Features Articles

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

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

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

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

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

Play experts Foamë offer a ‘how-to’ guide on taking the right steps towards creating a safe home environment for children which still looks great While children should always be monitored, their curious nature means that it can seem impossible to... View Article

Victoria Ramwell from Kemper System discusses specification best practice and the key considerations for green roofs, including design, location and waterproofing aspects Green roofs are evolving rapidly, transforming from a specialist eco-feature to a more mainstream technology which can be... View Article

Finally moving in to their dream self-built home in Norfolk was a very long time coming for David and Deanna Martin One of the most intimidating aspects of buying a plot of land and building your own house is worrying... View Article

Despite having an architecture degree, Tom Holliday and his wife Carly turned to an architect friend to help them transform a dark, dated cottage into a light and spacious family home near York If Carly and Tom Holliday had known... View Article

Built on a wooded rural site on the coast near Bristol, a stunning family home has been created that was prefabricated in Germany using natural materials, and designed with health and wellbeing in mind Those who have holidayed in the... View Article

Robin Miller of Beco Wallform gives his views on why insulating concrete formwork (ICF) is the ideal practical choice for self-builders concerned about sustainability and climate change There is growing recognition – now almost universal – that unless significant action... View Article

When looking to create a unique home, glass gives you a wide range of options, especially when it comes to balconies and even atriums, as Susan Sinden of glass processor ESG Group explains One of the most common themes we... View Article

Despite the numbers of self-builds growing rapidly, getting the right advice on mortgages can be tricky. David Lownds of Hanley Economic Building Society outlines the basics of self-build financing, and gives some tips on how to manage your build’s budget... View Article

An eco-afficionado achieved his dream to create a Passivhaus home in Leeds, but it had to be traditional in style so wasn’t plain sailing As a solicitor by profession, Stephen Cirell took a very methodical approach to planning his first... View Article