests and specialise in a particular field or product. Perhaps you have been searching for someone to carry out a very specific job for you, such as create a one-of-a-kind ceiling mural or to work some magic with an old bath, or maybe you need repairs to a piece of specialist furniture or a system that’s been installed in your home? If so then the right speciality contractor will be the man or woman for the job.

More technical home renovation professionals may fall under this category, too. If you are building a property from scratch or planning a large extension then you may need to hire surveyors to carry out building and quantity surveying work – this involves assessing the build site and advising on costs, contracts, procurement and risk, amongst many other areas, and essentially project managing a large part of the build. If you have a thatched house, you’ll need to have the roof re-thatched from time to time and to regularly maintain the thatching to keep it safe and presentable. For this, you’ll need special roof thatchers who will know the type of thatch you have and how to replace and maintain it properly.

Whatever you need specialist contractors for, be sure to check the profiles of specialist building contractors and other professionals on Houzz to see if you can find details of a contractor near you that can offer the service you’re looking for. Here are some related professionals and vendors to complement the work of specialist contractors: Main Contractors, Landscape Contractors, Architects & Architectural Designers, Interior Designers, Kitchen & Bathroom Designers.

What to ask potential specialist contractors:

• How long have you been in business?
  
• What services do you offer?
  
• Have you worked on a similar specialist project before?
  
• Do you have references from previous clients?
  
• Do you work with any other specialist contractors?
  
• How do you calculate costs, and what do they include?
  
• Can you give me a written estimate?
  
• What happens if the project goes over budget?
  
• Do you provide a warranty for your work? What about future repairs?
  
• When can you start work?
  
• How long will this project take?
  

Find specialist contractors on Houzz. Look in the Professionals section of our website under specialist contractors, then select your area for a local contractor. You can also look through photos of completed projects to see how specialist building contractors might approach design challenges.