Find Trusted Tradesmen in Bracknell

Bracknell was designated a new town in 1949, and most of its homes were built in planned neighbourhoods over the next four decades, from Priestwood and Bullbrook in the 1950s to Crown Wood, Forest Park and Martins Heron in the 1980s. More recent developments, such as Jennett's Park and the growth around Warfield, have added thousands more.

That gives Bracknell a lot of homes of a similar age, with similar needs. Many are now on their second or third boiler, with original radiators and pipework. Many still have tank-fed hot water with a cold water tank in the loft, an original consumer unit, concrete roof tiles with cracked ridge mortar, and timber fascias and flat-roofed garages that are due for replacement.

A few local points are worth knowing before you hire:

• Hard water. South East Water supplies Bracknell, and the water is hard. Limescale shortens the life of taps, showers and the hot water side of combi boilers, so ask your plumber or heating engineer about scale protection.
• Asbestos in older homes. Homes and garages built before 2000 may have asbestos cement in soffits, garage roofs and flat-roof sheets. Don't drill, cut or break anything you're unsure about, and ask the trade to check before work starts.
• Conservation areas. Bracknell Forest has six conservation areas: Binfield, Crowthorne, Easthampstead, Warfield, Winkfield Row and Winkfield Village. If your home is in one, check with Bracknell Forest Council before changing the outside of the house.
• Parking and EV chargers. In many older neighbourhoods, homes park in shared bays or garage blocks rather than on a driveway. An electrician can tell you whether a home charger is possible where you park.
• Council boundaries. Bracknell Forest Council covers Bracknell, Binfield, Warfield, Winkfield, Crowthorne and Sandhurst. Planning and building control questions go to the council for your address.

To find a good tradesperson in Bracknell, get more than one quote, ask for it in writing, and check the right registration for the job: the Gas Safe Register for gas work, and a registered electrician for electrical work. Reviews on Trade Pilot are tied to real, invoiced jobs, so you can see what a trade has actually done for other homeowners.