This week Q&A answers questions on how to choose a builder and DIY

How do I choose builder?

I am about to commission a builder to build a very small lean to type extension to my kitchen. He comes recommended by a work colleague who knows him. How do I know if he's ok. I find it unbelievable that I have to make such an important decision as choosing a builder without more information. Any suggestions?

Personal recommendation is the best way to find a builder - once that personal recommendation is based on work actually completed, not simply that the builder is a friend of a friend and is known to be a nice guy. Ask to see a recent example of previous work and if possible talk to that customer to see what their experience was. If your builder is straight up, he should have no problem with this.

The sort of questions you need to ask are: was the person satisfied with the quality of the work? Was the job completed on time and in budget? Were there any problems?

Even the most harmonious client/builder relationship has a couple of blips during a protracted job so it would be rare for a customer not to have some complaint or other, and it will be up to you to use your own personal judgement to assess how serious any problems were.

A client might for example say that the job went over budget while the builder might reply that at the last minute, the client requested extras that pushed the budget out. It's these sort of issues that you will have to weigh up.

Once you are happy with your choice of builder your next aim is minimise stress while the job is actually being completed.

Get a quote in writing and be very sure what that quote is for - you, for example, may imagine that the builder will put floorboards down in your extension while he will be thinking of leaving the bare concrete.

You should also ask for an outline schedule of work - this is particularly important in your case where your kitchen is involved. You will need to have some idea of how long your kitchen is going to be out of action. Also, make sure your builder is insured.

I need to fix hole in wall

I live in a newly bought artisan redbrick which is about 100 years old. The plasterwork is in very good condition except for one small spot in the main bedroom upstairs - where a door knob was banging repeatedly against it. The wall underneath the plaster is made up of small strips of wood. Can the hole be repaired or does the whole wall need to be replastered?

Yours is a lath and plaster wall and it would be typical of the internal walls found in your type of house. A small hole can be repaired - as long as the laths are secure. Often broken laths can be the reason why plaster crumbles and at least in your case you know the cause - the banging door handle. Repairing holes in lath and plaster walls is not too dissimilar to repairing any small plastering job except that it is advisable to reinforce the damaged lath with metal mesh which you then plaster over. It's a fussy job for a DIY enthusiast but it can be done.

• Send your queries to Property Questions, The Irish Times, 10-16 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 or e-mail propertyquestions@irish-times.ie.

• Unfortunately, it is not possible to respond to all questions received. The above is a representative sample of queries received. This column is a readers' service and is not intended to replace professional advice. No individual correspondence will be entered into.