Green solutions

The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show (being held 22 – 24 September at the ExCeL) embraces the escalating demand for eco-conscious homeowners seeking to minimise the carbon footprint of their residences. While the latest headlines report that the UK is... View Article

All change

Sally and Tom Marlow didn’t have to look far from their house in south London in their search for more space. The catch was that their new home needed a full renovation as well as multiple extensions TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT... View Article

A wasted opportunity?

David Stagg, technical manager for Graf UK, says that ‘commissioning’ of domestic wastewater treatment plants is as vital as getting gas and electricity services signed off by specialists, and wonders why it’s not happening  Wastewater treatment plants became established in... View Article

Maintain your rainwater discipline

Maintaining your rainwater system is just as crucial as specifying the right system for your home. Paul Grills of Brett Martin offers insights on best practice for preserving healthy gutters and downpipes Although rainwater drainage systems are far from the... View Article

Integrated building control benefits

Self-builders are at the forefront of some of the most cutting edge building techniques. They now need to lead the way in quality building automation and control solutions, says Paul Foulkes of Theben Automation Remaining in control is important. Not... View Article

Farm from the madding crowd

What does it take to turn a 200-year-old remote Scottish farmhouse with an evocative name – Easter Shian – into a family home and business? Answer: the resilience and imagination of Dave and Debbie Halls-Evans  TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES ROBERT... View Article

Wrap up warmer

Having a solid roof fitted on your conservatory can help to save energy and bills, but it’s important to choose your system carefully to get the best results, Tim Douglas from Guardian Building Systems explains A roof replacement is a great... View Article

EnerPHit for purpose

Bob and his wife have completed a phased retrofit of tight building into an highly efficient and carefully designed home which meets the needs of the future, both theirs and environmentally speaking TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES AGNESE SANVITO It took... View Article

Structure versus style?

Many people feel that staircases are just a means of getting from floor to floor in a property, but for others it is a focal point which is treated in the same way as a major piece of furniture or... View Article

A thoroughly modern eco mix

An Aberdeenshire couple chose an array of innovative building methods – including ICF construction – to create an eco-friendly modernist gem that still manages to blend in with its surroundings TEXT JESS UNWIN IMAGES RAW FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY, NIALL GIBBON &... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

Self-building architect Philip Newbold looks back a decade to the battle he successfully fought to build the first ‘passive house’ in County Durham with an A-rated EPC, and how it has served him and his wife since The journey of... View Article

Understanding SterlingOSB Zero

All West Fraser’s Oriented Strand Board (OSB) products are manufactured using selected fibres of timber that are laid in cross directional layers and mechanically pressed to form a structurally-engineered panel, designed for construction and other industrial applications. OSB is viewed by... View Article