Welcome

The first few months of the year are

Sympathetic countryside extension

RICHARD CHIVERS The extension and refurbishment of

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Grey matter

VAT scrapped on battery storage

Having seen energy bills soar this winter, it’s

2 in 3

is the proportion of potential self builders who

Self Build Wales scheme provides dream home

The first family to benefit from Self Build

Government planning blitz on brownfield and PD rights

Housing secretary Michael Gove has announced plans to

need to know

Does it cost more to build a Passivhaus? 

CHAYLEY COLLIS

is communications associate at The Passivhaus Trust.

product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

interiors notebook

Contrast bold patterns, colours and textures with modern design features to create a classic retro scheme

Ask the EXPERTS

Essential advice on your problems with building, budgeting, DIY &planning from the most experienced names in the self build industry

Self build & custom build mortgage table

Looking to fund your bespoke home project? Each month we round up the best deals from leading lenders and update you on what you need to know to secure the right finance

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

Creating a lowmaintenance home

This issue, we put the spotlight on stylish solutions that will help make your home easier to live in and care for in the long term

next month...

May issue on sale 27th March

Floor plans for busy households

Director of Studio CHY, Carl Challinor, explores what to consider when designing spaces that will work around family life for years to come

CREATIVE BRICKWORK

One of the oldest and most-favoured building materials, brick is as timeless as it is beautiful. From sympathetic extensions to ultra-modern new builds, Sander Tel highlights the different ways masonry can be used to pack a punch

AT ONE WITH NATURE

Self builders Susan and John Shearer knocked down their old holiday cottage in Cairngorms National Park and replaced it with an ultraenergy-efficient build packed with architectural wow factor

Divine inspiration

After 14 months of ups and downs, Geoff and Julie Bolam have transformed a neglected Victorian church into a wow-factor house

THE ART OF WAITING

Kit and Carole Ryan bought their home in the 1980s, with a view to undertaking a long-term renovation. But they weren’t expecting it to be almost 40 years before their plans came to fruition

CREATING A BETTER HOME PART 1: NATURAL & SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

Harnessing the benefits of eco-friendly, healthy materials to build your home can help create a better living environment. Georgina Crothers explores the natural and sustainable products available and how you can use them in different areas of your project

HOW MUCH DOES A KITCHEN FIT-OUT COST?

If your project involves adding a new kitchen, you need to budget for this on top of the building work. LindsayBlairtakes a look at how much the different elements cost

Roof tiles

From handmade clay to galvanised steel, there are lots of different options on the market for roof tiles. Take a look at this collection of products to find the right look and material for your project

Enhanced mortgage rules are benefitting self & custom builders

BuildStore’s Chris Martin explains how the recently introduced Consumer Duty is set to help make sure you get the right mortgage deal to fund your home building project

AGRICULTURAL CONVERSIONS

Barn conversions are a sought-after route to a bespoke home and Class Q planning rules are making it more accessible. Alan Tierney shares the ins and outs of this kind of project

COST CALCULATOR

Want to understand how much it costs to build your own home? Our ready reckoner, powered by the Build It Estimating Service, will help you gauge what size, style and quality of house you can achieve on your project budget

Changes for home glazing standards

Edward Stobart from IDSystems looks at what the 2025 Future Homes Standard means for new windows and glazed doors

10 GREAT WAYS TO USE TIMBER IN YOUR HOME

Versatile, charming and timeless, Sander Tel highlights the amazing ways you can use wood throughout your home building project for a lasting impression

STRUCTURAL TIMBER

Whether you’re opting for timber frame, SIPs, oak frame or a combination of build solutions, a timber structural system offers design flexibility, energy efficiency and cost certainty

Insurance & warranties for timber builds

Self-Build Zone’s Jake Fitness explains how to get the best cover for a timber building project

INSULATING A TIMBER HOME

Timber building systems enable high performance out of the box – but what are the insulation options for a bespoke project?

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR STRUCTUR AL TIMBER SUPPLIER

Five members of the Structural Timber Association (STA) shed light on some of the key areas to be informed on when building a home from structural timber

TIMBER DOORS & WINDOWS

For a durable, thermally-efficient option packed with design potential and character, timber could be the ideal choice for your home’s doors and windows. Erika Chaffey investigates what's on offer

AMAZING TIMBER STAIRCASE IDEAS

Looking to bring an effortless, charming statement to your home’s interior? Take a look at this hand-picked collection of unique and inspiring timber flights

TIMBER FLOORING

design details

TIMBER OPEN RAINSCREEN CLADDING

Roxana Cercelaru, Russwood’s senior architectural liaison technician, shares her five top tips on how to get this popular cladding design feature right

TIMBER OUTBUILDINGS

From home offices to kitchens, you can create additional living space in your garden for a whole range of uses, as these timber designs demonstrate

FIRST CONVERSATIONS WITH AN ARCHITECT

Establishing a good working relationship with your architect is essential for a successful project. Julian Owenshares his expertise on how to start off on the best footing, right from initial discussions with your designer

Quality checking & snagging

Self build project management specialist Mark Stevenson discusses how to check that the work in your home project has been completed to the quality that you expect

How does the Right to Build work in the planning system?

Planning consultant Julia Riddle explores how the Right to Build legislation aims to increase the number of self and custom build plots and the impact it has had on development so far

Guide to home wind turbines

Eco expert Nigel Griffiths looks into how you can power your home’s electricit y through the natural resource of the wind