Welcome

As this inspiration-packed issue of Build It incorporating

Courtyard house

PROJECT OF THE MONTH The owners of this

Self build plots in Cheshire

A new1,500-home bespoke garden village development in Handforth,

UK house prices cool

The latest Halifax House Price Index showed a

What’s on?

INTRODUCTION TO HOME DECORATING 28TH FEB FREE, I

Energy efficient homes more likely to retain value

According to a survey from the Royal Institute

need to know

Benefits of installing a water conditioning system

product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

3 of the best METAL ROOFS

1 Tile form roofing sheets in graphite grey,

interiors notebook

Brighten up your home using soft pastel shades to infuse a gentle pop of colour

FIND YOUR DREAM BUILDING PLOT

PlotBrowser.com is a 100% free-to-use plot and property finder, packed with 1,000s of home building opportunities. Here’s a taster of the fantastic self build plots, renovation properties and conversions currently for sale near you

NINE PLOTS & PROPERTIES IN SCOTLAND

LOCATION Leadburn, Scottish Borders GUIDE PRICE £140,000 to

next month...

May issue on sale 29th March

How to achieve the exposed ceiling trend

George Bradley, director of Bradley Van Der Straeten, explains how to make a feature out of your ceiling with structural timber

CONSERVATORIES & SUNROOMS

Extending your home with a conser vatory or sunroom will add vital living space and allow you to enjoy the garden no matter the weather. With good design, these rooms can add real value, providing multifunctional zones filled with natural light, often without need for complicated planning applications. Lucy Keech shares some inspirational examples

LABOUR OF LOVE

Suzanne and Steve took a hands-on approach to building their contemporary timber frame house in rural Suffolk

Worth the wait

After stretching their budget on a new home, Ed and Nicola Dolman had to bide their time before transforming the property into the house of their dreams

KEEPING A LOW PROFILE

Adam and Raema Lyon have chosen three cladding materials for their contemporary timberframe home on a sensitive site in Orkney, designed with minimal impact to the site and environment

WHAT MAKES A GOOD SLIDING DOOR?

Discover some of the key diff erences between high and poorer quality products, with these tips on how to spot the telltale signs

Part 2 Upgrading the fabric

From addressing airtightness and insulation to maintaining adequate ventilation, Alan Tierney reveals the best eco updates you can make to the structure of a period property

Are SMART thermostats worthwhile?

Are smart thermostats the ultimate home energy-saving gadget? Jennifer Grimble investigates if they’re worth the investment

THE BENEFITS OF INSTALLING INTERNAL GLAZING

Want to balance natural light and openness with the ability to zone off parts of your home? Origin’s Victoria Brocklesby explains how to make the most of new internal glazing systems

16 WOW FACTOR FLOOR TILE IDEAS

Be inspired by this handpicked selection of beautiful flooring, including porcelain, ceramic, terracotta, vinyl and stone tiles

PLANNED VENTILATION how to create a healthy home

Rebecca Foster explains why welldesigned ventilation is critical for a comfortable house with a fresh internal living environment

10 AMAZING TIMBER FEATURES IN YOUR HOME

Emily Batesmith shares inspiring ideas for where wood details can make a striking impact on both the look and f unctionalit y of your bespoke home project

WHY BUILD WITH TIMBER?

From quick build speeds to design flexibility, Rebecca Foster outlines the key benefits of this popular construction system

BESPOKE BUNGALOW

Find out how Scandia-Hus drew on the serene surroundings to design and build a stylish contemporary home in Kent

FUTURE PROOF FAMILY HOME

Turner Timber Frames provided the highly ef ficient kit for this low-maintenance new build house in East Yorkshire

3 STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL TIMBER SELF BUILD

Make sure your project goes smoothly with the Structural Timber Association’s guide to choosing the best build system and supplier for your new home

BUILDING WITH SIPS

Discover the basics of this modern construction technique and how it could benefit your build

AWARD -WINNING DESIGN

SIPs was the perfect choice for this striking project, which is set in an exposed coastal location with fabulous views

BENEFITS OF OAK FRAME

One of the few structural systems to be lef t on show once your project is complete, oak framing can produce a truly indiv idual home

UNFORGETTABLE OAK

Discover a home so meticulously designed and detailed that one Build It Awards judge declared they wanted to move into it!

INSULATION OPTIONS FOR TIMBER FRAME

Simon Orrells, managing director at Frame Technologies, answers your questions about choosing the right insulation for your new timber frame self build

BENEFITS OF TIMBER WINDOWS & DOORS

Offering plenty of character and strong eco credentials, there’s a long list of advantages to using wood in the construction of your home’s window frames and entryways

TIMBER CLADDING

Timber cladding is a popular external finish that works on a variety of projects, from rural renovations to ultramodern self builds, but which style will suit your home?

TIMBE R-CLAD BARN CONVERSION

Using Brimstone poplar timber cladding helped these self builders to create the sustainable eco home they were after

TIMBER FLOORING QUICK GUIDE

Wooden flooring can make a timeless statement, adding character, functionality and durability to your home, says Sander Tel

TIMBER OUTBUILDINGS

Characterful and convenient, timber outbuildings can be a practical solution to a lack of space or an alternative to an extension

STUNNING STAIRCASE DESIGNS

Timber is a timeless choice when it comes to picking the material for your stairs, lending itself to endless opportunities for creating a functional yet innovative flight

USING BRICK CREATIVELY

Think brick’s simply a traditional, one-dimensional solution? Think again. Opinder Liddar sets out the innovative ways you can use it in your next project

PLOT HUNTING A CHECKLIST A CHECKLIST

When looking to undertake a self build, finding the right plot (or any plot) can be the number one challenge. Julia Riddle advises on how you can ease the process and find your dream site

BACK TO BASICS SELF BUILD INSURANCE

Protect your plot, build and finished property by getting the right cover in place, says Self-Build Zone’s Jake Fitness

Water source heat pumps

Eco homes expert Nigel Griffiths looks at how this heat pump tech works and whether it makes sense for self builders and renovators

Self build & custom build mortgage table

Looking to fund your bespoke home project? Each

WINDOWS & DOORS

theE DG E2.0 | Build It award-winning sliding