Estimate Your Own Build Costs
An introduction to DIY estimating, for both renovations and self-builds

Find out more about conversions

Using Quantity Surveyors
How and when to use a quantity surveyor for your build project

How to cope with an extension project

Remodelling Postwar Homes
Bland mid-20th century homes could be the perfect canvas for your dream home

Remodelling Postwar Homes

Specification advice

The Shift Toward Triple Glazing - Content Supplied by Livingwood Windows

Window technology, like other areas of construction involved with supplying products for ever more sustainable homes, is going through somewhat of a revolution...

Livingwood Windows Ltd sought to supply high quality joinery and service at realistic prices.

Sliding Doors - Advertisement Feature

With so many options on the market today in glazing, it is not only a difficult choice in which company to work with, but also what type of glazing to have. This advertisement feature from IDSystems shows how sliding doors can be used to great effect in a home.

Folding doors from IDSystems

Hot Water Systems

Self-builders often put a lot of thought into space heating yet overlook the crucial storage and delivery of hot water. Mark Brinkley reviews the options

A look at the different types of hot water systems available including combi and system boilers, heat pumps and immersion heaters.

Wood Burning Stoves: The Ultimate Home Heating Solution - Advertisement Feature

This advertisement feature by Anglia Fireplaces explains how cutting edge design and the latest technological advances combine to make wood burning stoves the ultimate home heating solution.

Anglia - Fires of Distinction

Don’t fall prey to ‘rogue traders’ with your double glazing - Advertisement Feature

Anyone who installs replacement windows or doors must comply with current Building Regulations and thermal performance standards. They must also prove compliance by either A certificate showing that the work has been undertaken by an installer who is registered with a self-certification scheme; FENSA or 2) A certificate from the Local Authority stating that the installation has approval under the Building Regulations.

Don’t fall prey to ‘rogue traders’ with your double glazing

Converting the Garage

Fancy making more of your garage and turning it into living space? Natasha Brinsmead explains the issues

Converting the garage

A Guide to Blockwork

While timber frame enjoys a lot of hype in the self-build market, masonry has not yet had its day. Mark Brinkley weighs up the options

A guide to blockwork

Solar PV: From Specification to Installation

When a Solar PV system is being installed there are only three goals: outstanding system performance, aesthetic appeal and a watertight finish. As everyone’s property is unique, the only way to achieve these goals is by understanding the obstacles at the very start of the process. Richard Swords explains

solar PV roof

Bi-Fold Doors – Easi When You Know How: Advertisement feature from Origin Easifold Doors

Bi-fold doors were traditionally the preserve of the luxury end of the market and although they retain this exclusivity to some degree, technical innovations mean they have become more accessible to homeowners with aspirations but not necessarily the budget to match.

Bi-folding doors from Easifold3000

How it Works: Boilers

Knowing which type of boiler is right for your home can be a confusing issue. Melanie Griffiths offers an overview of boilers and advice on buying the right one

How it Works: Boilers

Windows

The most important decision facing window buyers is which material to choose. Mark Brinkley considers the options and looks at style and glazing

Mark Brinkley takes a detailed look at windows including the different types of frame available, the different styles of windows and the different methods of glazing.

Internal Finishing: The Options

What’s the best way to finish internal walls and ceilings? Mark Brinkley looks at the main options, their cost — and how to make the right decision for your home.

plastering, internal finishes

Do Homes Need Sprinklers?

While undoubtedly they make our homes safer, the cost of sprinkler systems means they are dismissed by most self-builders. Mark Brinkley explains why they deserve a second thought.

sprinkler

The End of the Cavity Wall?

With the latest Part L changes the strictest to date, Mark Brinkley examines what it takes to get a masonry cavity wall up to standard and looks at the impact on other systems

Cavity wall

Underfloor Heating in Existing Homes

Installing underfloor heating into an existing home need not be disruptive or expensive, says Natasha Brinsmead.

Installing Underfloor Heating in Existing Homes

Passive Ventilation: A Better Idea?

With increasing demands that we build airtight, ventilation has become a key component. Tim Pullen explores ‘passive’ systems.

Passive Ventilation

Retrofitting – A Practical Solution: Advertisement Feature

Any property, no matter how old, can be made more energy efficient, and one of the most effective ways of achieving this is called “retrofitting” – upgrading with home improvements that make a real difference. This advertisement feature from Everest explains the concept.

Everest ‘A-rated’ windows

Cladding Options: Buying Render

In our series examining the key decisions to be made when self-building, Mark Brinkley considers the different types of render, such as white, pre-coloured and lime render, and the purpose that render serves as an external finish.

Buying render

All About Sash Windows

Sash windows really are the only choice for many period and traditional-style homes, but getting the details right can be tricky. Natasha Brinsmead offers her advice on materials and design styles.

All About Sash Windows

Electrical Sockets Explained

Changing a socket and adding a new one to a circuit are two of the few electrical tasks a DIYer can legally do, so take a look at its key components with this detailed diagram of the inner working of the humble electrical socket.

Electrical Sockets Explained

Toilets Explained

You’ll need at least two, so it pays to have some understanding of how they work. We delve into the mystery that is the toilet with a detailed diagram explaining all the workings.

Toilets Explained

Cut Costs Not Quality - Part Two

Whilst DIY can save you £1,000s, a canny self-builder will also look to reduce material costs, without making big compromises on quality. Melanie Griffiths reveals the best areas to target. Read Part One

Cut Costs Not Quality

All About: Stone Flooring

When it comes to giving your home a sense of quality and character, natural stone flooring is hard to beat. Natasha Brinsmead looks at the various types of stone available, including limestone, travertine, marble, slate and sandstone, and examines the cost of stone flooring.

Stone Flooring

An Introduction to CHP (Combined Heat and Power)

Many people think that combined heat and power units are the future of home energy generation — problem is, they’ve been saying that for a while. Tim Pullen reports on the latest developments in combined heat and power.

The Dachs CHP unit from Baxi subsidiary SenerTec

Calculating Building Material Quantities - Good Idea Leaflet from Wickes DIY

Whether building a wall in the garden, laying a patio, adding an extension, converting a garage into an office or simply making a concrete path, one question is certain to crop up. "How much do I need?" It is probably one of the most important questions and one that tends to cause the most confusion when trying to work out the answer. Brought to you by Wickes DIY

Wickes

Wet or Dry? How to Plaster Walls

In our series examining key self-build decisions, Mark Brinkley compares the different plastering solutions on offer, including traditional wet plastering, dry plasterboard and some of the alternatives. Plus a cost comparison.

A look at different plastering methods

How to Build Quality into Your Home

Can you build ‘quality’ into your project? There are two ways of answering this question. The obvious one is to specify lots of expensive materials; but the other side of the quality issue – and the one we seek to address here – concerns standards.

How to build quality into your home

Trends in Window Dressing - Advertisement Feature

Consumers have a multitude of different materials, colours and textures of blinds and curtains to choose from. This advertisement feature from Curtain Wizard advises of current trends in window dressing.

Current trends in window dressing from Curtain Wizard

Choosing Curtains: Advertisement Feature

Fundamentally, curtains need to reflect the style and design of the interior and window casing. The colour and style are also key factors to ensuring curtains provide practicality and appropriate functionality. This advertisement feature from Terrys Fabrics explains how to choose the right curtains for your home.

Choose the right curtains for your home with Terrys Fabrics

DIY Decorating on a Budget

Alison Cork is the UK’s leading interiors expert on money-saving in the home. She currently writes for the Daily Telegraph and Evening Standard on the subject and founded money-saving magazine www.homesandbargains.co.uk. Here she gets to the nuts and bolts of DIY decorating on a budget and gives her top tips for great places to save money in your self-build or renovation.

Alison Cork
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