Sam Webb

Sam Webb

Sam is based in Coventry and has been a news reporter for 20 years. He is the former deputy editor of food industry news website just-food and has covered hard news, in-depth analysis features, interviews and comment pieces on the industry. For more than two years he was a reporter for the Daily Mail Online, one of the world’s largest newspaper websites at the forefront of online journalism. He covered breaking news stories on a global scale, including the death of Margaret Thatcher and the hurricane that ravaged the East Coast of the United States.


After the Mail he moved to the Mirror.co.uk and was an integral part of the award-winning and rising news website’s successes. His freelance work has featured in news outlets throughout the world. As a copywriter, he has written for clients as diverse as Saint-Gobain, Michelin, Halfords Autocentre, Great British Heating, and Irwin Industrial Tools.


During the pandemic, Sam helped his carpenter brother renovate his home in Lincolnshire and the pair converted his van into a mini-camper. He is currently planning to convert his shed into an office and Star Wars shrine.

Latest articles by

The incredible former Second World War bunker on the Isle of Wight

Take a look inside this converted war bunker — with prefab garden Nissen huts

By Sam Webb published

The architect of this incredible home, with incredible sea views from St Lawrence, near Ventnor, created one of Kevin McCloud's all-time favourites on Grand Designs

The property in in Yorke Street, Wrexham

Council demands owners make damaged chimney safe — then takes action against the couple after they removed all four

By Sam Webb published

One chimney on the building in a Wrexham conservation area was deemed dangerous. However, removal of four chimneys – which totalled over £30k with other roofing work – has been met with an enforcement order for their reinstatement

large weed growing through gravel

How to remove weeds from gravel — and stop them coming back

By Sam Webb published

Removing weeds from gravel patios, gardens and driveways doesn't need to be a chore. Follow our quick guide to getting rid of these annoying invaders

Dinton Castle has white stone work for its structure as well as stairs leading up to its entrance which follows on from the gravelled driveway. It is surrounded by greenery and trees in a secluded area

Grand Designs' best houses: 5 of the show's most extraordinary homes

By Sam Webb published

From caves to castles, we look back at Grand Designs' most memorable and innovative properties

Sajida Shahid's home on Harewood Street

Homeowner fined £86 for refusing to demolish extension — and another homeowner on the same street also due in court

By Sam Webb published

A Bradford homeowner could see front extension, built without planning permission, torn down by the council and then be charged for it if she fails to comply with enforcement order

British Gas engineers will provide free heat pump service ahead of winter

British Gas Warm Home Promise will refund heat pump installs if not as warm as a boiler

By Sam Webb published

British Gas commit to only install a heat pump if it will heat a home as well as a traditional boiler, as part of newly launched Warm Home Promise

The large eco home with layers of balconies and an American style barn and bat palace

An eco home with its own bat palace and night sky observatory

By Sam Webb published

Great Deptford House also has stables, a workshop and hosts various species of wildlife

small red brick house with solar panels on roof

Why your roof might not be suitable for solar panels

By Sam Webb published

Solar panels are rising in popularity, but not every home may be able to use them effectively. Here's why

Solar panels being installed

MPs write open letter asking for heat pumps and solar panels to be mandatory in new homes

By Sam Webb published

The committee claims renewables will help families struggling with high energy costs and jumpstart the economy

Someone putting a measuring device into a small hole filled with water to conduct a percolation test

What is a percolation test? Plus, how one should be done for your drainage project

By Sam Webb published

Percolation tests should always be carried out before building soakaways and installing septic tanks to make sure water can be safely discharged into the soil. Here we explain what they are and how one should be done

Mike Barker in a yellow jumper beside his old oil tank

How this rural homeowner ditched his oil tank and switched to 'hot water pipes' to heat his home

By Sam Webb published

Mike Barker has cut the connection to his oil tank and now gets all the heating for his home from insulated hot water pipes that come into his property — in what could be a low carbon heating solution for rural homes

A redbrick bungalow with white cladding and a clay tiled roof

Homeowner who built bungalow without planning permission 11 years ago fined £7,500 after refusing to demolish it

By Sam Webb published

Homeowner, who is now in his 70s, is still living in the £500,000 bungalow with his wife after building it without permission on greenbelt land in Dorset more than a decade ago

A front view of the yellow brick terraced property with the white single storey extension visible

Homeowner who bought house that didn't have permission for its extension fined £160 for refusing to demolish it

By Sam Webb published

Homeowner has spent seven years ignoring demands to demolish the unauthorised extension after buying the property with an enforcement notice on it

A hand gripping a pencil over building plans

Architect struck off after building customer's extension without planning permission

By Sam Webb published

The customer let the architect build the two-storey extension after being told the plans didn't need planning permission

The exterior of the 1970s bungalow with tree to the front and large driveway

Timewarp 70s bungalow with black toilet and serving hatch goes on sale for £925k

By Sam Webb published

The detached property is an unusual shape with classic pebbledash render and playful stained glass windows

New rolls of turf being rolled out on top soil

When to mow new turf? And why you shouldn't mow it too soon

By Sam Webb published

Mowing a newly-laid lawn too soon can seriously damage the turf. Here's what you need to know, plus expert tips for keeping new turf looking its best

The proposed site showing a small wooden barn with dirt track and cars around it

Martin Clunes set to lose planning battle over traveller site next to his farm

By Sam Webb published

The actor's neighbours have lived in an unauthorised mobile home on land they own for more than two decades

A neatly cut lawn edge in a garden with a well weeded flower bed

Video shows garden designer turning strimmer upside down to cut lawn edges

By Sam Webb published

The TikTok video has some viewers mesmerised with a cunning strimmer "hack" showing the gardener gliding along to quickly and easily cut his flower bed borders

A channel drain built into a driveway

Do you have a soakaway? How to claim a surface water drainage rebate on your water bill

By Sam Webb published

You may well be overpaying on your water bill if you have a soakaway or other surface water drainage system. Here's how to apply for a rebate — which you can even backdate six years

A red classic porsche parked on a street with georgian houses in the background

Self builder designs ultimate garage for his classic car collection

By Sam Webb published

The amazing space hosts has a workshop and five bays with underfloor heating and moveable parts to control lighting and airflow — plus its own air source heat pump

The abbey dates back to the 12th-century

Boycie’s home after Only Fools and Horses goes on sale for £1.5 million

By Sam Webb published

Late actor John Challis bought the property in 1998 and renovated it with his wife

Dan and Stacey Bond with daughter Eva

Family living off grid in shipping container with alpacas told to dismantle home

By Sam Webb published

Dan and Stacey Bond used to live in a bus they converted to a home on their land where they run an alpaca retreat

Worcester Bosch's hydrogen boiler prototype

Will a loophole allow gas boilers in new homes after 2025?

By Sam Webb published

There are fears 'hydrogen-ready' boilers will sidestep looming net-zero legislation

The dumped rubbish consisted of timber, mattresses, carpets, tiles, and other household waste

Renovator fined after contractor fly-tips building waste

By Sam Webb published

The prosecution demonstrates the importance of ensuring a contractor disposes of waste responsibly

A red lawn mower cutting long grass

How to cut long grass — according to the experts

By Sam Webb published

You can prevent the risk of damage to your lawn and your mower by taking a few simple steps. We ask the experts their verdict on cutting long grass

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