What Types of Home Improvement & Construction Projects Can You Complete on Fort?

Whether you are planning a house extension, renovating your kitchen, repairing a leaking roof or simply looking for a reliable electrician, finding the right tradesperson is an important first step. But managing the work, agreeing costs and keeping track of payments can be just as challenging.

Fort helps homeowners find tradespeople and manage residential construction projects in one place. From small home repairs and routine maintenance to major renovations, extensions and landscaping projects, Fort is designed to make it easier to connect with professionals, organise the work and manage payments as the project progresses.

You can post a new project and connect with tradespeople on Fort, or invite a contractor you already know to use the platform for an existing project. You can also introduce Fort to a project that is already underway. Find out how Fort works for homeowners.

What types of projects can you complete on Fort?

Fort supports a broad range of residential building, home improvement, maintenance and property-related projects. You do not need to be planning a major renovation to benefit from a more organised way of working with tradespeople.

Here are some of the main types of work you can arrange through Fort.

1. Building, Extensions and Major Renovations

From creating additional living space to transforming an existing property, building projects often involve multiple trades, significant budgets and careful coordination.

Fort can help homeowners organise projects such as:

• House extensions: Single-storey rear extensions, side returns, wraparound extensions and two-storey extensions.
• Loft conversions: Dormer conversions, roof alterations and converting unused loft space into bedrooms or living areas.
• Garage conversions: Transforming garages into home offices, gyms, bedrooms or additional living space.
• Home renovations: Full or partial property renovations, internal alterations and modernisation.
• Structural alterations: Removing internal walls, creating larger openings and coordinating structural work.
• New kitchens and bathrooms: Complete installations, replacements and room transformations.
• Property improvements: Upgrading existing rooms, improving layouts and making better use of available space.

These projects may require several specialists working together. A homeowner undertaking an extension, for example, could need an architect, structural engineer, builder, electrician, plumber, roofer and plasterer.

Keeping the project plan, agreed work, communications and payments organised is particularly valuable when several trades are involved.

2. Plumbing, Heating and Electrical Work

Essential household systems can require anything from a straightforward repair to a complete installation. Finding the right professional is important, particularly where work involves gas, electrical safety or complex heating systems.

Fort includes trades and services covering:

• Plumbers: Leaking pipes, tap replacements, bathroom plumbing, new installations and general plumbing repairs.
• Electricians: Rewiring, additional sockets, lighting installations, electrical repairs and upgrades.
• Gas engineers: Gas appliances, gas pipework and other relevant gas installation or servicing work.
• Central heating specialists: Heating system installations, radiator replacements, system upgrades and heating repairs.
• Boiler repair specialists: Boiler faults, diagnostics, repairs and related maintenance.
• Drainage specialists: Blocked drains, drainage repairs, inspections and new drainage installations.
• Renewable energy specialists: Solar panel installations, battery storage, heat pumps and other renewable energy improvements, where offered by suitably qualified professionals.
• Home automation and media specialists: Smart home systems, network installations, home entertainment and integrated audio-visual equipment.

For work involving gas or regulated electrical installations, homeowners should ensure that the contractor holds the appropriate registrations, qualifications and permissions for the specific job. Gas work should be carried out by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. Notifiable electrical work should be done by someone registered with a building regulations competent person scheme, or notified to building control.

3. Roofing, Brickwork and External Building Work

The exterior of your home protects the building from the elements, and maintaining it can prevent small issues from becoming expensive repairs.

Fort includes the following trades and services for external building work:

• Builders: General building work, property alterations, repairs and construction projects.
• Roofers: Roof repairs, replacement roofs, roof coverings, flashing and related work.
• Bricklayers: Brickwork repairs, new walls, garden walls, extensions and repointing-related work.
• Plasterers: Internal plastering, skimming, ceiling repairs and preparation for decorating.
• Rendering specialists: External wall rendering, render repairs and finishing systems.
• Scaffolders: Scaffolding for roof repairs, exterior renovations, painting and other work at height.
• Groundworkers: Site preparation, excavation, foundations, drainage and groundwork.
• Demolition contractors: Relevant internal demolition, removal of structures and preparation for new construction.
• Metalworkers and blacksmiths: Bespoke metalwork, gates, railings, structural metalwork and decorative features.

Whether you need a small roof repair or a team to prepare a site for an extension, clearly defining the scope of the work helps everyone understand what is required before the project begins.

4. Kitchens, Bathrooms and Interior Finishing

Interior projects are often about more than the main installation. Plumbing, electrics, flooring, tiling, joinery and decoration may all need to be coordinated to achieve the finished result.

Fort includes professionals specialising in:

• Kitchen fitting: Installing kitchen units, worktops, appliances and associated fittings.
• Bathrooms: Bathroom installations, shower rooms, bathroom replacements and refurbishments.
• Carpets and flooring: Carpet fitting, laminate, engineered timber, vinyl, tiling and other flooring installations.
• Tilers: Wall and floor tiling, splashbacks, wet rooms and tile repairs.
• Carpenters: Doors, shelving, timber structures, second-fix carpentry and general woodwork.
• Joiners: Bespoke joinery, fitted furniture, cabinets, storage and made-to-measure woodwork.
• Painters and decorators: Interior and exterior painting, wallpapering, preparation and decorative finishing.
• Curtains and blinds specialists: Measuring, supplying and installing window coverings.
• Fireplace specialists: Fireplace installations, surrounds, hearths and associated improvements, subject to the requirements of the installation.
• Handymen: Smaller household jobs, minor repairs, installations and general property maintenance.

Whether you are refreshing a single room or fitting out an entirely new extension, Fort gives you a way to organise the people and work involved.

5. Windows, Doors, Insulation and Property Improvements

Improving the fabric of your home can increase comfort, address maintenance problems and help make your property more energy efficient.

Relevant trades and services on Fort include:

• Windows, doors and conservatories: Window replacement, external and internal doors, conservatory installations, repairs and upgrades.
• Insulation specialists: Loft insulation, wall insulation and other suitable insulation improvements.
• Damp treatment specialists: Investigating damp problems, identifying possible causes and carrying out appropriate remedial work.
• Locksmiths: Lock replacements, lock repairs, security upgrades and other locksmith services.
• Alarm and security specialists: Intruder alarms, security systems, CCTV and related installations.
• Surveyors: Property surveys, condition assessments and other relevant surveying services.
• Structural engineers: Structural calculations, design advice and assessments for appropriate building projects.
• Architects: Design services, extension plans, renovation layouts and other architectural work.

The right professional will depend on the nature of the problem. For example, damp should be investigated properly before remedial treatment is selected, while structural alterations may require an engineer's assessment before building work begins.

6. Gardens, Landscaping and Outdoor Living

Your project does not have to stop at the back door. Outdoor improvements can transform how you use your property, from creating practical family gardens to building spaces for entertaining.

Fort includes trades and services for a wide range of garden and outdoor projects:

• Gardeners: Regular garden maintenance, planting, pruning and general garden care.
• Landscapers: Garden redesigns, planting schemes, turfing and outdoor space transformations.
• Driveways, patios and paths: New driveways, paving, garden paths and outdoor seating areas.
• Fencing specialists: New fences, boundary repairs, gates and replacement panels.
• Tree surgeons: Tree pruning, removal and other appropriate tree-care work.
• Pool installation specialists: Swimming pool installation and associated outdoor works.
• Groundworkers: Excavation, levelling, foundations and preparation for landscaping projects.

A larger garden project could involve several specialists, including a landscaper, groundworker, fencing contractor and electrician. Agreeing the scope, sequence and cost of each stage helps the work run more smoothly.

7. Cleaning, Waste Removal and Other Property Services

Not every project requires construction work. Homeowners may also need help preparing a property for renovation, clearing waste after building work or maintaining the home once a project is complete.

Fort includes:

• Cleaning services: Domestic cleaning, deep cleaning and appropriate post-renovation cleaning.
• Waste clearance: Removal of unwanted items, household waste and suitable renovation-related waste.
• Handyman services: Minor installations, repairs and general maintenance tasks.

These services can be particularly useful before or after a renovation, when a property needs to be cleared, cleaned or prepared for the next stage of work.

Always check that waste contractors are appropriately authorised for the waste they handle and that any specialist disposal requirements are met. In England, you can check a registered waste carrier.

8. Architects, Surveyors and Construction Professionals

Some projects begin long before a builder arrives on site. Design, surveys and structural advice can help homeowners understand what is possible, establish the scope of work and prepare for construction.

Through the relevant professionals listed on Fort, homeowners can look for services including:

• Architectural design: Plans and designs for extensions, alterations and renovations.
• Structural engineering: Structural calculations, assessments and design for proposed alterations.
• Surveying: Property condition assessments, surveys and other appropriate surveying services.
• Project preparation: Coordinating the information and professional input required before work begins.

For complex projects, bringing the right professionals in early can help reduce uncertainty and identify potential issues before they become expensive changes during construction.

The complete list of trades and services on Fort

To make it easier to find the right professional, here is a consolidated list of the company types and trades covered by Fort, alongside additional related services.

Building and construction: Builder, Roofer, Bricklayer, Groundwork, Demolition, Scaffolder.

Plumbing, heating and drainage: Plumber, Electrician, Gas Engineer, Central Heating, Boiler Repair, Drainage.

Interior work and finishing: Painter & Decorator, Plasterer, Rendering, Tiler, Carpenter, Joinery, Kitchen Fitting, Bathrooms, Carpets / Flooring, Curtains / Blinds, Handyman, Fireplaces.

Windows, security and property improvements: Locksmith, Alarms / Security, Windows / Doors / Conservatories, Insulation, Damp Treatment.

Conversions and energy improvements: Lofts, Renewable Energy, Home Automation / Media.

Gardens and outdoor projects: Gardener, Landscaper, Driveways / Patios / Paths, Fencing, Tree Surgeon, Pool Installation, Metalwork / Blacksmith.

Cleaning and clearance: Cleaning Services, Waste Clearance.

Professional services: Architect, Structural Engineer, Surveying.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive limit on the work that can be discussed or managed through Fort. Additional trades and specialist services may also be suitable, depending on the project and the professionals available.

The number of contractors, and types of contractor on our platform is always growing. If you would like something else, let us know at fort@fort-app.com.

Can you use Fort for smaller jobs as well as major renovations?

Yes. You do not need to be building an extension or undertaking a full renovation to benefit from Fort.

A homeowner might use Fort to organise a single trade for a specific job, such as a plumber repairing a leak, an electrician installing new lighting, a painter decorating a bedroom or a roofer repairing damaged tiles.

Equally, Fort can be introduced to a more involved project where several trades need to work together over a longer period.

The important consideration is the scope of the work and agreeing what needs to be completed. By setting out the requirements clearly, you give professionals a better understanding of the job and help establish a basis for discussing costs, timescales and deliverables.

How Fort helps you manage the work

Finding a suitable tradesperson is important, but a successful project also depends on communication, clear agreements and well-managed payments.

Fort is designed to bring these elements together rather than leaving homeowners to manage everything across separate messages, emails, documents and payment records.

Find tradespeople or work with your existing contractor

Post a project and connect with relevant professionals, or invite a tradesperson you already know to use Fort. You can also introduce Fort to a project that has already started. Participating tradespeople go through Fort's verification process, providing an additional layer of checks when choosing who to work with.

Keep project information together

Keep relevant project details, documents, photographs, communications and agreed work organised in one place. This can be particularly useful when several people are involved or when you need to refer back to a decision made earlier in the project.

Structure payments around milestones

Fortified milestone-based payments allow homeowners and tradespeople to agree defined stages of work. Funds for a milestone are secured before work begins on that stage and released when the agreed milestone is completed, providing greater clarity around what each payment relates to.

Record changes to the agreed work

Projects do not always follow the original plan exactly. Fort supports a clearer record of agreed changes and variations, helping both parties understand how the scope and cost of the work have changed.

A structured route if a dispute arises

If a disagreement develops, Fort provides a dispute-resolution process linked to the project information and relevant milestone payment. Where appropriate, an independent chartered surveyor may be involved to assess the work against the agreed scope.

These features are designed to help homeowners and tradespeople work with clearer expectations and a better record of what has been agreed. You can explore the details on our homeowner page or create an account.

Start your next home improvement project with Fort

Whether you are looking for a builder for a house extension, a plumber to resolve a problem, a gardener to transform your outdoor space or an architect to help plan a renovation, Fort is built to support a broad range of residential projects.

You can start with a new project, connect with a suitable tradesperson or bring your existing contractor onto the platform. As the work progresses, Fort helps you keep the important details, agreed stages and payments organised.

From small repairs to major renovations, bring your project together with Fort.

Get started with Fort and plan your next project.

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Fort supports a broad range of residential construction and home improvement work. The availability of a particular trade or specialist depends on the professionals participating on the platform. Homeowners should check relevant qualifications, registrations, insurance and any regulatory requirements for the work being undertaken.