Self-build books

Browse our selection of self-build books, published by the team behind Homebuilding & Renovating magazine.

The H&R Book of Green Homes offers practical advice on how to approach building an eco home, an A-Z of green building and more than 29 in-depth case studies of environmentally-friendly self-build homes. Featuring more than 225 full colour pictures, floor plans, supplier details and the story of each build this is guaranteed to be a best-seller.

The fifth edition of the ultimate guide to sourcing building materials and services has thousands of essential contacts plus even more editorial features, tips and advice than ever before. The Homebuilder's Handbook provides comprehensive coverage from structural systems and finance specialists to bathroom and kitchen suppliers.

House Plans is an inspirational reference book for anybody looking for ideas on how to plan a new home or remodel an existing one. Complete with 333 full colour illustrations of the house exteriors, it is designed for easy use with houses sorted by size and number of bedrooms. Fully indexed, it is easy to find any type of house plan - from bungalow to town house.

The Book of Contemporary Homes featuring more than 350 stunning full colour photographs alongside the inside stories of more than 39 of the most innovative houses to be built in the UK in over the past few years. Also included are details of architects, builders, suppliers and manufacturers.

Another great selection of homes in this second, all new, edition of the highly successful Great Value Homes. 25 inspirational stories, 225 great colour pics and 51 colour illustrations.

Also available: Renovation and Conversion books

Brand new selections of Barn Conversions in one of our most popular books. This new collection is lavishly illustrated with hundreds of high quality colour photographs and the full story of each conversion as well as design, building and supplier contact details.

Whether you are buying an old house, worrying about damp stone walls, struggling to understand lime render, shopping for partition walling, hunting for builders, doing your own plumbing, trying to get planning permission, in short, if you are involved in any way with a renovation project in France, How To Renovate a House in France will be essential reading.

How to create a Jardin Paysan is a book about creating a traditional, rural French-style garden which will have a timeless charm. It's not so much a manual of gardening, as a guide to help you to tame nature (but only slightly) to create something of abundance and beauty around a home in France - or even in the UK.