World Toilet Day – Tuesday, 19 November

Annual World Toilet Day may spawn many jokes and can be a haven of comedy for all of us that take sanitation for granted. But behind the hilarity is a serious initiative that we all should all aspire to support.... View Article

Woodcote House by Paul Cashin Architects and Design Engine

Situated just north of the village of Upham, near Winchester, is Woodcote House. Nestled amongst the rolling chalk hills of the South Downs National Park, this contemporary house replaces a series of brick buildings that had fallen into disrepair. After achieving permission... View Article

Shortlist grows for the UK’s best new house

House Lessans, a sophisticated rural home in Northern Ireland built using the most basic of materials and, Secular Retreat, an enigmatic and sculptural home on a remote Devon hilltop – are the fifth and sixth homes to be shortlisted for RIBA House... View Article

Winter preparation

As winter approaches, many of us are stocking up on coats and woollen accessories ready for the cold and challenging weather. We make a good job of preparing our wardrobes for the upcoming winter season, but how much consideration do... View Article

Right to Build Day launched at Graven Hill

The National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) today launched Right to Build Day at Graven Hill, the UK’s largest custom and self-build development site, in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The initiative is being delivered with the intention of tracking local authority activity around... 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

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