Trades and subbies
Trade-by-trade overview, engaging subbies.
Subbies win or lose a residential project. Engaging them correctly, with the right contract, the right licence check, and the right payment terms, is principal contractor due diligence, not HR admin. This pillar covers each trade in the residential build sequence: excavation, concreters, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians, renderers, plasterers, painters, tilers, and fit-out trades. Articles explain the licensing requirements in each state, what their licence covers and what it does not, and what a principal contractor needs to verify before they come on site.
It is for builders managing subbies on residential projects who want a reference on what each trade's scope is, where the handover between trades creates defect risk, and what a subcontract clause needs to cover under SOPA. Coverage includes the difference between a labour-hire arrangement and a genuine subcontract, and what that means for WHS duty of care and PAYG withholding.
Chalkline has no interest in broad workforce management theory. The articles are trade-by-trade, state-by-state, and built around the questions that come up when you are scheduling the frame and the frame sub is telling you the slab is out.
Concept
- concept 10 May 2026Engaging a subbie Thinking about engaging a subbie? The full guide covers checks, scope, contracts, WHS duties and payment terms.
- concept 7 May 2026Engaging a subcontractor: the basics for residential builders How to engage a subbie on a residential build: contractor vs employee, pre-engagement checks, scope, contract options, WHS duties, payment terms and common pitfalls.
- concept 10 May 2026Hiring and managing apprentices on residential builds Hire and manage apprentices on residential builds: training contract registration, KAP subsidies, wages, WHS duties, GTO option and supervision requirements.
- concept 10 May 2026Subbie payment terms: what to agree, what the law requires Subcontractor payment terms in residential construction: statutory due dates, progress claims, retention rules, and withholding rights under NSW SoP Act.
Process
- process 5 May 2026Subbie quote pack: what every trade quote should contain What goes in a tight subbie quote pack: scope, pricing basis, licence and CoCs, variation mechanism, programme. Used across every Australian residential trade.
- process 10 May 2026Subcontractor disputes on residential builds: payment, defects, and tribunal pathways Subbie disputes on residential builds: SOPA adjudication, tools-down rights, NCAT/QCAT/VCAT pathways, defects and scope fights, and when to call a solicitor.
Trade
- trade 10 May 2026Architect vs building designer on a residential job: scope, licensing, fees, engagement Architect vs building designer in Australia: title protection, qualifications, scope for residential, fees, NSW DBP Act rules, and when each makes sense.
- trade 7 May 2026Brickie on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie brickie covers on residential: scope inclusions and exclusions, AS 3700 and AS 4773 masonry standards, licensing, tolerances, quote pack.
- trade 16 May 2026Building surveyor / certifier The building surveyor (Vic/WA) or building certifier (NSW/Qld) issues CCs, conducts mandatory inspections, and issues the OC. The legal NCC gate on every build.
- trade 16 May 2026Bushfire consultant: BAL assessment, bushfire reports, what they deliver BPAD-accredited bushfire consultant: on-site BAL assessment and bushfire report for any DA on bushfire-prone land. Cost and turnaround for residential.
- trade 10 May 2026Cabinetmaker on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie cabinetmaker covers on a residential build: kitchen, bathroom and wardrobe scope, AS 4386, licensing by state, tolerances and quote pack.
- trade 2 May 2026Chippy (carpenter) on a residential job: scope, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie chippy actually does on residential, scope inclusions vs exclusions, licensing state-by-state, workmanship tolerances, and what to put in their quote pack.
- trade 10 May 2026Concretor on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie concretor covers on residential: scope, AS 2870 and AS 3600 standards, state licensing, tolerances, defects, and subbie quote pack.
- trade 13 May 2026Crane / hiab operator on a building job: licensing, lift plans, and engaging the operator Engaging a crane or hiab on a building site: CV high risk work licence rules, 10 metre-tonne threshold, SWMS and lift plan, exclusion zones, hire rates.
- trade 10 May 2026Demolition contractor on a residential job: scope, licensing, HRCW, and asbestos What a demolition contractor covers on a residential knockdown: AS 2601, NSW restricted and unrestricted demolition licences, HRCW, asbestos, DA or CDC approval.
- trade 25 May 2026Environmental consultant: what a builder engages one for An environmental consultant prepares the environmental reports a DA needs: acid sulfate soils plans, contaminated land assessments, remediation and biodiversity reports.
- trade 10 May 2026Excavator and dirt work on a residential site Excavator and dirt work on residential builds: scope, licensing, HRCW 1.5m trench rule. Full guide at excavator-contractor.
- trade 8 May 2026Excavator contractor on a residential job: scope, licensing, plant, and what to check Excavator contractor on a residential build: licensing in NSW, QLD and VIC, HRCW 1.5m trench rule, Dial Before You Dig 1100, plant sizes, quote checklist.
- trade 16 May 2026Fire engineer: engagement, scope, and what their report buys you A fire engineer prepares Performance Solutions when DTS cannot be met (BAL-FZ, heritage, complex sites). Cost $5K to $15K residential, 4 to 12 week turnaround.
- trade 10 May 2026Geotech engineer on a residential job: scope, when you need one, what to expect When to engage a geotechnical engineer on a residential job: site classification under AS 2870, borelogs, retaining walls, slope stability, and cost.
- trade 10 May 2026Glazier on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie glazier covers on residential: scope, AS 1288 safety glazing, AS 2047 windows, IGU defects, licensing by state, and the quote pack.
- trade 15 May 2026Heritage consultant Heritage consultants prepare Statements of Heritage Impact and Conservation Management Plans for DAs on heritage-listed sites. Engage early to save rework.
- trade 16 May 2026Hydraulic engineer: engagement, scope, and deliverables Hydraulic engineers design water, stormwater, sanitary and flood systems. Builders engage them for Flood Reports, OSD, stormwater design. Indicative fees and turnaround.
- trade 10 May 2026Landscaper on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie landscaper covers on residential: scope, AS 4419 soils, structural landscaping licensing by state, tolerances, quote pack.
- trade 15 May 2026NatHERS assessor: engagement, scope, and what their report does What a NatHERS-accredited assessor does, when builders engage them, what the assessment report covers, and the 2025 ABSA / DMN / HERA accreditation landscape.
- trade 10 May 2026Painter on a residential job: scope, licensing, finishes, tolerances What an Aussie painter covers on residential: scope, AS/NZS 2311 finishes, state licensing, lead paint WHS, tolerances, and what to put in the quote.
- trade 4 May 2026Plasterer on a residential job: scope, finish levels, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie plasterer covers on residential, scope vs exclusions, AS/NZS 2589 finish levels, state licensing, tolerances, what to put in the quote.
- trade 5 May 2026Plumber on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie plumber covers on residential, scope vs exclusions, AS/NZS 3500:2025, AS/NZS 5601 gas, state licensing, CoCs, what to put in the quote pack.
- trade 28 May 2026Pool safety inspector A pool safety inspector is the state-licensed trade who inspects pool barriers to AS 1926.1 and issues the certificate the owner needs before sale or lease.
- trade 10 May 2026Registered surveyor on a residential job: scope, licensing, when to engage What a registered land surveyor does on a residential build: boundary ID, set-out pegs, AHD datum, deposited plans, state licensing boards, and fees.
- trade 10 May 2026Roofer on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie roofer covers on a residential build: tile vs metal roofing scope, AS 1562.1 and AS 2050 standards, state licensing, HRCW obligations, quote pack.
- trade 25 May 2026SafeWork inspector: powers and how to handle a visit A WHS inspector (SafeWork or WorkSafe) can enter a site without notice and issue improvement or prohibition notices. How a builder should handle a visit.
- trade 10 May 2026Site cleaner on a residential build: scope, stages, WHS, and engagement What a site cleaner covers on a residential build: rough clean, final clean, PCI-ready sparkle, WHS requirements, no statutory licence needed in most states.
- trade 15 May 2026Site supervisor A site supervisor runs day-to-day site coordination: setting out, pre-starts, supervising trades, sign-offs, escalation. CPC50220 is the typical qualification.
- trade 5 May 2026Sparky on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie sparky covers on residential, scope vs exclusions, AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules, state licensing, RCDs and CoCs, what to put in the quote pack.
- trade 10 May 2026Steel fixer on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with the concretor What a steel fixer does on residential: slab reo, beam stirrups, footing cages, AS/NZS 4671 and AS 3600 cover requirements, licensing, common defects.
- trade 10 May 2026Structural engineer on a residential job: scope, registration, when you need one When to engage a structural engineer on an Australian residential build: footing design, beam sizing, retaining walls, state registration requirements and fees.
- trade 25 May 2026Tax agent: what a builder gets from a registered one A registered tax agent lodges tax returns and BAS and gives tax advice. Builders get extended lodgement dates and, ideally, someone who understands job costing.
- trade 10 May 2026Tiler on a residential job: scope, licensing, tolerances, working with other trades What an Aussie tiler covers on residential: scope inclusions and exclusions, AS 3958:2023 installation standard, state licensing, tolerances, quote pack checklist.
- trade 15 May 2026Town planner (consultant) Town planners prepare SoEEs, manage DAs, draft Clause 4.6 variations, and represent owners at planning panels. PIA membership signals standing. Fee $2-15k typical.
- trade 10 May 2026Waterproofer on a residential job: scope, licensing, AS 3740, common defects What a waterproofer does on a residential build: AS 3740:2021 requirements, NSW/VIC/QLD licensing, common defects (lap failure, fall errors), and quote pack guide.