How Chalkline works
Chalkline introduces people who need work done to independent tradespeople who cover their area. It is free to use during the pilot.
Finding a tradesperson
Choose a trade and enter any UK town, city or postcode. You do not need an account. You see only businesses that have said they work in that area — if nobody on Chalkline covers it yet, we tell you so rather than showing businesses from elsewhere.
Each profile shows examples of work, the services offered, where the business works, reviews from Chalkline customers, and any checks that have been completed, with the date of each.
Posting a job
- Pick the trade and describe the work in your own words. Add photos if you can.
- Tell us the town or postcode, when you need it done and, if you like, a rough budget.
- Review what will be shared, and send it. You will need a free account at this point.
Your job goes to a shortlist of up to five businesses that offer that trade and cover your area. They see your description, photos and postcode district. They do not see your name, phone number or address until you choose to share those with one of them.
Responses and quotes
A business can say it is interested, ask a question, suggest a visit, or decline. Each conversation is private between you and that one business: businesses cannot see each other, each other’s messages or each other’s quotes.
Quotes are written out: labour, materials, how VAT applies, what is included and what is not, timing and how long the price is valid. An estimate is a guide and may change once the job has been seen; a fixed quote is a price for the work described. If a business revises a quote, you can still read the earlier version.
Chalkline shows quotes side by side in the order they arrived. It does not rank them or tell you which is best.
Choosing a business
When you choose a quote, Chalkline records that you both intend to go ahead and opens a private Job Room with your messages, the quote you accepted and a progress timeline. The other businesses are told you have chosen someone else.
The agreement for the work, and any payment, is directly between you and the tradesperson. Chalkline is not a party to it, does not take payment and does not guarantee the work.
Completion and reviews
Either of you can say the work is finished; the other confirms. Once both agree, you are invited to leave a review. See the reviews policy.