Real Homes

Real Homes The complete home improvement magazine
For the latest subscription offers click here!

Period Living

Britain's best selling period homes magazine
For the latest subscription offers click here!

New Book from the Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine

Order your copy today and get FREE postage and packing.

The 12 Steps of Self-build: Internal Finishes

In this month’s guide, we look at the second fix stage of housebuilding. The finishing touches will stamp the final mark of quality on your new home. Mark Brinkley examines this key step.

ABOVE, left to right: Coving introduces instant depth and character to a new home; Balustrading makes or breaks the staircase; Invest in quality, solid timber doors; Real wood is a timeless flooring option; Plasterwork can produce a range of attractive effects

The second fix stage of housebuilding traditionally begins with the plastering. Up until this time, everything going on inside the superstructure of the house has been first fixing — constructing walls, roofs and floors, burying pipes and cables etc. The key difference between the two stages is that the first fix works will remain hidden in the structure, whilst the second fix items will be there for all to see when the house is completed.

Find out more about internal finishes:

Who does the work?

Internal finishes is an area where you can save money by carrying out a good deal of the work on a DIY basis; but you need to be realistic about where your skills lie. Fitting doors, skirting, plasterboard and certain types of floor covering, for example, are relatively straightforward, but you could also save a lot of money by carrying out wet plastering yourself, if you have the skill. You would be best advised to take a course if you have never done it before. Try goldtrowel.co.uk.