March 2019
Welcome to the March edition of i-build magazine! This issue is packed with inspirational projects and products as well as useful advice for your self-build.
Arguably the most critical part of your self-build is laying the foundations – after all, this is the base for your dream home. But it can be frustrating when you feel like you’re investing a large amount of money into a hole in the ground. Nevertheless, this step is vital to get right and with so many different types of foundation for homes, especially in the pioneering self-build market, it can feel like a minefield trying to decipher which is best for your project.
Because of their simplicity and cost-effectiveness, strip foundations are the most common type of foundation among self-builders. Raft foundations tend to cover at least the same area size as the ground floor of your self-build and they are used on soft subsoils such as soft clay and are also quite popular. You may also want to consider pile foundations as they are more likely to be the most accurate and precise. All three of these possibilities are common choices when building a home, however very few self-builders consider aircrete as a viable option for foundations. With that in mind, this month i-build explores aircrete and helps you decide if it is worth considering as the foundation choice for your self-build. Turn to page 20 to read more.
Elsewhere in this issue, an extensive list of industry experts discuss the mistakes that every self-builder makes and helps you avoid them on page 10. Meanwhile on page 24, The Sash Window Workshop gives you guidance on choosing the best windows for your self-build and Caesarstone helps you prepare a list of questions that you need to ask your worktop fabricator to ensure you make an informed decision on page 26.
I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, if you’re coming to the end of your self-build and would like us to feature your home as inspiration for other budding house-builders, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. Alternatively, if you’re about to embark on your self-build journey and would be keen for us to document your progress, do get in contact.
