Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Gateshead's mix of housing keeps its builders busy with all sorts. You've got the Victorian terraces around Bensham and Saltwell, the post-war semis in Low Fell, and newer developments out towards Team Valley and Wardley. Older properties often need repointing, damp-proofing or careful work with original stone and lime mortar, while extensions and loft conversions are common requests in the more suburban streets. The city's hilly geography, especially around Windy Nook and Sheriff Hill, also means some jobs involve retaining walls or drainage work that a builder used to sloping sites will handle better than most.
The businesses featured here are pulled from public business listings and ranked mainly by review rating and review count, with a small boost given to those showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm building work is genuinely what they do day to day, which stops plumbers, joiners or other trades slipping onto a page meant for builders. Listings flagged as permanently closed are stripped out automatically. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge, that business has gone through our fuller check, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information. You can read exactly what that involves on our How We Verify page. Businesses without the badge haven't been through that process with us, so it's worth doing your own homework before signing anything.
Before you commit to a builder, ask to see proof of public liability insurance and, if the job involves structural changes, check they're familiar with building regulations and can point you towards a completion certificate. For anything touching gas or electrics within the project, confirm they'll bring in a Gas Safe registered engineer or a qualified electrician rather than doing it themselves. Membership of a body like the FMB is a reasonable sign of commitment to standards, though plenty of solid local builders operate without it. Get two or three written quotes for anything beyond small repairs, ask for references from recent jobs in Gateshead if you can, and get a clear written schedule of work and payment stages before anyone picks up a tool.
How We Select & Rate The Best Builders in Gateshead
Rankings are driven primarily by review rating and review count from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm building work is what they primarily offer, keeping unrelated trades off this page. Listings marked permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses displaying a Trust Verified badge have additionally passed our full verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the complete list. Other businesses shown here haven't been independently verified by us, and appearing on this page isn't an endorsement. Always carry out your own checks before hiring.
Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Northern Remedials Limited is a building firm based in Gateshead, specialising in remedial and structural repair work. The company focuses on correcting existing construction defects rather than new build, placing it in a distinct corner of the local trade. Clients across the region use the firm for work where accurate diagnosis matters as much as the repair itself.
Roofing and building work in Gateshead is handled by BSD Sukkaroofs (UK), covering repairs and installations for domestic properties across the area. Enquiries are managed through its website rather than a shopfront.
Structural alterations, temporary propping, and house extensions form the core of Musgrave Construction Ltd's offer across Gateshead and the surrounding area. The company also covers domestic renovation, commercial building, and smaller maintenance work, giving it a range that spans both residential and commercial projects. Founded on practical building skills rather than niche specialisms, it handles work from garden walls through to structural interventions.
Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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Small jobs like repointing a chimney or fixing a garden wall might run from £300 to £800, while a single-storey extension typically lands somewhere between £25,000 and £45,000 depending on size and finish. Loft conversions in the area often sit around £30,000 to £50,000. Prices swing a lot depending on materials, access and whether structural work is involved, so getting two or three written quotes is standard practice and helps you spot anyone quoting oddly low or high.
Do I need planning permission for an extension in Gateshead?
Many single-storey rear extensions fall under permitted development rights, but this depends on the size, your property type and whether you're in a conservation area like parts of Low Fell or Saltwell. A good builder should flag this early, but it's worth checking with Gateshead Council's planning department yourself before work starts, since building without permission when it's needed can cause problems selling the property later.
How long does a typical extension or loft conversion take?
A straightforward single-storey extension usually takes eight to twelve weeks once work starts, weather and material deliveries permitting. Loft conversions tend to run ten to fourteen weeks depending on whether dormer windows or structural steels are needed. Ask your builder for a realistic timeline in writing, including likely delays, rather than a rough verbal estimate.
Should I pay a deposit upfront?
A modest deposit, often around 10 to 25 percent, is normal to cover initial materials, but be cautious of anyone asking for the full amount before work begins. Agree a staged payment schedule tied to project milestones, such as completion of foundations, first fix and final finish, and keep a final payment back until you're satisfied with the finished job.
What paperwork should I get at the end of the job?
For structural work, ask for a building regulations completion certificate from Gateshead Council or an approved inspector. If any gas or electrical work was involved, get the relevant Gas Safe or electrical compliance certificates from the qualified tradespeople who did that part. Keep copies of guarantees for materials like windows or roofing too, as these matter if you sell the house later.
How do I choose between builders in Gateshead?
Read recent reviews carefully, not just the star rating, and look for comments about reliability and tidiness on site. Ask to see photos of similar completed jobs, ideally local ones you could go and look at. Check they carry public liability insurance and ask for proof, request a detailed written quote rather than a verbal figure, and get a couple of comparison quotes before deciding. If a business carries our Trust Verified badge, that means we've already checked qualifications, insurance and trading history; for anyone without it, it's worth doing that legwork yourself.
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