Looking for rear extension ideas? Many looking to extend will choose to do so at the rear of their property to create a natural continuation of its interiors, either with an entirely new space or by enlarging what’s already there – allowing the new addition to open up the home and improve its connection with the garden. Rear extensions are popular because they are often hidden from the front of the house and so don’t impose on the kerb-side view of the home. This means you can be more creative with the addition’s design and create something that adds real character to the back of your property ..read more

Most self builders know the importance of insuring a home as it’s being built, but do you have the right level of protection in place – have you insured your project at its professional reinstatement cost? This is key to recovering from a serious loss, but what does it mean for your scheme? Build Budget vs Pro Reinstatement Cost When completing your insurance proposal form, you’ll need a sense of your build budget (ie how much you expect to spend on construction). However, perhaps you’re doing some jobs yourself, so your figures aren’t an accurate indication of how much it would cost to, say ..read more

Undertaking a self build project – particularly if this is your first time – can seem overwhelming. So, before construction begins, it’s a wise move to take some basic preparatory steps that will save you time and money later. Key considerations include organising site insurance for the entire build period, appointing the right designer and dealing with planning conditions. So, arm yourself with this pre-start checklist and start your dream home journey on the best possible footing. Protecting Your Site The moment you exchange contracts and own your plot, you’ll want to obtain comprehensive si ..read more

Think quaint cabins, wooden interiors, miniature woodburners and mezzanine sleeping areas – tiny homes embody a picturesque vision of the simple life, making a big impression online, especially on social media. The Tiny House Movement has been popular over in the US for a while and the phenomenon is growing in the UK, too. But what defines a tiny home, how do they overcome the minimum space requirements of Building Regs and who’s building them? From planning permission to how much a tiny home could cost, here I’m taking a look at the key information you need to know about designing and buildin ..read more

Windows are a crucial element in any building, including Passivhaus designs, and have a multi-faceted role. They need to provide abundant daylight, make the most of the views, ensure high levels of security and unify the interior with the exterior space. Passivhaus windows must also reduce heat loss to a minimum, maximise useful solar gains in the winter, provide exceptional thermal comfort and eliminate radiant cold from the glass surface. At the same time, they must also be long lasting. Fundamentally, windows, and doors need to tick many boxes. Here are the main considerations if you’re loo ..read more

Very few people build a new home without the help from some specialists along the way, and an experienced structural supplier is the perfect company to help make your project a success. But ensuring that the supplier in question is reliable is a key element. You want to investigate the business: how long has it been operating? Are they well-established and well-known? Consider customer recommendations and ask to see some real-life examples of previous projects to get a feel for the standard of quality and workmanship. Look for Experience Employing a company that is tried, tested and trusted by ..read more

Aiming for Passivhaus quality and approval means achieving the highest level of home efficiency, which is no small feat for even the most eco-conscious builder. Passivhaus ideology relies largely on natural heat from the sun to warm the house, alongside strong insulation to minimise heat loss. In addition to dramatic savings on energy bills, living in a home built using these principles means a pleasant environment for occupants, with no chilly spots, draughts or wasted heat. The impressive level of fit and finish means that in terms of airtightness, the build quality of a Passivhaus is second ..read more

Are you looking for house cladding ideas for your self build, renovation or extension project? It’s wise to think about your cladding choice from the outset of a project to ensure you can fully consider its relation to windows, doors and the size of walls. Do you want your home’s exterior to stand out or become an architectural feature? Or does the house need to blend into the landscape? The geographical location is vital as not all materials will be suitable. Less durable house cladding options will not work in waterside or coastal locations, while areas with high sun exposure could impact th ..read more

Side return extensions are popular for those with narrow homes looking for ways to maximise their available space. The side return is the strip of land that sits down the side and at the back of most terraced houses. side return extensions, therefore, enable homeowners to reclaim this unused garden space and repurpose it for modern living – often creating kitchen-diners or snug zones with overhead glazing. The best way to approach a side return extension is to work it into a wider reconfiguration of some – or even all – of your home’s ground floor layout. This offers a prime opportunity to ext ..read more

Understanding how much it could cost to build a house in 2024, and the big triggers that could impact on your total self build budget, is vital to a successful project that’s completed on time and to your specifications. Labour and building materials prices surged in the past couple of years, so many self builders are understandably asking whether we’ll continue to see an upward trend, or whether prices are stabilising. Most self builders have a limited pool of funds and will be using a specialist mortgage to enable their schemes. So, setting a viable budget and sticking as close to it as poss ..read more