British Builders

I am a UK Architect living in Spain and carried out a major renovation project of a villa. I did end up using an excellent Spanish builder, but only after doing a lot of research, looking closely at the standard of previous completed projects and obtaining client references. I also went through a tender process to understand how building prices are put together in Spain - some of this is very different to the UK! My advice is to do your homework thoroughly before you appoint any builder for a project, either from the UK or Spanish.

We had a large patio tiled, we got 3 recommendation first, 2 were English builders and the third was a Spanish builder. The main thing I noticed was the English guys kept giving me reasons why it would be reasonably expensive, between having to wheelbarrow stuff in because the could not get machine in, they would have to DIG certain bits anyway in general lots of reasons why would be expensive, Spanish guy said only real English words were no problem... Got prices English companies almost double the price, gave job to Spanish company great job, perhaps a little slower but very good... speak as you find

Alexb how true it's the same in my trade as a head chef some people think because they can poach a egg and knock out a Sunday roast dinner all of a sudden they are a chef. Nevermind doing a total 5 years part time at college to do all the City& Guilds!!

The airlines run marvellous short courses to suit all trades on your flight over ...!!!!!

Myself and a few of our neighbours have used a fantastic British builder for work in our properties. He has done varied jobs such as replacing iron staircases to building a swimming pool. Highly recommended. If you want his details, send me a private message and I’ll send these on with a more precise account of the work carried out and price paid.

Thank you for your comments.

We did not have him back once he started the footings.