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

Setting the right standards

Standards and regulations are important. They make sure your vehicle is safe on the road, ensure tools work effectively and help keep doors and windows in place and secure for years to come. However, ensuring everything you do is compliant... 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

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

Child’s play

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

Going green on top

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

Good things come to those who wait

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

Stepping into the light

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

Building good health

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

How to value a building plot

A plot is only worth what someone’s prepared to pay – but you should only be prepared to pay what it’s worth. Mark Stevenson, managing director of Potton & Kingspan Timber Solutions Ltd and self-build & renovation expert for the London Homebuilding &... View Article