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Renovation Projects
A radically remodelled upside down bungalow in a suburban setting.

Houseplan for a new 2 storey home in the style of a traditional long house with 3 bedrooms

Specification advice

Passive Ventilation: A Better Idea?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Advantages of Woodburning Stoves by Anglia Fireplaces - Advertisement Feature

Where can you find a fuel that will cut your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time? The answer may be closer than you think. Advances in technology mean that using wood as fuel can help reduce household expenditure on heating and reduce impact on the environment at the same time.

The M Design Venus 850DHT woodburning stove from Anglia Fireplaces

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Choosing Showers

Plan well if you want your shower to be a luxury experience — there’s certainly a lot to think about, from the type of shower to the shower tray, shower head and type of enclosure, as Natasha Brinsmead explains.

Triton’s Unichrome Thames Vertical Shower Pole

Rainwater Goods Explained

Whether installing new downpipes and guttering, or repairing an old rainwater system, take a close look at the various elements available with a comprehensive diagram detailing each individual component.

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting not only increases security and safety, it also extends your enjoyment of the garden – and your new home’s exterior – into the twilight hours. Melanie Griffiths explains the different types of lighting available for gardens.

Folding Sliding Doors - Advertisement Feature

Folding sliding doors allow a 90% opening, as opposed to 40% with conventional systems, giving more flexibility to living and garden areas. This advertisement feature from Kloeber UK explains the benefits of folding sliding door systems, and the components and finishes available.

Window Frames: Timber or PVCu?

In our series examining the key decisions to be made when selfbuilding, Mark Brinkley compares plastic and wooden windows, weighing up the pros and cons to help you decide what type of frame is best for your project.

Flat Roofs: The Best Options

The mere sight of a flat roof can send people running in the opposite direction, but, as Natasha Brinsmead explains, modern techniques and materials mean there really is nothing to be frightened of.

Showering: The Modern Choice - Advertisement Feature

Showering technology has advanced dramatically over recent years, and now fashion, style and aesthetics are as important as the rudimentary operations of the shower itself. This advertisement feature from IQ Living gives advice on the types of showers available, enabling you to make an informed choice.

Showering: The Modern Choice from IQ Living

Building in the Countryside: Drainage and Water

Provisions for drainage and fresh water are essential in any new home, but a countryside plot can present complications which will require resorting to an off-mains solution such as a septic tank, cesspool or reed bed.

Installing a bio-digester sewage treatment plant

Sash Windows Explained

This detailed look at the inner workings of sash windows is a must-read for period self-builders and renovators alike. It explains how the sash window works and what each individual part is called and the purpose it serves.

Conservatories: How to Get Them Right

It’s no wonder conservatories are so much derided when over 90 per cent of them are simply picked out of a catalogue. However, designed correctly, they can be a tremendous addition to any house, says Clive Fewins.

All Hands on Deck: Advertisement Feature

In most instances a well built and designed deck will add the value of a property, and decks have quite often been marketed as a 'new room outdoors'. This advertisement feature from Q-Deck® gives advice on the types of decking available, and how to use decking effectively in your garden.

PVCu Windows: A Green Option?

From a green point of view, it’s always been the same: timber good, plastic bad. Well, that might be about to change. Tim Pullen reports on how recycled PVCu could revolutionise the window market.

Building Clinic: Ventilation

Ventilation is a detail that is easy to overlook, but which can be complicated to get right, so its worth understanding why is it required and what it should achieve. Mark Brinkley explains the different types of ventilation, including MVHR and whole-house ventilation.

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