The 12 Steps of Self Build: Construction Systems

ABOVE: The construction system is the backbone of a house. Think of it as the inner skeleton around which the outer skin is placed — meaning that it will affect performance rather than external appearance. This green oak framed home is shiplapped for a more modern finish. Read more about this project.

The human race has been erecting shelters in different forms for thousands upon thousands of years. Even in prehistoric times, there was a distinction between using organic matter (timber and straw) and inorganic (stone or earth) and, funnily enough, that distinction persists to this day. In fact, almost all houses use a mix of materials, and often the supposed differences are not quite so large as they might first appear. Nevertheless, a huge amount of time gets spent analysing the pros and cons of different building materials, and over the next few pages we try to distil much of what has been learned into a few succinct pointers.

Find out more:

• Construction Systems: Building with Masonry
• Construction Systems: Building with Timber Frame
• Construction Systems: Masonry vs Timber
• Construction Systems: The Alternatives
• Construction Systems: Package Building
• Why we chose our construction method

The 12 Steps of Self Build:

• Step One: Starting Out
• Step Two: Your Route
• Step Three: Construction Systems
• Step Four: Groundworks & Foundations
• Step Five: Roofs
• Step Six: Windows & Doors
• Step Seven: External Appearance
• Step Eight: Heating & Plumbing
• Step Nine: Electrics
• Step Ten: Kitchens & Bathrooms
• Step Eleven: Internal Finishes
• Step Twelve: Outside Spaces