Find Trusted Tradesmen in Newbury

Newbury is an old market town on the River Kennet, and its homes span several centuries. Around the town centre and along the Kennet and Avon Canal you'll find older and listed buildings, with Victorian and Edwardian terraces in the streets nearby. Villages such as Speen, Donnington and Shaw have their own older centres. Later estates spread out around the town, and large developments of new homes, including at Newbury Racecourse, have been added in recent years.

That mix shapes the work Newbury homes need. Older houses tend to need roof, chimney, damp and rewiring work, while later family homes are more often being extended or having their heating brought up to date. In the newest homes, most jobs are additions, such as outside power and garden offices, or faults that may still be covered by the developer's warranty.

A few local points are worth knowing before you hire:

• Hard water. Thames Water supplies Newbury, 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.
• Conservation areas. West Berkshire Council has more than 50 conservation areas. In and around Newbury they include the town centre, the Kennet and Avon Canal, Donnington, Shaw and Speen. If your home is in one, or is listed, check with the council before changing windows, doors, roofs or the front of the house.
• Flooding. In July 2007, heavy rain affected around 1,100 properties in nearby Thatcham, mostly from water running off the surrounding hills rather than the rivers. If you live near the Kennet or the Lambourn, sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings, and ask trades about drainage and surface water when you extend or landscape.
• New-build warranties. If your home is only a year or two old, report faults to the developer before paying a trade to fix them.

To find a good tradesperson in Newbury, 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.