Contractors warned to check materials prices, Northern Irish homeowners lose money to cowboy builders, and tradespeople urged not to neglect their safety on DIY jobs
Contractors are being urged to check materials prices weekly, as the market enters “a period of renewed volatility”.
A report from the Southern Construction Framework showed that build costs rose by nearly 6% over the first quarter, well ahead of the standard rate of inflation.
The cost of steelwork, followed by groundwork, showed the biggest quarterly price hikes.
The report noted that while tender workload had increased by 2.6% in Q1, conversion to site remained “patchy” at best.
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A fifth of Northern Irish homeowners have lost money to cowboy builders — that’s according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
The trade body has launched a campaign to introduce a mandatory licensing scheme for builders in the province.
The report claimed that households have lost, on average, nearly £500 to rogue tradespeople.
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The No Falls Foundation is urging tradespeople not to neglect their safety while working from home.
Its warning comes after Scott Blankey, a builder, fell nearly three storeys while finishing an extension at home, resulting in serious injuries.
His brother Kai has since raised thousands of pounds to help support the family while he recovers.
Kai admitted that tradies tend to cut corners on health and safety when working on their own property.
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