Case study: The Glebe, Cambridgeshire

A stunning five-bedroom house built to modern, energy efficient standards using SIPs Eco Panels and other innovative build technologies, whilst maintaining the traditional aesthetic of the surrounding village. Construction System: Sips Eco Panels Location: Cambridgeshire, UK  Materials: Full 169mm kit... View Article

Happy when it rains

Not only can a rainwater harvesting system be a first line of defence against flooding, it can also help you achieve long term sustainability in our unpredictable climate. Jae Lester of RainWater Harvesting explains In recent years the UK has... View Article

It’s time for timber

Andrew Orriss of the Structural Timber Association explains the basics around choosing structural timber, and why it holds so much promise for self-builds, particularly on sustainability grounds Structural timber is now used across over a quarter of all new homes... View Article

Small is beautiful

LISTEN HERE 🔊 With an increasing value being placed on outdoor spaces, Ronan O’Dowd of Acheson & Glover shares his top tips on how to make the most of a small garden The Covid-19 pandemic brought a new appreciation for... View Article

Forming an opinion

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Chris Stride at ICFA discusses why self-builders, particularly those looking to maximise energy efficiency, should consider building with Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) If you’ve been researching your new build project recently you will notice that the spotlight... View Article

Structural warranties – a guide

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Advantage Home Construction Insurance (AHCI) navigates through the often complex world of structural warranties required by mortgage firms, providing some clarity for self-builders A structural defects warranty (also known as latent defects insurance) covers defects affecting newly... View Article

Versatile wet rooms

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Neil Whitehead from Impey offers insights into how to create the ideal wetroom or wet area shower space for every size and style of home The coveted wetroom shower space has many guises and, when thoughtfully planned... View Article

UK Green Homes Grant scrapped

The UK government has announced that it has scrapped its flagship green homes grant scheme. The much-promoted grants scheme to help householders in England insulate their home will be stopped this week, and the money allocated to a seperate insulation... View Article

The easy way to specify a loft ladder

Premier Loft Ladders have made it even easier to download NBS product data from their web site. Where available, the specification can now be copied directly from the main product pages, as well as from NBS Source. Furthermore, architects and... View Article

ABC+ Warranty remain operational through the pandemic

ABC+ Warranty have remained fully operational throughout the COVID pandemic. They are able to provide additional inspections via Zoom between the developer/contractor and one of their many Chartered Surveyors to run alongside their physical site inspections. This benefits existing clients... View Article