Find Trusted Tradesmen in Slough

Slough grew fast in the 20th century. The Slough Trading Estate opened in 1920, and the jobs it brought led to large areas of inter-war and post-war housing in Cippenham, Britwell, Wexham and Langley, alongside the older Victorian streets of Upton and Chalvey. Many of those homes have since been extended, converted into flats or let to sharers.

That shapes the work Slough homes need. Older houses often need rewiring, roof and chimney repairs, and an upgrade from tank-fed hot water. Extended and converted homes put extra demand on supply pipes, drains, boilers and electrics, so it's worth checking those can cope before you add another bathroom or kitchen.

A few local points are worth knowing before you hire:

• Hard water. Water across Slough 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. Slough has five conservation areas: Colnbrook, St Bernard's School, St Mary's Church in Langley, Sussex Place and Clifton Road, and Upton Park and Upton Village. If your home is in one, check with Slough Borough Council before changing the outside of the house.
• Outbuildings. A garden room or outbuilding used as a home office is often fine, but one that someone lives or sleeps in usually needs planning permission and building regulations approval. Slough Borough Council has fined landlords for renting out illegal outbuildings.
• Renting out a home. Slough Borough Council has consulted on licensing schemes for privately rented homes across the borough. If you're a landlord, check the council's website for what applies to your property.
• Council boundaries. Not every SL postcode is in Slough. Burnham, Farnham Royal and Stoke Poges are in Buckinghamshire, and Datchet is in Windsor and Maidenhead. Planning and building control questions go to the council for your address.

To find a good tradesperson in Slough, 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.