How to choose tradespeople for construction, roofing and welding in Georgia

In brief: the right profile and the limits of the task

For masonry, look for a bricklayer/mason; for concrete work, a concrete worker; for roof covering, a roofer; for metal, a welder. Choose windows, glass, siding and carpentry work by their own separate specialisation. Before ordering, describe the site, get a clear scope of work, and agree who determines the technical solution and who checks the result.

Start with the relevant category below. For an order, experience on a similar site matters: a photo of a nice result does not replace a conversation about the material, the preparation and the limits of responsibility.

Information checked on 31.10.2026. The navigator includes eight categories in two geographic sections; agree on travel and the work needed with the specific contractor.

Where to find a specialist in the right trade

If your city is not in the navigator, ask the specialist you choose about their service area. A link to a Tbilisi category does not mean the tradesperson works across all of Georgia. For a staircase, look for experience with its specific material and purpose; this list does not promise a separate staircase-work category.

How to separate the tasks before you search

Separate manufacturing from installation. For example, a window company may supply the unit while a separate tradesperson only does the installation. If the order is split, the estimate must show both roles. For the detailed topic of balconies, use the material on glazing balconies and loggias.

If you need a contractor for several related stages, compare organising the order yourself with the offers from construction companies. When choosing a private contractor, decide separately who coordinates the related work. Do not include painting and other finishing work in the construction task without explicit agreement.

How to choose a candidate in the directory

1. Open the category for your city and check the trade in the heading. Choose by the work you need, not just by the word "repair".
2. Look at the contractor's listing: the description of work, examples and how to get in touch. If there is no portfolio, ask in person for an example of a similar site.
3. Send a description of the site and agree on an inspection. Before the trip, find out whether the call-out and measuring are paid and who will come.
4. Compare offers for the same result, then confirm in writing the scope of work, materials, stages and the acceptance procedure.

What to prepare for the inspection

Put together a description of the site: city and district, apartment or house, which part needs work, and what was done before. Attach any existing design, specification or sketch. Mark dimensions you measured yourself as preliminary, so they are not mistaken for a working measurement.

Take a general shot and a photo of the accessible problem area. For a roof, what you can photograph from a safe place is enough; you do not need to climb onto the roof for an enquiry. Do not open up the structure or remove protective elements just for a photo.

State how to get to the site and unload material, whether there is space for storage, and which rooms people use while the work goes on. If shared parts of the building or someone else's property are affected, discuss in advance who needs to agree on access. Do not post documents, keys or personal details in a public advert.

How to check experience on a similar site

Do not ask for a general selection of nice photos; ask for an explanation of a similar job. What was the original material, what had to be fixed, which stages did the tradesperson carry out personally? For a roof, it helps to discuss experience with that type of covering and its details; for welding, the purpose of the item; for masonry, the type of material and the conditions of the base.

Ask who owns the photos and whether a client's recommendation can be verified. Contacting another client or visiting their home is acceptable only with their consent. Someone else's portfolio without an explanation of the contractor's role does not help you understand who will work on your site.

Tip. Ask the tradesperson to divide in writing their own scope from the work of other specialists. That way "window installation" will not be left without measuring, and "roof repair" will not be left without an answer to who restores the damaged area inside the house.

Who determines the technical solution

The contractor and the author of the technical solution may be different people. Before work on structures, find out whether there is a suitable design, who checked the source data and to whom changes should be addressed. If the tradesperson proposes a different material or detail, first agree the solution with the person responsible for the design.

Important. Do not take the phrase "this is how we always do it" for a structural calculation. For changes to load-bearing elements, staircase fixing, roofing details and other critical decisions, discuss the involvement of a qualified engineer. The order should make clear who determines the solution and who carries out the work according to it.

Find out the required approvals for your specific site before work starts. Ask the specialist to name the applicable basis and the authority with which the matter is settled. You cannot determine the permit procedure just from the words "repair" or "private house".

What to include in the estimate

Ask for a list covering not only the main work but also preparation, delivery, equipment and restoration of the affected surfaces. Compare offers for the same scope: different materials and different access to the site make the final totals incomparable.

For windows, clarify what the price means: the unit, measuring, delivery, removal of the old window, installation or the whole set. For a welded item, agree the drawing, material, fixings and surface finishing. The word "gate" without these details does not describe the same result from different contractors.

A common mistake. Choosing an offer by the lowest total without checking the scope. One calculation may include preparation and removal, while another covers only the main operation. First compare the line items, then discuss the price.

Example of a request for a roof inspection

Example. "I need an inspection of the roof of a private house in Tbilisi. After rain, a wet patch appears on the ceiling near an outer wall. I will describe the type of covering and its condition from the information available, and I will attach photos of the house and the ceiling. We did not go up on the roof to take photos. There is vehicle access to the house; I will show the unloading place at the inspection. Please tell me the cost of the call-out, how you inspect the covering and what information you need to decide. Please calculate the repair, materials and any additional equipment separately, until agreed."

This is a sample request, not a ready diagnosis. It does not follow from it that replacing a sheet of covering or sealing a visible joint is enough. A useful reply from the tradesperson explains the inspection procedure, the limits of the offer and what additional information will be needed.

How to agree stages and changes

Break the order into clear outcomes: preparation, the main work and completion. For each stage, write down what is presented for checking, who decides whether to continue and how changes are recorded. Do not cover over the next layers just because the next material has arrived, if the previous stage has not yet been agreed.

Appoint one contact person on the client's side. Otherwise different relatives or residents may give contradictory instructions. Record any new wish or defect found separately: what changes, why, and how it affects the scope of work and the calculation.

Discuss timing with delivery and site conditions in mind. Instead of a universal promise of "in one day", ask for a schedule for your specific order and a way of getting in touch if the work cannot continue. It is also better to agree in advance on the storage of materials and the protection of an unfinished area.

How to accept the result

Before work starts, decide what result will be presented and by which documents it is compared. These may be the agreed drawing, the specification, the list of works and photos of the stages. A simple inspection with the client and a special technical check serve different purposes.

Ask the tradesperson to show the completed areas from a safe place, hand over the documents for the agreed materials and explain the conditions of further use. Arrange acceptance of critical structures and any necessary tests with a qualified specialist. Do not test the strength of a staircase, roof or welded fixing with an improvised load.

Write down remarks for each unfinished item and agree who will fix them and when. Check the final payment against the agreed changes, and get a payment document and the terms for coming back with further issues. Keep photos taken before the work is closed up with the consent of the parties and without personal data.

Checklist before confirming the order

• The trade profile is chosen and experience with the relevant material and task is confirmed.
• It is determined who is responsible for the design solution and for changes.
• There is a description of the result and checked original dimensions.
• The estimate includes preparation, delivery, materials, access, equipment and completion.
• Stages, approval of costs and the contact person are written down.
• The acceptance method, documents and procedure for fixing remarks are clear.

Questions and answers

What should I send the tradesperson before the inspection?

City, district, purpose of the site, description of the task and any available photos. Attach any existing design and specification, and describe your own dimensions as preliminary. State separately the conditions for vehicle access, storage and access to the site.

How do I compare offers with different materials?

Ask them to recalculate to the same specification or to describe the differences explicitly. Compare preparation of the base, completeness of the set, delivery, installation and completion. Different systems cannot be assessed by a single total price alone.

Who is responsible for the design solution?

This needs to be determined in your order. Ask who develops and approves the solution, who checks the source data and who accepts changes. An agreement only with the contractor does not automatically explain the role of the designer.

Is equipment rental included in the estimate?

Check the separate line: what equipment will be needed, who provides it, what the use includes and how waiting time is paid. The words "turnkey" without a breakdown do not show this.

Can I order a staircase from an ordinary carpenter?

Ask them to confirm experience with staircases of the right type and material, and to work to an agreed solution. Experience making furniture does not confirm this by itself. The navigator has no separate staircase-work category.

Do I need to climb onto the roof for acceptance?

Do not go up to a height on your own just to check. Agree in advance on a safe way to show the result and on the specialists needed. Photos of the stages can help the discussion, but they do not replace technical acceptance where it is required.

The general procedure for a first enquiry is in the answer to "How to call a tradesperson to your home in Georgia". For a construction order, add to it your own description of the site, the specification and the acceptance conditions.