Every business below is checked against the QBCC licence register and ranked by quantified Google-review themes — never by who paid.
Based in Graceville
Graceville renovation and custom-home builder rated 4.9 stars across 67 Google reviews. Across a 59-review sample, professional, friendly service (33) leads, with quality of work (27) and clear communication (19) the next most-mentioned themes.
Based in Wakerley
Wakerley custom builder rated 4.9 stars across 56 Google reviews. In a 51-review sample, quality of work is the most-mentioned theme (32), with professional, friendly service (28) and communication (19) also standing out.
Based in Greenslopes
Greenslopes builder rated 4.9 stars across 55 Google reviews. Across a 52-review sample, quality of work (32) and professional, friendly service (29) are the leading themes, with responsiveness also noted (18).
Based in South Brisbane
South Brisbane home builder rated 4.3 stars across 38 Google reviews. In a 32-review sample, quality of work is the most-mentioned theme (14), followed by responsiveness (10) and professional service (6).
Based in Chermside West
Chermside West home builder with a perfect 5.0 across 27 Google reviews. Across a 21-review sample, quality of work is the most-mentioned theme (9), with responsiveness (5) and professional service (3) also noted.
Based in Grange
Grange builder rated 4.9 stars across 27 Google reviews. In a 25-review sample, quality of work (13) is the leading theme, with professional service (8) and reliability (5) also mentioned.
Based in Banyo
Banyo home builder rated 4.7 stars across 27 Google reviews. Across a 26-review sample, professional, friendly service (15), communication (13) and quality of work (11) are the most-mentioned themes.
Based in Ashgrove
Ashgrove builder with a perfect 5.0 across 26 Google reviews. In all 26 reviews with text, professional, friendly service (17) leads, followed by quality of work (14) and communication (9).
Based in East Brisbane
East Brisbane builder with a perfect 5.0 across 25 Google reviews. Across all 25 reviews with text, professional, friendly service (17) and quality of work (16) are the standout themes, with communication also noted (9).
Based in Highgate Hill
Highgate Hill builder with a perfect 5.0 across 24 Google reviews. In a 21-review sample, professional, friendly service (11), quality of work (9) and responsiveness (7) are the most-mentioned themes.
Based in Moorooka
Moorooka home builder with a perfect 5.0 across 23 Google reviews. Across a 22-review sample, quality of work is the most-mentioned theme (16), with professional service (10) and responsiveness (9) also praised.
Based in The Gap
The Gap building services business with a perfect 5.0 across 22 Google reviews. In a 21-review sample, quality of work is the leading theme (15), followed by professional service (9) and communication (8).
About builders in Brisbane
Every builder listed here holds a current QBCC contractor licence in a class that covers residential work, checked against the official register rather than taken on trust. The price ranges below are observed Greater Brisbane quotes for 2026, broken down by job type — a new build costs nothing like a raise-and-build-under, and neither resembles a national 'average build cost' figure. We flag the two things that most often go wrong on Brisbane jobs: the wrong licence class for the work, and a contract with no Home Warranty premium on it.
Brisbane-specific building realities: most pre-1946 homes are timber Queenslanders standing on stumps, so restumping, subfloor bracing and 'raise-and-build-under' (legally raising the house to add a habitable lower level) are mainstream local jobs rather than exotic ones. Large parts of the inner north and west (Paddington, Ashgrove, Wilston, Red Hill) sit under a Traditional Building Character overlay that restricts demolition and dictates how extensions must look — this changes cost and timeline before a single tradie arrives. Reactive clay soils across the suburbs move with the wet-dry cycle and are a common cause of subsidence claims, and the November–April storm season means roofing, tie-downs and drainage are scrutinised. Ask whether a builder has actually worked on stumped timber homes, not just slab-on-ground project houses — the skill sets differ.
Typical prices in Brisbane
Ranges reflect quotes observed locally — not national averages, not advertised "from" prices.
| Service | Typical range (A$) |
|---|---|
New house build, standard project-home finish (per m²) Typical Greater Brisbane / SEQ build rate, 2026 — excludes land, site costs, driveway and landscaping. Custom or architectural homes commonly run $3,500–$5,500+/m². | A$2,200 — A$3,500 |
Raise and build in under a Queenslander (raise house + new lower level) Typical Brisbane raise-and-build-under project, 2026 — varies with block slope, ceiling height gained, and re-routing services. Raising the structure alone is roughly $40,000–$100,000 of that. | A$250,000 — A$500,000 |
Ground-floor extension / room addition (per m²) Typical Greater Brisbane quoted range, 2026 — higher when the new footprint includes a kitchen or bathroom, or when connecting to an old timber structure. | A$2,500 — A$4,500 |
Full bathroom renovation Typical Brisbane full renovation, 2026 — budget refits start near $15,000; premium finishes and reconfigured plumbing push past $35,000. | A$18,000 — A$35,000 |
Elevated timber deck, supply + build (per m²) Typical Brisbane elevated hardwood deck (common on high-set Queenslanders), 2026 — ground-level treated-pine decks are cheaper, from roughly $250/m². | A$350 — A$650 |
Common questions
Search the free QBCC licensee register with the person or company name or licence number. Two things matter, not just one: that the licence is current, and that the class fits the work. A 'Builder – Low Rise' licence covers houses and sheds but not a mid-rise apartment; specialist trades (carpentry, waterproofing) each have their own class. If a builder won't give you a licence number, treat that as a red flag. Every builder on this page links to the register.
For residential building work over $3,300 (including materials, labour and GST), your licensed builder must pay a premium into the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, and it should be itemised in your contract. The scheme covers you if the builder doesn't finish, for defective work, and for subsidence — for six years and six months from completion. If a builder proposes a cash job with no premium, you have no cover; that alone is a reason to walk away.
You can, but weigh the trade-offs. Once your own building work tops $11,000 you need a QBCC owner-builder permit and must complete a course first. Crucially, owner-builders get no Home Warranty cover, you carry all liability, QBCC will only issue you one permit every six years, and if you sell within six years of completion you must disclose the owner-builder status in writing — the notice stays on the title for seven years. For anything structural, a licensed builder's warranty cover is usually worth the cost.
Timber-on-stumps homes move seasonally and eventually need restumping (replacing rotten or termite-damaged stumps, often swapping timber for steel or concrete) — a common Brisbane job that a slab-only builder may not do well. Reactive clay soils across Brisbane expand and shrink through the wet-dry cycle, so cracking and subsidence are worth a pre-purchase check. If you're adding space, 'raise-and-build-under' is often cheaper per square metre than extending outwards. And in character suburbs, demolition or facade changes to pre-1946 homes usually need extra approval — confirm the overlay before you design.
More trades in Brisbane