Does a general builder need to be registered in Ireland?
No — there's no single statutory 'builder' registration in Ireland, unlike gas or electrical work. What we check instead, same as every other trade on HomeSorted, is ID and current public liability insurance; for a structural project it's also worth asking whether the builder works with a registered engineer where the job needs one.
General building covers a very wide range of work, from small repairs to full extensions — make sure the insurance level you're shown actually matches the size of your project, not just that a policy exists.
For anything structural (a knock-through, a load-bearing wall, foundations), ask who provides the engineering sign-off — a builder can carry out the work, but structural certification is usually a separate, named professional.
Ask for examples of similarly scaled completed projects, not just any past work — a builder experienced with small repairs isn't automatically the right fit for a full extension.
What to check
- Current public liability insurance, and that cover matches the project size
- Examples of similarly scaled completed projects
- Who provides structural engineering sign-off, if the job needs one
When to call a pro
For anything structural, confirm the engineering sign-off arrangement before work starts.
More general building guides
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