Builders in Solihull
Most building work goes wrong in the first week or on paper, not at the finish. Foundations sized for the ground rather than the drawing, a steel the engineer actually calculated, and a written specification you can hold a price to.
- Local to Solihull
- Fully insured
- Free fixed quotes
We are 11.2 miles from Solihull, which makes site visits and snagging straightforward. We handle renovations, structural alterations, brickwork and repointing, and the unglamorous repairs that stop a property deteriorating. The survey tells us what is actually there; the quote follows from that.
Working in Solihull
Solihull lies 11.2 miles west of Coventry city centre, in the B91 postcode district.
Within walking distance you will find St Alphege Church and Morrisons, and we work on properties throughout the streets around them.
The nearest places we also cover are Kenilworth (9.5 miles) and Warwick (12 miles), so work in Solihull sits well inside the area we travel to, not at the edge of it.
- St Alphege Church
- Morrisons
- Malvern and Brueton Park
- St Peter's Catholic School
- Widney Manor
- A quote with no written specification cannot be compared with another one.
- Foundations are the biggest unknown in any build, and the depth is set by the ground rather than the drawing.
- A steel beam needs padstones sized for the load, not simply a bearing on the existing wall.
- Hold 10 to 15 per cent contingency rather than committing the whole budget at the start.
- A crack that has not moved in years is history; one that is still opening needs measuring.
The work itself, in plain terms
The building work we carry out on Solihull properties, from repointing and repairs to structural alterations and full refurbishment.
Extensions & structural work
Single and two storey builds, load-bearing wall removal and steel beams, designed by an engineer and inspected through to completion.
Brickwork & repointing
Repointing in a mortar weaker than the brick, spalled brick replacement, and crack repair once the cause has been established rather than guessed.
Renovations
Full and partial refurbishment sequenced properly — watertight first, moisture routes next, first fix before plaster, finishes last.
Damp proofing
Condensation, penetrating and rising damp diagnosed before anything is sold to you. Most damp traces to a gutter, a raised ground level or a bridged cavity.
Groundworks
Foundations, drainage, soakaways and concrete, with Building Control inspections at each stage and the spoil taken away.
Garage conversions
Insulated floor, infilled door opening, damp and thermal detailing, and Building Regulations sign-off at the end.
Built around how you own the property
Homeowners
Work sequenced properly — watertight first, moisture dealt with next, finishes last.
Landlords
The structural and safety items priced separately from anything cosmetic.
Buyers and sellers
Quotes you can set against a buyer's retention or a seller's price reduction.
The jobs that start with a phone call
- 01
A lintel failing over a window, with the crack stepping diagonally from the corner of the opening.
- 02
A bulging outer leaf where the wall ties have corroded and nobody has looked at the tie line.
- 03
Damp treated with an injected course when the actual cause was a downpipe discharging at the base of the wall.
- 04
An extension quoted at an assumed foundation depth, with no rate agreed for what happens if it has to go deeper.
- 05
An old chimney breast removed downstairs with the stack above left on nothing but hope.
- 06
A garage conversion done informally, with no insulation, no damp detailing and no sign-off.
What we check on a property in Solihull
Every quote starts with a survey. These are the things we look at on building work in Solihull, and why each one changes the recommendation.
What is actually holding the structure up
Before any wall comes out we establish what bears on it: joists, a wall above, the roof, or a combination. That determines the beam, the bearings and the propping, and it is not something to work out once the plaster is off.
Brick type and availability of matches
Where bricks need replacing we identify the type and check whether a match is obtainable, new or reclaimed. It decides whether a repair blends in or always shows.
Party wall implications
On terraces and semis we identify early whether the work engages the Party Wall Act, because notice periods are measured in weeks and are not something to discover once the start date is agreed.
Whether Building Control is engaged
We establish at the outset whether the work is notifiable and who the Building Control body will be, so inspections are built into the programme rather than chased at the end.
Wall construction: solid or cavity
Solid and cavity walls behave completely differently for damp, insulation and fixings. Establishing which one we are dealing with, and whether a cavity is clear or filled, changes nearly every recommendation.
Condition of the existing finishes
Whether plaster is sound, blown or on lath changes the scope considerably. Blown plaster on a damp wall has to come off regardless of how good it looks from across the room.
Simple, transparent, no pressure
Free inspection & advice
We visit, assess the job properly and explain your options in plain English — no pressure.
Transparent fixed quote
A clear, line-by-line quote with no hidden costs. You decide in your own time.
Expert workmanship
Our qualified, insured team completes the work on time, on budget and to a high standard.
Walkthrough & tidy finish
We clean up fully and don't leave until you're 100% happy.
Trusted across Coventry
Building in Solihull — your questions answered
Still have a question? Our local team is happy to help — no pressure, no jargon.
Speak to us today0786 5778332Which part of Solihull do you cover?
All of it — the streets around St Alphege Church included. Where a property sits matters less to us than what the access is like, which is something we look at on the survey rather than guessing from an address.
How quickly can you get to Solihull?
Quickly — it is about 11.2 miles west of the city centre. Short distances are the main reason we can offer same-week surveys and come back promptly if something needs a second look.
Do I need an architect, or can a builder just do the work?
For straightforward repair and like-for-like work, no. As soon as you are altering structure, changing the layout or adding space you need drawings, and anything load-bearing needs calculations from a structural engineer. We work from your drawings, or tell you plainly at survey stage that drawings are the first thing to commission rather than taking a deposit and discovering it later.
Will you work alongside my own trades?
Yes, and it is common on renovations where people already have an electrician or a plumber they trust. It needs sequencing agreed upfront so first fix does not get plastered over and nobody is standing waiting. We are happy to coordinate, but we are clear about where our responsibility ends when work is split.
How long does building work take?
Honestly, longer than most people expect, and the variable is rarely the building. Drawings, calculations, approvals and lead times on materials routinely take as long as the work. We give a programme with the quote that includes those stages rather than just the time on site, because a date that only counts the building part is not a date anyone can plan around.
There are cracks in my wall. Should I be worried?
Most are not structural. Fine cracks at the junction of different materials, or above openings, are usually thermal or shrinkage movement. The ones that warrant investigation are diagonal or stepped, wider at one end, wider than about 3mm, visible inside and out in the same place, or growing. We will say honestly which category a crack falls into, and recommend an engineer where it genuinely needs one.
Do I need Building Regulations approval for building work?
For structural alterations, new openings, underpinning, drainage work, new heating and most extensions, yes — it is separate from planning permission and applies even where planning is not needed. Straightforward repair and redecoration does not need it. We will tell you which applies and work with your Building Control body, and we would rather a job be notified than quietly not.
Get your free builders quote in Solihull
Tell us what you are planning and send a few photographs. We will survey the ground, the structure and the drainage before pricing, and give you a fixed written quote with the assumptions set out.
- No obligation, no pressure, no hidden costs
- Qualified, insured Coventry tradespeople
- Fast response — within 24 hours on urgent jobs