What a builder does
A builder takes on structural and larger jobs: extensions, loft and garage conversions, knocking through walls, brickwork and repointing, garden walls, groundworks and damp proofing. Bigger projects usually involve other trades too, and a good builder will co-ordinate them and keep you updated as each stage is finished.
Planning permission and building regulations for work in St Helens are handled by St Helens Borough Council. Check whether your project needs planning permission or falls under permitted development, and make sure building control will sign off structural work before you make the final payment.
Common builder jobs in St Helens
These are the builder jobs you can post on Fettld. Pick the closest one, describe the problem in your own words and add a few photos so builders can quote accurately.
- Extensions
- Loft conversions
- Garage conversions
- Knocking through walls
- Brickwork and repointing
- Garden walls
- Groundworks
- Damp proofing
Before you hire a builder
Approvals before work starts
Structural work needs building regulations approval, and some projects need planning permission or a party wall agreement. Agree in the quote who arranges each one.
Staged payments
Never pay a large sum upfront. On Fettld, bigger jobs are split into stages, and each stage is held as a deposit by Fettld until you approve the work. It's released when you confirm the job is done, or automatically 7 days after the trade marks the stage complete if you don't raise a problem.
Insurance and company checks
Builders on Fettld have their public liability insurance reviewed, and limited companies are matched against Companies House.
Builder prices: rough guidance
To help you sense-check quotes, here are broad typical ranges for straightforward jobs. They're guidance only, not Fettld prices or averages, and every quote in St Helens will depend on access, materials, the size of the job and how soon you need it.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Knock through a non-load-bearing wall | £500 to £1,500 |
| Remove a load-bearing wall with a steel beam | £2,000 to £5,000 |
| Repoint a small area of brickwork | £300 to £900 |
How Fettld protects your deposit
When you accept a quote, you pay a deposit to Fettld, not straight to the builder. Your money is held as a deposit by Fettld until you approve the work. It's released when you confirm the job is done, or automatically 7 days after the trade marks the stage complete if you don't raise a problem.
- Post your builder job for free with photos and the St Helens postcode, so only local trades see it.
- Compare fixed quotes, reviews and checks, and message builders before you choose.
- Pay safely. Your money is held as a deposit by Fettld until you approve the work, and bigger jobs are split into stages. If something goes wrong, our Resolution Centre steps in.
Builders in St Helens: questions
Do I need planning permission for an extension?
Not always. Many single-storey rear extensions fall under permitted development, but limits apply and some homes, such as flats or listed buildings, don't have those rights. Check with your council or apply for a lawful development certificate if you're unsure.
What's the difference between planning permission and building regulations?
Planning permission is about what you can build and how it looks. Building regulations are about how it's built, covering structure, fire safety, insulation and drainage. Most extensions need building regulations approval even when planning permission isn't needed.
How should I pay a builder for a big job?
In stages linked to finished work, never a large sum upfront. Each stage is held as a deposit by Fettld until you approve the work. It's released when you confirm the job is done, or automatically 7 days after the trade marks the stage complete if you don't raise a problem. If you can't agree, the Resolution Centre steps in.