Guide To renovating a 1970s house

EDITOR’S LETTER

Claire Lloyd has been a member of the Homebuilding & Renovating team for 15 years. She’s currently in the midst of another renovation.

OUR EXPERTS

JENNIFER GRIMBLE Is a property writer who loves

INSIGHT

A round-up of the latest self-build and home renovation news, products and events.

On the waterfront

James and Sophie Edmondson’s lakeside home is brimming

Island lıving

Lauchlan and Charlotte Maclean-Bristol renovated a tired stone cottage in the Hebrides, making the most of its tiny footprint

spotlight on: Getting supplies to a remote location

SUPPLIERS CONTRACTORS Patrick Rutherford: 07770 892969 Tom Davies:

A fresh start

A plot with views across grounds of a Lincolnshire golf course inspired Mark and Sarah Astall to self-build their new oak frame home

Bungalow transformations

This wow-factor selection of projects shows how a single-storey home can be used as a blank canvas to create a modern home oozing design panache

From the ground up

Keen to find out more about Passivhaus building, Paul and Sonny Shepherd booked into a two-day course — and started their own remarkable self-build journey

timeline

HOMEOWNERS Paul and Sonny Shepherd PROJECT Barn conversion

Durable all-weather composite decking

Opt for composite decking for the warmth and character of timber but without the maintenance issues so often associated with real wood

Q Installing solar panels

Our energy expert advises on installing solar panels, including how to, costs and timescales — plus a step-by-step guide to the process

17 key steps when planning a new kitchen

If you’re intending to give your hub of the home a facelift, check out our 17 main considerations to ensure the project goes without a hitch

OLD HOUSE, NEW HOME

LOAD-BEARING WALLS

FOCUS ON SOUND INSULATION

You don’t just need good insulation, you also require thermally efficient, dense, sound-absorbing insulation, says energy efficiency expert Tim Pullen

Beginner’s to guide self-build

IMAGES: GETTY; *HBR SELF & CUSTOM BUILD MARKET

Pre-build essentials

Here are some of the key things you need to consider before ‘going on site’ with your build

Financing your build

Funding your project may require a specialist self-build mortgage…

Finding your self-build plot

It’s the starting point to any self-build dream. Here’s what to consider when plot hunting

Choosing a build route

Self-build is a broad church — you needn’t lay a single brick if you don’t want to!

Do you need planning permission for a porch?

If you want to add a porch to your home you may be able to erect it under Permitted Development rights but there are caveats, as planning consultant Simon Rix explains

HOW MUCH WILL A BUILDER COST?

It’s a question quantity surveyor Tim Phillips gets asked a lot. Here, he shares typical rates and the factors that can influence the costs

10 FACTORS THAT CAN INFLUENCE THE COST OF A BUILDER

1 SIZE OF BUILDING COMPANY The ‘no job

DON’T BE A COWBOY CLIENT

It’s not uncommon for on-site relationships to get fraught and all too often it’s the client, not the trades causing the problems. Andy Stevens offers a few tips on how to get the best out of your builder on site

COUNTER-TOP BATHROOM BASINS

Add a touch of luxury with these stylish counter-top basins

HOW TO ADD A PITCHED ROOF EXTENSION

Find out what to consider if you’re adding a pitched roof extension to your home —from the pros and cons to the likely costs

The vaulted ceiling

Add some architectural drama to your home with an exposed ceiling. Here’s how to achieve the look

ASK THE EXPERTS

Got a burning question about your self-build, extension or renovation project that you need answering? Drop us a line by emailing homebuilding@futurenet.com and your question could be answered by one of our magazine experts

Lighting trends for 2023

We’ve pulled together some super-stylish lighting trends to incorporate into your interior design scheme for the year ahead, including invaluable advice and tips from our experts

Building on a sloping site

Here are the five key things you need to know before you start building on a tilted trajectory

De-risk your self-build

Use the experts in self-build to insure your project, with an insurance and warranty product from Homebuilding & Renovating with Self Build Zone

GREEN HOMES

ECO SOFA RANGE This statement velvet sofa (from

Getting the most fromUFH w ith heat pumps

If you’re considering installing a heat pump, take David Hilton’s advice on designing an underfloor heating system that incorporates specific features to operate at maximum efficiency

How to i nsu late a modern developer home

If you’re living in a developer home built between the 1960s and 1980s, what can you do to slash your energy bills this year — and for many years to come? Our experts offer invaluable advice

Urban infill

The tricky proportions of a narrow plot didn’t stop Selencky Parsons from creating a stunning bespoke home on the site, that sits harmoniously alongside its Victorian neighbours, as writer Rebecca Foster explains