Find a trusted contractor in Portugal.
Get matched with alvará-verified pros for renovation, repairs, and every trade in between, all in one place, in English.
You've heard this story before
We've been through it too. That's why this exists.
The WhatsApp black hole
Contractors in our network respond within 24 hours, or they don't stay in the network.
"Just trust me" quotes
Every contractor we work with gives clear, itemised pricing. No vague numbers, no surprise extras.
The language wall
Every contractor in our network speaks working English. We check this ourselves before anyone joins.
Who it's for
Renovation help for every kind
of foreign owner
Renovating before you move
You're planning the move but can't be on site to vet contractors yourself. We coordinate quotes, site visits and updates over WhatsApp and video call until you land.
Already living in Portugal
You're settled in but tired of the WhatsApp black hole and vague quotes. We match you with a contractor who responds, speaks working English, and shows up.
Investor or rental owner
You manage a property you don't live in. We help with recurring maintenance, turnover renovations, and contractors who report back without being chased.
Compare before you choose
remodel.pt vs. finding someone yourself
The practical differences that matter when you're renovating from a distance, or in a language you don't speak yet.
| Criterion | Remodel.pt | Facebook Groups & Referrals |
|---|---|---|
| Licence & insurance | Alvará, CAE and tax status verified before joining | Rarely checked |
| English communication | Confirmed for every contractor | Down to luck |
| Response time | Replies within 24h, or they're removed from the network | Can go quiet for weeks |
| Pricing | Itemised quotes, checked against regional medians | Verbal, "trust me" estimates |
| Foreign-owner markup | Checked against remodel.pt project data | Often 15 to 30% higher, unchecked |
| If it goes wrong | We help you remedy the situation and find a replacement | You start over from zero |
Real Situations
What foreign owners run into before they find us
These are the patterns we hear most often from owners who came to us after a bad experience elsewhere.
The contractor who vanished
A deposit was paid, work started, then stalled. Six weeks of unanswered messages followed, with no way to check the contractor's standing beforehand.
The quote that tripled
A €12,000 kitchen quote became €19,000 halfway through the job, with no paperwork to point back to and no agreed scope.
Paying the foreigner price
A full renovation was quoted at €1,400/m², well above the €950/m² regional median for the same scope and finish level.
What we verify
Every contractor meets a clear standard
Foreign homeowners can't visit sites every week. They rely on us to have done the checks before a match is made. These are the four things we confirm before adding any contractor to the network.
IMPIC Alvará
Valid construction licence from IMPIC, the Portuguese construction licensing body. Without it, the work is not legally authorised and the homeowner has no recourse.
CAE Registration
Registered activity code matching the type of work they perform. A plumber registered only as a painter raises an immediate flag. We check the codes match the services offered.
Civil Liability Insurance
Active policy covering damage to the property and third parties during works. We check the policy, confirm it is current, and note the coverage limits before any introduction is made.
AT & Social Security Standing
Clean record with the Autoridade Tributária and Segurança Social. A contractor with significant tax debt or insolvency proceedings is not someone a foreign homeowner should be exposed to.
What we cover
Every kind of renovation project
Kitchen renovation
The most common project we see. Cabinets, worktops, tiling, appliances, from a refresh to a full redesign.
🚿Bathroom renovation
Wet rooms, suite installs, full retiling, plumbing. The room where bad workmanship shows up fastest.
🏠Full house renovation
Complete apartment or house transformations. We coordinate the full team so you are not juggling trades yourself.
Flooring
Hardwood, tile, stone, vinyl, supplied and fitted. Portuguese tiles are beautiful but require the right installer.
Electrical rewiring
Full rewires, panel upgrades, lighting plans. Essential in older Portuguese buildings with outdated systems.
🔧Plumbing
Pipe replacement, boiler installs, new bathrooms. Older buildings often need a full plumbing overhaul.
Windows and doors
Double glazing, aluminium frames, traditional wood restoration. Noise and insulation make a real difference here.
Painting and finishing
Interior, exterior, and decorative finishes. The details that turn a renovation into a home.
Facade and azulejo
Exterior render, lime plaster, traditional tile restoration. Especially important for heritage properties.
Terraces and outdoor
Rooftop terraces, patios, pool areas. Outdoor living is why most people bought here in the first place.
Structural work
Wall removals, load-bearing changes, layout alterations. Requires a licensed architect and the right crew.
Energy upgrades
Solar panels, heat pumps, EV chargers. Portugal has 300+ sunny days a year. Make them work for you.
Also on the network
Every other trade, browsable
Beyond the core renovation categories, the network covers the smaller jobs too, from a stuck garage door to a full gutter clean. Alvará verified wherever the trade is regulated, quoted directly for everything else.
Interior
Home repairs & maintenance
Cleaning & organization
Exterior
Exterior home care
More services
How it works
Three steps to a vetted contractor
No browsing directories, no cold-calling, no hoping the person who shows up speaks English. We handle the vetting. You handle the decision.
Tell us what you need
Fill in a short form, what room, roughly how big, your area, and what you are hoping to spend. Takes under two minutes. No account needed, no phone call required.
You can also message us on WhatsApp if you prefer. We reply within 24 hours, usually faster.
We find the right contractor
We match you with one contractor from our network who has experience with your type of project in your specific area. Not a list of ten options to sift through, one right match.
We have personally worked with every contractor we recommend. We know their strengths, their typical projects, and how they communicate with international clients.
You get a proper quote
The contractor visits your property, assesses the work, and sends you a detailed, itemised quote. You know exactly what you are paying for before anyone picks up a hammer.
If the quote does not feel right, tell us. We will find you a different match. We would rather take the time to get it right than push you towards a fit that is not working.
Ready when you are
Tell us about your project, get competitive quotes back
Scope your renovation in a few minutes and we'll match you with alvará-verified contractors, benchmark your quotes, and keep everything in English from start to finish.
Request a QuoteGuides & resources
Resources for your home
Portuguese renovation runs on its own rules, materials, and timeline. These guides cover what to expect before work starts.
Why we exist
We meet every contractor in person
Before anyone joins our network, we sit down with them. We see their past work, talk to their previous clients, and check they can actually communicate in English. Not just "yes, yes, okay" English, real, project-discussion English.
Feedback shapes who stays
After every project, we ask how it went. Contractors who consistently deliver quality work and clear communication stay. Those who do not, even if they are technically skilled, are removed. The network gets tighter over time, not bigger.
Built for people who do not speak Portuguese
Most of our clients are British, Dutch, German, American, people who bought a place in Portugal and realised finding a reliable builder is harder than finding the property itself. We built this because we are those people too.
Browse by project
Pros for every project in your region
Filtered by trade, matched to your area. The same alvará verification applies whether it is a kitchen refit or a garden overhaul.
Areas we cover
Where we have vetted contractors
We focus on the areas where foreign property owners are most active. Each area has its own contractor network, matched to local building stock and regulations.
Honest answers
Questions every expat asks
Is this really free for homeowners?
Yes, always. There's no cost to submit a request or get matched with a contractor.
Do contractors really speak English?
Every contractor in our network is checked for working English before joining, enough to discuss scope, materials, timelines, and changes without confusion.
What if I'm not happy with the match?
Tell us and we'll find a better fit. We'd rather take the time to get it right than rush a match that doesn't work for you.
I'm not in Portugal yet. Can you still help?
Yes. Many of the people we help are buying remotely or planning a move. We can coordinate quotes and updates over WhatsApp and video calls until you arrive.
Can contractors help with permits?
Most contractors handle standard permits as part of their work. For more complex cases we can point you toward architects and engineers who work with foreign owners.
How are contractors vetted?
We personally review every contractor before they join: checking their work, talking to past clients, confirming they can communicate clearly in English, and verifying their legal and financial standing.
What legal and financial checks do you run?
Every contractor must hold a valid alvará from IMPIC, the Portuguese construction licensing body, along with proper CAE registration and a clean tax and social security record. We also confirm they carry civil liability insurance with proof of coverage limits, and check that the company is not in insolvency or carrying significant registered debt.
Are you a contractor in Portugal?
Join our curated network and get matched with international clients who are ready to renovate.
Apply to join