Every guide, every question, one plain-English page each.
324 guides covering pay, tax, rights, regs, safety, paperwork and running a trade business. Written for site, not the bar.
Every guide answers one practical question a tradesperson, apprentice or small-firm owner is actually asking. They cite the law, they tell you what to do next, and they don't waste your time with preamble.
Not sure where to start?
I'm new to construction
Starting out, first day on site, certs, taxes, insurance, the stuff nobody tells you.
I've got a problem right now
Not been paid? Customer dispute? OSHA turned up? Find the guide for your situation.
I'm running my own business
Pricing, quotes, insurance, going commercial, employing people, business continuity.
Featured
Starting Out
Your first day on site, the jargon, your pay and your rights, then what it really takes to go out on your own - the stuff nobody tells you when you start.
13 guides
Trades & Specialties
Starter playbooks by trade - licensing reality, certs, specialty economics, startup kit and rates. Electrician to GC and remodeler.
15 guides
Running Your Business
Choosing and forming an entity, pricing and quoting, record-keeping, managing customers, and taking on your first employee.
13 guides
Pricing Your Work
How to build a price from your own costs, markup and margin, what drives the number in your trade, and how to stop underselling yourself.
23 guides
Getting Work & Marketing
Finding customers, lead platforms, Google Business Profile, reviews and referrals - what works for a small outfit.
6 guides
Taxes & the IRS
Federal and state taxes for the trades - Schedule C, self-employment tax, estimated payments, sales tax and deductions.
12 guides
Payment & Money
Getting paid, mechanics liens, retainage and prompt-pay laws, and what to do when the money chain breaks.
12 guides
Public Work & Federal Jobs
Davis-Bacon prevailing wage, certified payroll, the Miller Act, and the bond claim that stands in for the lien on government work.
4 guides
Contracts & Disputes
Quotes, subcontractor agreements, change orders, warranties, and resolving disputes before they reach court.
14 guides
Homeowner Disputes
When a residential client will not pay, demands a refund, or disputes the work - and how to protect yourself.
4 guides
For Homeowners
Written for the person paying for the work. How to check a license, what a lien on your house actually is, what a deposit should look like, and what to do when a job goes wrong.
4 guides
Insurance & Bonds
General liability, workers comp, commercial auto, and the license, bid, payment and performance bonds you get asked for.
12 guides
Site Safety & OSHA
OSHA rules in plain English - fall protection, silica, hazard communication, inspections and your rights on site.
20 guides
Building Codes & Permits
The IRC, NEC and the rest in plain English - what needs a permit, inspections, and how code editions differ by state.
13 guides
Licensing & Credentials
Contractor and trade licenses by state, OSHA cards, and the specialty certifications your work requires.
19 guides
Environmental & Waste
Construction and demolition waste, hazardous materials, dust and runoff rules, and disposal done right.
7 guides
Trade Math & Measurements
Jobsite math - reading a tape, area and volume, concrete yardage, board feet, roof pitch, stair layout and takeoffs.
3 guides
Employment & Status
1099 vs W-2, worker classification, overtime and wage rights, and what happens when a job ends.
5 guides
Coming to Work in America
For tradespeople moving to the US - visas and work authorization, getting credentialed, your rights, and settling in.
20 guides
Training & Career
Apprenticeships, journeyman-to-master paths, trade schools and building a career in the trades.
5 guides
After Your Apprenticeship
Just finished your apprenticeship or trade school? Going out on your own, finding customers, surviving year one.
20 guides
Mental Health
Looking after yourself on and off site. Real talk and resources for tradespeople, including the 988 line.
5 guides
Long-Term Health
Protecting your body and hearing over a career - the health risks the trades do not talk about until it is late.
7 guides
Women in Construction
Practical guidance, rights and routes into the trades for women on site.
3 guides
Veterans into Construction
Turning military experience into a construction career - GI Bill, SkillBridge, apprenticeships and licensing credit.
4 guides
Seasonal Guides
Timely guidance through the year - winter work, the slow season, storm season and busy-season cashflow.
2 guides
Tool Theft & Security
Protecting your tools and van - security, serial registration, reporting theft and insurance claims.
2 guides
Scams & Digital Safety
Fake-check and overpayment scams, business email compromise, review extortion, spam-text rules and protecting your data.
4 guides
Working Across Regions
The law isn't the same everywhere. If you work in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, these guides explain where the rules differ from England.
Popular Guides
Most-read guides on SiteKiln, start here if you're not sure where to begin.
Can't find what you're looking for?
Search 324 guides, or email us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk and tell us what's missing. Every "what about...?" makes the site better.