The best and worst home improvements

When it comes to selling your home and climbing up the property ladder, naturally, you want to get the best possible return on your initial investment. With fluctuations in the housing market and areas coming in and out of ‘fashion’,... View Article

Property owners urged to act over septic tank changes

Property owners are being urged by land agents and chartered surveyors Vickers & Barrass to keep close tabs on changes to septic tank regulations to avoid breaking the law. Many rural properties including houses rely on septic tanks for their sewage discharge,... View Article

Timber types

How do you decide what style of house is for you? The materials you choose can heavily influence the space you create. Carpenter Oak talk through some of the timber choices open to self-builders who want to put wood at... View Article

Choosing the right rainwater system

Yeoman Rainguard’s Sally Moores discusses the variety of options available when it comes to rainwater systems, and how to choose the right one for your project With an abundant choice of rainwater systems on the market, there is certainly no... View Article

Grand gardens

Millboard discuss the various design approaches available to help self-builders achieve a truly ‘premium’ outdoor space Great outdoor spaces reflect the style and ambience of the properties that they belong to – and they also communicate the temperaments of the... View Article

Electric range cookers – at home in any kitchen

Stylish, versatile and easy to install, modern energy-efficient range cookers are enjoying a new lease of life in both town and country, as ESSE’s Mark Blewitt explains It’s an established rite of passage on the downshifter’s ‘road less travelled.’ Scour... View Article

A healthy home is a sustainable home

Heat recovery ventilation can make homes dramatically healthier, and going a step further with heat pump ventilation can also offer energy efficient heating and cooling, says Clarissa Youden of Total Home Environment With self-builders becoming more aware that they need... View Article

Decking or patio – which one is better?

Decking or patio can be an ideal way to extend your usable outdoor space. Having that additional flat space is perfect for summer barbecues, eating outdoors, and is somewhere to place outdoor furniture relax. But which one is right for... View Article

Going up the hill to downsize

Building a contemporary home had always been at the back of one West Sussex couple’s minds, but it wasn’t until downsizing became the sensible decision that it became a reality. Roseanne Field reports In a village in rural West Sussex... View Article

New permitted development rules are good for planning

Under new permitted development rules, homeowners in terraced and semi-detached homes will be able to put single story extensions of up to 6 metres at the rear of their properties without needing to obtain planning permission. Those in detached homes... View Article

Orsoni from TREND for beautiful mosaic surfaces

As one of the world’s leading producers of coloured glass mosaic, Venetian enamel, gold leaf tesserae and engineered stone surfaces, TREND Group works with today’s most celebrated designers, architects and artists. The stunning results are seen in residential, commercial and public... View Article

BLANCO supports Kilimanjaro climb

Joe Lyons, Director of LYONS NI Ltd, a Northern Ireland-based kitchen component distributor, braved altitude and rigorous terrain when he climbed the world’s highest freestanding mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in aid of the Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust. BLANCO UK’s sponsorship of... View Article

Why a garden room packs more punch than your spare room

Forget extensions or conservatories, garden rooms have emerged as the home trend that’s been sweeping the nation over the last couple of years. Whether you’re looking for a stylish guest suite, an office/place to work, or a summerhouse, a garden... View Article

Five things to consider for your self-build

Even years of experience in the construction industry doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride for a self-build, as each project is different. Below, Chris Stanley, Housing Manager at the Concrete Block Association (CBA), discusses his experience building his own home and... View Article

Planning your dream extension

By John M Staves, CEng FIStructE The decision to extend your property should not be taken lightly especially when altering your home. It will be inconvenient, messy and disruptive to day-to-day family life. To ensure that the change to your... View Article