Local builders,
clear quotes first.
Describe your extension, wall or patio, add photos or drawings, and get free quotes from local builders who cover your postcode.
What to expect
from your pro.
Building work is the kind of job where a clear start saves a lot of trouble. Before a builder can give you a fair price they need to know what you want, what is already there, and what is under the ground. The more detail you share, the closer the quote will be to the final bill.
On AYS you describe the project, add photos, measurements and any plans you have, and local builders send you a quote. You compare them, ask questions, and pick the one you are happy with. Small jobs like repairing a garden wall can be quick to price. Extensions and structural changes usually need a site visit first.
Larger projects often involve more than the builder. You may need planning permission, building regulations approval and, in England and Wales, a party wall agreement with your neighbours. An experienced builder will tell you what applies, but it is your home, so it pays to check with your local council early. Ask each builder how they will stage the work and the payments.
Common jobs
we cover.
Not on the list? Describe it and ask for free quotes.
Single storey extensions
Kitchen, living room and utility extensions, from foundations and walls to the roof, usually built to an architect's drawings.
Brickwork and repointing
Rebuilding damaged brickwork, repointing tired mortar joints and matching new bricks to the existing house as closely as possible.
Garden walls
Building new brick or block garden walls, or taking down and rebuilding ones that are leaning or cracked.
Patios and paving
Laying stone, porcelain or concrete patios on a proper sub-base with a fall so rainwater drains away from the house.
Knocking through walls
Opening up rooms by removing walls, with steel or lintels where the wall is load-bearing and calculations are needed.
Porches and garden rooms
Building porches, outbuildings and garden room bases, including footings, slabs and the brick or block structure.
Footpaths and steps
Laying paths, building garden steps and retaining small level changes so the garden is safer and easier to use.
Quotes first,
then you decide.
Describe the job
Add your postcode, a few lines about the job and photos if they help.
Get free quotes
Local pros who cover your area send a price. There is no obligation to accept.
Pick one and book
Choose the quote that suits you, pick a time and pay securely through AYS.
How the price
is worked out
Building work is priced by quote, because no two projects are the same. Builders look at the size of the job, the materials you choose, access for machinery and skips, what the ground is like, waste removal, and whether structural steel, drawings or approvals are involved. For bigger jobs, ask for a written breakdown and a payment schedule linked to stages of the work. Quotes are free with no obligation.
How to get
ready
- Gather any drawings, planning documents or structural calculations you already have.
- Measure the area and take photos from a few angles, including access to the back of the house.
- Check with your local council whether planning permission or building regulations apply.
- Talk to your neighbours early if the work is on or near a shared wall or boundary.
- Think about where a skip, materials and deliveries can go without blocking anyone.
Choosing the right pro
Every builder on AYS passes a photo ID check and a review by our team before taking bookings. Builders can upload insurance and qualifications, which we check and show on their profile. For larger work, ask to see public liability insurance, ask who will be on site each day, and ask how they handle building control inspections.
Do I need planning permission for an extension?
It depends. Some smaller extensions can be built under permitted development rights without a full planning application, but there are limits on size, height and position, and the rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Listed buildings and conservation areas have extra restrictions. Check with your local council or its planning portal before you commit.
What is the difference between planning permission and building regulations?
Planning permission is about whether you can build something, covering its size, look and effect on neighbours. Building regulations are about how it is built, covering structure, fire safety, insulation and drainage. Many jobs need building regulations approval even when they do not need planning permission. In Scotland the equivalent of building regulations approval is called a building warrant.
Do I need a party wall agreement?
In England and Wales, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 means you usually have to give your neighbours written notice before certain work on a shared wall, a boundary wall, or digging foundations close to their property. They can agree or appoint a surveyor. Your builder can advise when it applies, and it is worth sorting before the work starts.
Can I remove an internal wall?
Often yes, but you need to know if the wall is load-bearing first. If it is, a structural engineer will usually need to specify a steel beam or lintel, and the work will need building regulations approval. Non-load-bearing walls are simpler. A builder can take a look and tell you which you have and what is needed.
How do I compare quotes from builders?
Check that each quote covers the same things: materials, waste removal, skips, making good, and any steel or drawings. Ask what is excluded and how unexpected problems, like poor ground, will be priced. A clear written quote with stages and timings is worth more than the lowest number on a single line.
How long does an extension take to build?
It varies a lot with the size, design, weather and how quickly approvals and materials come through. A builder should give you a realistic timeline in their quote, including when foundations, building control inspections and the roof are due. Ask what could delay the job and how they will keep you updated.
Building and construction
near you.
AYS opens area by area. Pick your city for local tips, or check your postcode at the top of this page.
Read before
you book.
Home and buildingDo you need planning permission for an extension?
Not always. Many modest extensions to houses can be built under permitted development rights without a planning application, but strict size limits apply, and flats, listed buildings and conservation areas are treated differently.
Read the guide
Home and buildingHow to check a tradesperson before you hire them
Check the right register for the job, ask for proof of insurance, get at least three written quotes, agree the work in writing and never say yes on the doorstep.
Read the guideOften booked
together.
Do you offer building and construction?
Get booked for it.
Join AYS as a pro. Choose the postcodes you cover, set your prices and take bookings from local customers.