Builder / extensions: common questions
By The Busy Busy Index team · Updated 10 November 2026
How long is the wait for builders?
TradeMatch's 2026 Wait-Time Index put the median wait for extension builder at 10 weeks from accepting a quote to work starting, with the slowest 10% waiting 16 weeks (jobs from Q3 2025 to Q1 2026).
Source: TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026
Are builders getting busier or quieter?
Quieter. Extension waits were long (median 10 weeks, TradeMatch, to Q1 2026), but FMB's newer survey shows builders' workloads (-4) and enquiries (-10) turned negative in H1 2026. Across construction as a whole, most indicators point quieter: the UK Construction PMI was 43.6 in October 2026.
Source: TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026; FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026; S&P Global UK Construction PMI, 5 Nov 2026
How do I become a builder?
One route is the Level 2 General Builder Apprenticeship (newly approved, per FMB). We haven't yet verified a National Careers Service profile for this trade.
Source: FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026