Building companies in Europe.
Selecting the right building company in United Kingdom, Germany or Poland can be very difficult if you don’t know what you are looking for. There are a number of different companies out there that provide construction and building services, and given the fact that this is one of the most thriving industries in the world, the amount of companies competing for your business is quite high. Before we begin this topic, the first thing to know is that there are different building companies that deal in commercial building and others which specialize in residential building. When it comes to selecting the right building company in Europe, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Experience
It’s always best to play safe rather than take a bold decision when it comes to building contracts. Companies that have been in the business for a longer period of time are very likely to do a better job for you as compared to those that have only just entered the fray. The reason for this is the fact that experienced companies know the different amounts of changes that have taken place over the past, and can implement those changes depending upon your requirements. Furthermore, because these companies usually have a much larger clientele, they are able to utilize their added experience to iron out anomalies beforehand, which newer companies would not. Hence, experience plays a major role.
Portfolio Assessment
British, German or Polish building companies usually have their own portfolios, which you can browse through in order to get an idea of whether the company is worth hiring or not. The portfolio is basically a document which includes pictures of all the different buildings that a company has constructed. Assessing the portfolio is a great idea for any potential customer as it gives you an idea of whether the company’s work is worth your time and money or not. Building contracts include a significant amount of investment, so you have to be careful when selecting the right one. A thorough assessment of several company’s portfolio will give you an idea of the quality of the building materials that they use, as well as the amount of innovation that goes in to a certain project. Careful analysis is very important in this regard.
Furthermore, it should be known that it isn’t always necessary to hire a company just because it is based locally. There are numerous foreign based companies that can do a better job for you as compared to a localized one, albeit at a certain difference of price. The thing that you need to keep in mind here is that as the end customer, you need to have a know- how about how the building process works; numerous workers are brought in, set rates are provided, etc. Having a grasp on the prices is also very important, as that will help you gauge whether the contract being offered is good enough or not. Remember, there are a number of different tradesmen that are involved in the construction of a company, so it would be a wise idea to know of a few trades that are most prevalent within the building industry. Here are some of the most common trades in Europe.
Trades in Europe.
Architect
One of the most important persons that are needed for the construction of any sort of building is the architect. It doesn’t matter if it’s a commercial building or a residential one, having a proper layout and plan is very important. The architect first designs, creates a feasible plan and then oversees the construction of a building according to the approved plan. The design of an architect usually combines unique elements, incorporating public safety with a stylish design that is feasible to move about in. European building companies usually hire their own architects, though most architects run their own firms, providing services at a cost.
Carpenter
The job of a carpenter is highly varied. A carpenter is a skilled craftsman who is tasked with cutting, shaping as well as installing the different building materials in order to give them an actual shape. Give a carpenter a bunch of wooden planks, and he will create something out of it. Carpenters are heavily involved in the construction of buildings, and in usual cases, more than just one carpenter is hired in order to get the job done. Working from floor to floor, carpenters are required to perform a series of complex tasks, such as creating wall panels, setting up false ceilings as well as dealing with all matters related to the use of wood in the building. From flooring to roofing, insulation and cabinetry, the job of a carpenter is vital to the construction of a building.
Stove fitter
As the name explicitly suggests, the job of a stove fitter is to fit in all of the stoves within a building. Usually, building contractors buy stoves from a different location, and then hire a stove fitter to fix them in to place. It’s not as straightforward a job as it looks: a stove fitter is required to make sure that all the gas and electricity connections going in or out of the stove are properly set up and insulated, as well as making sure that the stoves are all working properly. A stove fitter needs to make sure that the location of the stoves is also convenient enough to ensure that no hazardous situation can arise in the future.
Roofer
The job of a roofer, as you can guess, is practically concerned with the roof of a building. Be it a commercial or a residential building, a roofer is required in order to apply different materials that might be water proof and/ or weather proof in order to ensure that the roof of the building is secured. When a building is created, the first thing to be created is the skeleton of the building, which includes the frame, along with all the beams, trusses and rafters. Roofers are not to be confused with carpenters, though they do require carpentry skills in order to complete their job. A roofer would usually have complete knowledge of the different materials used for laying down the roof, and selecting the right ones depending upon the type of construction.
Glazier
The job of a glazier is concerned with all things glass within a building. A glazier is tasked with selecting the right pieces of glass, cutting them and installing them, replacing pieces of glass as well as installing artistic pieces of glass within a building. Needless to say, the use of glass has become quite extensive in present day construction, and the job of a glazier has, as a result, become quite in demand too.
Fencer
The fencer is a person who is tasked with created fences. Fences are freestanding structures, and are usually pretty light in their construction. They cannot be compared to walls, because fences usually create the outer boundary of a commercial or a residential building, and are not created from cement and concrete. Fencers are usually tasked with deciding the type and design of fence that will be used, along with the materials that will be used in creating the fence. The fence must compliment the building structure as well.
Landscaper
The job of a landscaper is pretty straightforward: to modify the land where the commercial or residential building will be constructed. If the land is uneven, the landscaper must carry out necessary activities in order to make the land even enough for construction to begin. Usually, the landscaper will dig the land to a certain extent, from where the basement and foundations of the building will be constructed. The landscaper usually first inspects the land and figures out whether it is good for construction or not.
Mason
A mason is of two types; a stone mason and a brick layer. In building construction, both are used. The job of a brick layer is to lay down the bricks and the blocks which form the structure of the building itself. A brick layer/ mason will usually be required to decide the type of bricks which will be used in the construction of a building, as well as the number of bricks needed. A mason doesn’t always deal with bricks however; some might even construct buildings (depending upon the design) using blocks.
The other type of mason is a stonemason. As the name suggests, the job of a stone mason is to use different crafting tools in order to give a shape to rough pieces of rock and make them in to accurate, geometrical shapes; usually of varying levels of complexity. These shapes are then arranged together with the help of mortar in order to create structures. For instance, a fountain in the center of a building’s lobby will be considered the work of a stone mason.
Painter and Decorator
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the job of the painter and the decorator. There are times when these two jobs are usually done by the same person; hence they have been grouped in to one category. The painter is tasked with painting the building once the brickwork has been constructed. The painter usually applies three to four coats of paint on the inside, as well as a similar number on the outside. The paint on the outside is usually waterproof and/ or weather proof.
The decorator, on the other hand, is tasked with decorating the interior of the house/ building. He gets to decide where the wallpapers will be placed, the type of furniture as well as the color of the room itself. The decorator’s job is extremely important, as that will determine whether the interior of the building will be good enough or not.
Plumber
Another very important job when it comes to building construction; the plumber is tasked with creating all of the water and sewage connections within the building. The plumber will fix all of the washrooms and install all sanitary equipment in place, including sinks toilets, faucets, etc. The plumber will also survey the layout and design of the building in order to lay down all the piping and plumbing. The pipes must be connected to the gutters and the sewers in order to maintain an effective sewage system within the building.
Iron Worker
Another tradesman who is vital to the construction of a building, the job of an iron worker is to erect and assemble the metallic structure of a building. The iron worker is integral to the construction of single and multi- storeyed buildings, as well as large scale buildings such as arenas, stadiums, hospitals, etc. These are the guys who are responsible for erecting the metallic framework on which the whole building will stand, using girders, metal decking, etc. The iron worker also operates a number of different types of machines in order to cut and mold the metallic decking in to a proper frame.
Floorer
This one is obvious; a floorer is a tradesman who lays down the flooring of a building. Depending upon the type of flooring that is required, the floorer will bring in the necessary materials, and using construction glue as well as other materials, will set the flooring in place. Often times, the floorer is also giving his own suggestions about the type of floor that would be best suited to the building.
Tiling Contractor
Tiles are now used virtually in all kinds of buildings, which makes the role of a tiling contractor an extremely important one in the construction of a building. The tiling contractor usually provides the different kinds of tiles that will be used in the building’s construction, which are usually of differing sizes and quantity. The tiling contractor usually takes on large contracts, and even provides customized suggestions. Rather than going to a different tiling studio and buying expensive tiles, more and more building contractors now hire an independent third party tiling contractor.
Chimney builder
What does a chimney builder do? Build chimneys of course! A chimney builder’s job is pretty important because he has to work closely with the architect and the interior designer in order to find a strategic place where the fireplace will be located. The fireplace usually leads directly to a chimney above, which is created by the chimney builder. The chimney builder uses different types of materials in order to create a chimney that will hold strong for as long as the building stands, and can withstand the constant soot that is deposited inside.
Electrician
One of the most important tradesmen required for the construction of any type of building, the electrician is tasked with making sure that all of the wiring is done properly. If done in an incorrect manner, a short circuit can occur which is likely to set fire to the entire building. Hence, the electrician must create a proper wiring system, and make sure that all of the wires are properly insulated and set in place accordingly. Be it a commercial building or a residential building, the electrician must be chosen with a lot of care. He should have the required amount of experience and should be able to set the wiring properly.
Heating and conditioning installer
Nowadays, all buildings come with their own HVAC systems commonly. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. A centralized system is created, which controls the temperature within the building itself. The job of a heating and conditioning installer is to make sure that all the systems are properly installed, and vents are created in order to disseminate the hot/ cold air in to the rooms so as to maintain the temperature. A heating and conditioning installer must be proficient in the different types of heating and air conditioning systems that are available. From installing individual split units in different rooms of the building to the installation of a centralized heating and conditioning system as well as the thermostats, the job ofa heating and conditioning installer is a pretty important one.
Laborer
The labor that is needed to construct the building using a bunch of different pneumatic and hand based tools cannot be discounted when we talk about important tradesmen who help in building construction. Laborers are usually required for carrying out a bunch of different tasks, such as carrying out the orders of the architect and the designer, and making sure that the instructions are followed properly. The laborer will usually make sure that all instructions are carefully followed.
Welder
As you can understand the job of a welder is to weld two pieces of metal together. The welder is a very important tradesman when it comes to building construction because he helps in a variety of different tasks. From creating the metal doors to fixing the elevators in to place, the welder is usually required wherever metallic work is involved. The welder also helps with the metallic decking that is set while the structure of the building is being created.
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