Is home heating set for a period of change?

Over the last 10 years it’s become clearer than ever that we can’t go on heating our homes by burning fossil fuels such as gas and oil. As effective as these fuels are, they release carbon into the atmosphere, a... View Article

Staying safe & secure

Secured by Design (SBD)’s Emma Snow explains the benefits of the police- backed product certification system, and gives some tips on how you can ensure your home is as secure as possible Secured by Design (SBD) is the national police... View Article

Windows into the future of tradition

Mike Bygrave from Roseview Windows discusses the resurgence of heritage windows, and how self-builders can now benefit from a greater choice than ever before when it comes to finding the right traditional look The window industry used to be about... View Article

Planet-friendly paint performance

There’s a growing interest in environmentally friendly paints, but you don’t have to sacrifice performance or looks to achieve environmental benefits, as Earthborn Paints’ Colin Jones explains Conventional, acrylic-based paints contain two potentially harmful components: volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and... View Article

Creating a healthy environment for future generations

It’s time the construction industry prioritised health when designing and constructing our buildings. The UK’s current housing market will represent 80% of the entire nation’s supply of houses by 2050. This allows us 30 years to develop our approach to... View Article

Clean & simple

In order to help you create a flawlessly minimalist space in your bathroom, Granville Developments’ Matthew Firth offers his top design tips – from the right towel storage using modern radiators, to glass shower screens, and more Bathrooms are, typically,... View Article

Retiring gracefully

Ian and Tina Huckle struggled to find a place to build a ‘lifetime’ home after some health problems, until they realised the solution was right under their noses, in their own back garden in Hampshire With their two children having... View Article

Bamboo flooring: the sustainable alternative

Rob Wooldridge from Moso Bamboo Surfaces looks at the many merits of bamboo flooring – and provides some installation tips for self-builds Bamboo flooring may not be your first thought when considering what flooring to lay in your new build... View Article

A sure bet

Despite their background working in the gambling industry, the Cammeghs weren’t prepared to risk anything when they decided to build their forever home, a Passivhaus in a rural spot in Kent As the founders of an internationally- renowned family business... View Article

Step by step

A cosmetic revamp turned into a full blown renovation challenge for a couple in Yorkshire when they bought a house in a familiar coastal village As a planning and development surveyor, Helen Massey had a good idea of what to... View Article

Industrial inspiration

A three-year labour of love by its owner, Blowinghouse Mill sits in a quiet valley in Cornwall. Simon Williams bought the building and the 2.3 acres that surround it in 2015 with the intention of salvaging this end of the... View Article

No compromise

Replacing a single-storey bungalow with a highly contemporary two-storey house of bold geometric forms – built to take in views across Poole Harbour – was a quest for minimalist perfection for one self-builder In a road where modest 1960s bungalows... View Article

Why timber needs to be in the frame

Malcolm Thomson of Scotframe explains why he believes timber frame is the ‘gold standard’ for modern construction and why we should all be thinking about fabric-first approaches Offsite timber frame construction allows homes to be built faster and to a... View Article

Why it’s important your home can ‘breathe’

By James Ayres, co-founder and operations director, Lime Green Water is always around us. It’s in the air, in our houses, in the fabric of their structures and in the building materials we use. Too little or too much water... View Article

Fast and fabulous

The Jaffreys wanted a home that would look good, be energy efficient, was future-proofed and importantly, could be built quickly, and a timber kit was the answer When the Jaffrey family set about building their own home near the village... View Article

SIPs vs traditional construction

Ian Clay of SIPS@Clays offers a few points to consider when choosing the build method for your new home and why SIPs deliver the perfect solution compared with traditional brick and block construction With so many decisions to be made... View Article

A sustained effort

The end result of Sarah and Andy Ball’s somewhat gruelling self-build saga is a sleek, modern ‘forever’ home in Derby, with wide-open views of landscape plus space, comfort and sustainability Over the past couple of years we have tracked the... View Article

Pushing the boundaries of home entertainment

New innovations in technology designed to mitigate the risks in wet environments are pushing the boundaries of where AV equipment can be enjoyed in the home. Will Uttley of ProofVision looks at the latest products Over the past two decades,... View Article

Familial territory

While most people undertaking a project will buy an unfamiliar plot or house, possibly even in an unfamiliar area, a couple in Cheshire took the opposite approach, building next door to the in-laws Some would shy away from a property... View Article

Pellet stoves: style and substance

Specflue’s Ian Sams explains why pellet stoves offer an ideal heating solution for self-builders, from their environmental credentials and aesthetic appeal to the best units’ ease of use and installation As any self-builder knows, the secret to a successful project... View Article