What Is Nice Class 37?
Nice Class 37 is the trademark classification for construction, repair, and installation services. It covers building construction and contracting, renovation and remodeling, repair and maintenance of buildings and equipment, installation services, and cleaning services. It is the contractor-and-tradesperson class — the home of builders, plumbers, electricians, HVAC installers, auto-repair shops, and property-maintenance companies.
The most important thing to grasp is that Class 37 is a services class. It protects the act of building, fixing, or installing — not the physical materials used. The bricks, lumber, and cement are Class 19 goods; the service of assembling them into a building is Class 37. That goods-versus-services line is where many construction brands misfile.
What Class 37 Covers
- Building construction, contracting, and general contracting
- Renovation, remodeling, and restoration services
- Repair and maintenance of buildings, equipment, and vehicles
- Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC installation services
- Roofing, flooring, and painting services
- Automotive repair and servicing
- Cleaning services: janitorial, window, and pressure washing
- Pipeline, road, and infrastructure construction
The exclusions define the strategy. Building materials — cement, lumber, bricks, non-metal building products — are Class 19. Architecture, engineering, and design services are Class 42. Real estate services are Class 36. So a design-build firm that designs and constructs a building touches Class 42 (design) and Class 37 (construction), two separate registrations.
Boundary note: Architecture and engineering are Class 42, not Class 37. A firm that both designs and builds — the "design-build" model — needs both classes. Filing only Class 37 leaves the design side unprotected, and vice versa.
The Descriptiveness Problem in Construction Names
Construction and repair brands face a high refusal rate because the industry leans on descriptive, geographic naming — "Quality Construction," "Bay Area Plumbing," "Reliable Roofing." These describe the service or the location and are routinely refused as merely descriptive or geographically descriptive. The trades are full of names that cannot be registered as filed.
The route through is distinctiveness, just as in every class: a coined or arbitrary brand name registers far more easily than a literal description of the trade and territory. A contractor building a brand to last is better served by a distinctive name than by a keyword-stuffed descriptive one. Where a name sits on the distinctiveness scale determines how easily it clears.
Pairing Class 37 With Other Classes
- Class 37 + Class 42: for design-build firms and contractors that also offer architecture or engineering. See our Class 42 guide.
- Class 37 + Class 35: for the business, franchising, or retail side of a contracting brand. See our Class 35 guide.
- Class 37 + Class 36: where a developer also offers real-estate services.
Notable Areas in Class 37
Class 37 is dominated less by a few global brands and more by national contracting, home-services, and automotive-repair franchises. Home-services franchise networks — plumbing, HVAC, restoration, and cleaning brands that license a name to local operators — are a major source of Class 37 filings, because a franchise model depends on a strong, registrable brand. Automotive repair chains and national restoration companies round out the class.
Common Filing Mistakes
- Filing materials in Class 37: building materials are Class 19 goods.
- Filing design in Class 37: architecture and engineering are Class 42.
- Descriptive and geographic names: the leading cause of refusals in the trades.
- Missing the franchise-brand need: a franchising model requires a distinctive, registrable mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are building materials in Class 37?
No. Building materials — cement, lumber, bricks, and non-metal building products — are goods in Class 19. Class 37 covers the services of construction, repair, and installation. A company that both manufactures materials and provides construction services files in both Class 19 and Class 37.
What's the difference between Class 37 and Class 42 for builders?
Class 37 covers the physical construction and building services. Class 42 covers architecture, engineering, and design services. A design-build firm that both designs and constructs needs both classes — Class 42 for the design work and Class 37 for the construction.
Is automotive repair in Class 37?
Yes. Repair and maintenance of vehicles is in Class 37, alongside building repair and installation services. The vehicles themselves are Class 12 goods, and any parts are also goods classes, but the service of repairing them is Class 37.
Why was my construction company name refused?
Most likely because it is descriptive or geographically descriptive — names like "Quality Construction" or "Bay Area Plumbing" describe the service or location and are refused as merely descriptive. A distinctive, coined, or arbitrary name registers far more easily and builds a stronger brand for franchising or expansion.
Search Class 37 Before You File
Trade and contracting names crowd heavily by service and region, and descriptiveness issues make clearance especially valuable. Use tmarkmetric to browse registered Class 37 trademarks, see which names are taken, and search the broader registry before you commit to signage, trucks, and a franchise brand.