At the Right to Build Expo Exeter, the Right to Build Task Force announced that Teignbridge District Council and its GESP partners are to trial a new custom- and self-build evidence tool for planners.
If you have a project requiring a traditional oak framed garage, you may want to consider the range of ‘Chippy’ kits offered by Round Wood of Mayfield.
Keep your kitchen and bathrooms newer for longer with a water softener. Whether your project is being built, renovated or you simply need to get rid of limescale; a water softener is a great addition…
A beautiful development of 6 homes, which has been named the Best Small UK Development at the London Evening Standard New Homes Award, features Dale Joinery’s range of timber windows and doors throughout.
As basements are now being used as increased living space, how do you channel and maximise the available natural light in to these areas in a way that is creative, stylish and functional? The answer…
An ambitious project by a Wiltshire couple, wanting to convert an unused void beneath their ultra-modern home into a comfortable garden room, has included the installation of the Hydronic underfloor heating system from Gaia Climate…
The fundamental contributor to the success of your self build project is the project management approach that you adopt.
Steel windows have remained an enduring element in both domestic and commercial buildings for centuries due to their slim sight-lines combined with rugged performance; yet they, like many building products, are subject to trends in…
BLANCO UK has launched the Pendant range of island hoods in answer to today’s demands for the ultimate in kitchen focal points.
A recent renovation project carried out on an early 19th century town house in London’s fashionable Holland Park area, has made use of the innovative new TorFloor RdB system, manufactured by underfloor heating specialist, OMNIE..
Milbank Concrete Products based in Essex are one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of precast concrete products with a focus on exceptional customer service. Throughout the design, manufacturing, delivery and installation stages, Milbank offer one…
Specialist timber frame manufacturer, designer and supplier - Frame Technologies, has been awarded the highest possible accolade by the UK’s leading structural timber body. Under a new protocol, Frame Technologies has been the first timber…
Water is a more precious resource than you may have thought in Britain. Although it appears we have an abundance due to our temperate, rainy climate, per capita London has less drinking water than Istanbul…
Whether you are trying to achieve a traditional, classical or contemporary style for your self-build garden, a water feature can add interest and intrigue. There are many varieties of water features available to suit all…
Walk-in wardrobes have plenty of appeal when it comes to stylish storage solutions. From the fashion-obsessed to craft lovers, a space that allows you to get a complete 360° view of your possessions is perfect…
A long, winding drive and a lush leafy garden. Light and airy bedrooms and spacious kitchens. We all have a ‘shopping list’ of what our perfect home looks like and it’s a dream come true…
Long-since popular in the Nordic countries, timber frame construction is booming in the UK. A construction material at the forefront of evidence-led design, timber is sustainable, versatile and suitable for a wide variety of purposes.…
Endless design opportunities means that wooden floors continue to be a popular choice for residential projects in 2018. With trends developing fast, it’s important to think about which flooring trends may or may not work…
Nestled in the heart of the Sussex countryside stands a 16th-century cottage, complete with 10 acres laden with hidden treasures. The soon-to-be-owners of the property fell in love with the cottage immediately, blown away by…
The dining table can often be a place which is most visited by the family – if you get it right. They are hubs of conversation, delicious celebrations, and most importantly, keep you all together…
Neon lighting and decorative accessories are both nostalgic and now, evoking retro charm and appeal while also being ideal for modern interiors. This innovative form of tube lighting was first introduced at the Paris Motor…
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lighting
An elegant reading room has been created for retired couple David and Frances Turner in Belsize Park, north London. The extension is a smart and simple solution to create a reflective space within their home…
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extension
When Melinda Swan bought her husband a subscription to a wine club as a Christmas present, she couldn’t have foreseen that his hobby would play such a big part in a major home refurbishment.
Latest figures released by Hiscox’s Renovations and Extensions Report 2018 reveal that 14% of homeowners in the South East would prefer to renovate their property rather than relocate, with a fivefold national rise since 2013.…
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events
Ryan Abell, owner of Abell Building Services, describes when it can be more advantageous to use a small house-builder for custom house projects.
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custom build
The long-awaited reforms to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) regulations have successfully passed through Parliament and came into effect on 22nd May 2018.
Award winning architecture and development company Design Storey have specified a Kährs ash wood floor design for their Cotswold property renovation project in Chipping Campden. The project, which appeared on Channel 4's Best Laid Plans,…
A New Year often goes hand in hand with keen aspirations to do a little lifestyle revamp, new gym, new job or maybe a whole new living environment. With 2017 now a distant memory, Hanse…
Traditional Joiners using modern machinery & techniques. Makers of Hardwood and Accoya™ Windows, Doors and Staircases.
Here Arboricultural Consultant, Mark Hinsley, guides i-build through the process of Tree Preservation Order consent.
Taking care of your conservatory – be it a grand orangery or a contemporary space – is key if you want to enjoy it for many summers to come.
Are you happy with where you live but would like that bit more space? Extending your home could be the way forward. Here Architectural Designer at Studio SDA, Hayley Pearse, gives her advice on how…
If you love grass but don’t want the mess, mud and maintenance that it brings; maybe you should consider artificial grass.
Whether you’re working on a renovation project, or simply looking to spruce up an outdoor environment it’s likely that your hard landscaping products have been affected by the weather over the winter months. In this…
From rediscovered classics to bolder colour contrasts, Neolith reveals the surface trends for self-builders in 2018.
Neil Ginger, CEO at Origin, discusses why every self-builder should contemplate adding bi-folding doors to their project and looks at one couple who did just that.
As the population grows, there becomes more pressure to utilise potentially contaminated land for redevelopment for alternative uses, especially housing.
Hidden in the Scottish Highlands sits the Jill Strawbale House, an eco-friendly holiday home created by Robert and Justine Dunn. The building uses straw bales as its main form of insulation and exports five times…
Every year, tens of thousands of people set out to follow their dream and start their very own self-build project. Out of those tens of thousands, while some will chart a steady, successful course, many…
In 2012, Government removed the 0% VAT concession on approved alterations to listed buildings, adding additional financial strain to owners for any conservation or restoration bills. The cost of conserving their properties is already often…
Design guru Kevin McCloud talks to i-build about all things self-build and provides you with his priceless knowledge and advice.
The app enables homeowners to design their own room, visualising the real effect of daylight, with 3600 view and virtual reality options.
Architects – and TV shows! - talk about using large scale glazing “to let the outside connect with the inside” of a property, but one design professional has specified a high-performance, triple glazed composite screen…
The world-renowned Hayward Gallery is a contemporary art gallery within Southbank Centre in London.
UK timber business BSW Timber is expanding on the success of its fencing and landscaping products by introducing a new range of eco-friendly composite decking in 2018.
Schueco UK has launched a new version of its highly successful panoramic door system.
There are many design elements to consider when creating your luxury swimming pool. Perhaps the most important aspect of pool design is selecting the shape.
There are many considerations to address when sourcing materials for re-roofing a listed property or other historically significant buildings. It is usual to be specified to use a handmade clay tile. Here Tony Kindell, Managing…
Aristotle famously said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Richard McLane, Design Director of Bisca, explains that where staircases are concerned, the opposite may be true.
Will Gough, Commercial Manager for Spaceslide, gives the inside track on how to easily section off part of your bedroom for your very own walk-in wardrobe.
If you’re thinking about embarking on a self-build project outside the limits of the UK’s main urban areas, there’s a good chance you won’t have access to the mains sewage network.
A beautiful bath has become a real statement piece for many interior designs. It should be the focal point of your brand-new self-build bathroom but which style should you invest in? Here, i-build takes a…
When looking for a new roller garage door you will probably already have seen there is an enormous choice in the UK, and if you look quickly, they may all seem to look pretty much…
Whatever stage of self-build you are at, the chances are that you are finding the process of designing and building to be challenging, and the technicalities daunting. Many self-builders actually project manage their contractors, as…
After 25 years of living in their large Edwardian semi-detached property in Woking, Lynn Paynter, a Marketing Consultant and her husband David, an Artist and Poet, decided it was time to embark on their long-held,…
When Marie Christine Hughes and her husband moved into their Victorian detached property in West Norwood 12 years ago, they knew they wanted to add an extension to make more room.
If you’re planning to build your own home, a traditional mortgage won’t be right for you, you’ll need a specialist self-build mortgage instead. Many of us dream of building our own home, but before you…
The fundamental contributor to the success of your self-build project is the project management approach that you adopt. The term self-build means so many different things to different people, as every self-builder has different motivations,…
Here Steve McSorley, Director at Thomasons, gives his advice from an engineer’s point of view.
Kensa Heat Pumps has added a new 17kW model to its multi award-winning Evo Series of ground source heat pumps.
If you are seeking to transform your home in a simple yet wholly artistic way true to your tastes, then consider relighting your home with Lighting Sensations.
Darren Hook, Managing Director of The Porch Specialist, discusses how porches can instantly boost your home’s kerb appeal.
With an abundant choice of rainwater systems on the market there is certainly no problem in finding the right, aesthetically pleasing, products for your self-build project.
Those who are serious about food look for kitchen appliances that provide professional performance, artisan quality and iconic design. The kitchen is the concert hall of the home and the distinctive and iconic design of…
A kitchen island could be the finishing touch your self-build needs. Not only does it offer an extra surface for food preparation, it can also provide storage if you’re a bit tight on space, somewhere…
An 1800s cottage and barn conversion in rural mid-Norfolk has swapped expensive electric fires for energy-efficient ground source heating from renewable heating expert, Finn Geotherm.
As a self-builder, it’s likely that you will be looking for ways to save space, or make building as easy as possible while you undertake your project. An easy and convenient heating solution may be…
The owners of this house moved to Jersey when they retired, buying an impressive chateaux-style property with exceptional views across the splendid bay. The kitchen however, situated at the back of the house, was shut…
Internal partitions are an essential component of your building fabric but they are often overlooked in the excitement of picking kitchens, bathrooms and decorative finishes. However, the decisions made now about these crucial construction elements…
Small may be beautiful, but it isn’t always easy. In fact, creating a compact new-build to squeeze into a limited footprint in London, while meeting all regulations (and the high expectations of a design engineer…
David Rodgers and his wife Elizabeth fancied an outdoor living style and self-building on an existing plot of land, while living in the on-site bungalow, offered them the opportunity to create a contemporary open-plan home…
A recent tax tribunal case highlighted the point of completion of a new-build project in relation to self-builder VAT claims. It noted that it is not necessarily the date on the Certificate of Completion which…
Although planning permission exists in order to protect the UK’s cherished villages, towns and cities, it can often be the cause of enormous frustration. Complete with an often thorny application process and uncertain outcomes, planning…
Lot 20 is a new Ecodesign legislation which came into effect on 1st January 2018. It mandates that all electric space heaters and electric radiators comply with a set of minimum efficiency guidelines, and use…
Cedral has been creating timelessly beautiful facades in the UK for over 15 years, offering self-builders and homeowners the opportunity to add the perfect finishing touch to the exterior of their new build or existing…
Built in 1938 and protected by Concrete Blast Walls, Bawdsey Radar Station was the world’s first operational radar station. The walls had decayed steadily since the building was vacated in 1991, leaving the top layer…
Some 180 Marmox Thermoblocks have been supplied to a regional builder for the construction of a high specification home near Harrogate, with their unique combination of insulating and load-carrying properties being used to tackle cold…
The UK’s leading door manufacturer, Hörmann has a busy year ahead as the company plans a number of events, including its return to the Homebuilding & Renovating show. Following the success of last year’s show,…
Leading windows and doors manufacturer, Black Millwork has announced the release of a new range of aluminium windows in a move that reaffirms the company’s commitment to an ever-growing product offering.
Hot tubs have become an extremely popular choice for people looking to create the dream garden. Here, BISHTA offers advice to help make a safe hot tub purchase.
How you dress your windows will have a huge effect on the overall look and feel of your home. After working hard to design and build your perfect space, you’ll want to ensure that the…
Over 13,000 of us complete a self-build project every year in the UK. But, out of those 13,000 people, only a fraction have a real, tangible experience of building a home from scratch.
Here Marc Curtis, of UK-based Living Unplugged, a team passionate about helping people develop healthier relationships with digital technology and reconnecting them with the world through mindfulness, talks i-build through how he built a panel…
Tom and Nicola Webb’s second self-build project provided the perfect opportunity for a new timber frame family home in rural Herefordshire.
Amanda Green, Marketing Manager at SIGnature Clay Tiles, discusses why you should consider clay tiles for the roof of your self-build.
Safety and security are key considerations when building your own home, says Secured by Design (SBD), the national police crime prevention initiative, which works closely with police forces around the country.
Angela Linforth, Director at Titchmarsh & Goodwin, discusses how to achieve a timeless look when selecting furniture for your brand-new self-built home.
Little did Nic Downs and Carolyn Merrifield realise that when they saw a garden plot for sale down a cul-de-sac in leafy Cyncoed, Cardiff, that it would change the direction of their lives.
It was Terry and Mickey’s dream to build a home on land they owned behind their house near Greenwich in South East London, so when they saw an episode of Grand Designs featuring a Facit…
Having worked in the construction industry for 15 years, John Scarff had been involved with a number of self-build projects and had always longed to complete a build of his own, though the time was…
The recent changes made to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) may be mind-boggling for many self-builders looking to benefit from the Government's Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Here, Kensa Heat Pumps demystifies the recent changes to…
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all predict the future? Especially for self-builders in the planning stages of their new home, how great would it be to anticipate the future and design a home…
Sintesi by Falmec: a holistic cooking solution for the modern kitchen.
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kitchen
Multi award-winning, leading appliance specialist Caple’s stunning, new, updated appliance brochure is now available. Beautifully designed to provide the perfect platform to showcase its three comprehensive collections, this informative catalogue is packed with Caple’s latest…
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kitchen
With its durability, rich colour options and low maintenance requirements, designers and landscapers are recognising the benefits of composite decking for commercial and residential projects.
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decking
At Warm The Sole, we have a myriad of solutions to ensure you are in complete comfort in your own home. We also have an iqueue of boffins who can listen to your requests and…
Our lighting is designed to not only illuminate, but enhance the atmosphere of any environment. With access to a wide range of European and British lights, the company provide the best lighting facilities, aiming to…
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lighting
Blue Forest was delighted when it was asked to design and build a fairy-tale tree house in a quintessentially English country garden.
A high-specification self-build home, located in a Suffolk village, uses one of the underfloor heating options available from Gaia to provide warmth within all of its ground floor accommodation: offering excellent levels of energy efficiency…
Roof windows bring in more natural daylight that can transform a loft area into a new bright, fresh living space. Here, VELUX offers its top 10 tips on selecting roof windows for your loft conversion.
A deck is the perfect way to extend your living area to the outdoors – creating what is essentially an open-air extension.
Here UK-leading architectural glazing specialist, IQ Glass, advises on glazing specification for that sought-after all-glass aesthetic.
