Trusted Builder Network

Great drawings deserve a great builder.

When your Arkiplan drawings are ready, we put your project out to two or three vetted local builders — so you get real, comparable quotes back instead of three phone numbers and a lot of guessing.

Why we built it

Finding a builder you trust is the single hardest part.

Most of our clients arrive with the same worry: "How do I know which builder to go with?" Cowboy stories are common. Prices vary by 40%. References are easy to fake.

After about 15 years of Arkiplan, we sent an anonymous survey to every client we'd ever drawn plans for and asked them to rate the builder who built the project. Every builder who scored above 90% was offered a place on the network.

For areas where that left coverage gaps, we filled the map with contractors that pass an equivalent bar — a combination of independent online reviews, previous-project photography, willingness to provide references, trade-body memberships, and the age of the business.

The network today 77
builders
Covering most of England and Wales. Vetted, insured, and already familiar with how Arkiplan drawings are laid out.

How it works

Four steps from finished drawings to a builder on site.

01

Drawings finalised

Your planning and building regs drawings are signed off by you — complete, detailed, ready for any builder to price from.

02

We shortlist 2–3 local builders

Based on your postcode, project type and approximate build value, we pick the best-matched builders from the network.

03

They quote from the same drawings

You get back real, itemised quotes — in the same format, so you can compare line-for-line. Typical turnaround is 7–10 working days.

04

You pick — or you walk

No obligation to accept any of them. We'll review the quotes with you and flag anything that looks off. Then the contract is directly between you and the builder.

How we vetted them

Rated by the homeowners they actually built for.

We sent an anonymous survey to every client we'd ever drawn plans for. Builders were scored across these criteria — only those above 90% were invited onto the network.

On time and on budgetDid the project finish when it was supposed to, for what it was supposed to?
Quality of workThe standard of what was actually built — finishes, fit, durability of the work.
The final outcomeHow happy clients were with the finished project, all things considered.
Communication throughoutHow responsive and proactive the builder was from week one to handover.
Professionalism on siteConduct of the team, tidiness, respect for the home and the people living in it.
Clear costs & clear issuesHow well costs and any problems were explained — before, during and after they came up.
How problems were resolvedBecause every project hits something — what mattered was how it was handled.
Filling the gapsWhere the survey left coverage holes, we added contractors with strong online reviews, project photography, references, trade-body membership and a long trading history.

What it costs you

Nothing. The network is free for homeowners.

There's no fee to use the Trusted Builder Network, no obligation to pick one of our builders, and no lock-in. You get vetted quotes from tradespeople who know how to read Arkiplan drawings — that's it.

You're never obliged to pick a builder from the network. If you'd rather go elsewhere — with your own builder, or with someone local you know — nothing changes about your Arkiplan service. The drawings are yours either way.

£0
What homeowners pay us to use the network
No subscription, no commitment, no fee at any stage. You receive comparable quotes from vetted builders and decide what — if anything — to do next.

Common questions

A few things people ask first.

What if I already have a builder I trust?

Keep them. Seriously — if you've worked with someone good before, that's worth more than anything we can offer. Your drawings are yours; any competent builder can price from them. The Trusted Builder Network is a safety net for homeowners who don't have someone lined up, not a requirement.

How many builders will quote on my project?

Usually two or three. Enough to give you meaningful comparisons; not so many that no one takes the quote seriously. If the network is thin in your area we'll tell you honestly — we'd rather get you one great quote than three mediocre ones.

What if something goes wrong on site?

The contract is directly between you and the builder. But while your project is active, your Arkiplan designer stays available for technical questions — "the builder says X, is that right?" We also help mediate if there's a dispute. We've had to remove two builders from the network over seven years; neither client was left out of pocket.

Does the builder see what the other builders quoted?

No. Each quote is sealed until you've received them all — so no one's racing to the bottom or padding expecting to haggle. You see all three, fully priced.

Ready to start with a builder you can trust?

It starts the same way every Arkiplan project does — with a free design meeting with our founder, Dave. Get your drawings finished, then we'll put your project out to the network.

Book an intro call →