Hi, anyone got any recommendations for builders with class 2 and above Class 2 Alvará licenses in the Tomar and Abrantes area?

My Architects and Engineers are being a bit unresponsive, so I'm wondering if I should go it alone searching for a builder, find a motivated builder myself, and how does that work if there are issues with the architects design, but I'm using a builder they didn't recommend?

Actually its a bit unclear to me currently - does the engineer\architect provide final sign off, or does the builder with license provide all the relevant sign offs?

For context its a 220sq meter new build on terraced land, replacing a ruin, so there's quite a bit of prep, before even the first concrete is poured.

You can obviously choose any builder that is licensed to build what you are building.
Better if you can find one that speaks your language....and of course see if you can see examples of any work already done.
At the end of the construction, depending on Camara, either they will go to do a `Vistoria`, to check what you have built is what is on the final project, or they will accept the responsibility of the engineer/architect. You can ask the Planners at your local camara, what they do in your area. But beware they sometimes send out `spies` to check !!!!

In my experience, the best way to find people like that is to search in the ground; drive around, look for newly built constructions, or nearly finished ones in the area.
Walk right in and ask; have it written out in Portuguese, ask for the builder's number, if no english send a text.

Your architect is probably slow to respond because he/she hasn't settled on a builder to recommend (yet).
There will be kickbacks; that's inevitable. If the builder and architect work together, it will likely come out cheaper for you in the end.

Still, it's good to get separate independent estimates so they don't take you to the cleaners.

Not keen on being taken to the cleaners....