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Welcome

Our homes are getting more intelligent every year.

Creative brick extension

inspiration

PROJ ECT OF THE MONTH

Family infill build

Scotland’s solar loans withdrawn

The Scottish government has unexpectedly stopped offering interest-free

Heat pump upgrades satisfy homeowners

According to research by Hard Heating ( hardheating.co.uk

What’s on?

HEAT & ENERGY WORKSHOP 12TH AUG FREE, SWINDON

NaCSBA & Richard Bacon MP push benefits of self build

On 10th July, two years on from Richard

need to know

How to get the most out of the design journey

Get Free Advice & Ideas for Your Project at Build It Live

9th & 10th September: Maximise your chances of self build, home renovation or extension success with a visit to our newest show, Build It Live South West

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

BARN-STYLE IN SUFFOLK

This is your chance to build a striking contemporary threebedroom barn-style home in the village of Walpole in Suffolk

next month...

October issue on sale 30th August

Building a new home in the countryside

Nicolas Tye, director of Tye Architects, gives the inside track on designing an exceptional countryside dwelling under Paragraph 80

spend v save

£420 This slimline aluminium radiator is lightweight and

product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

3 of the best GARDEN ROOMS

1 Garden studio, £23,733 for 2.5m (W) x

interiors notebook

For a richly textured yet understated interior scheme, pair soft beige hues with dark wood finishes

BARN CONVERSIONS

Turning a former agricultural building into a functional home comes with its challenges, but can offer unique character and design opportunities. Take a look at our pick of striking projects to inspire your build

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Alex and Mireia Gregor-Smith overcame various obstacles to transform a Victorian property into a family home, reconfiguring the interior and adding a rear extension

Passivhaus project

The drive to live in a modern, thermally efficient home prompted Dominic and Shamim Byrne to trade in their old period home for a bespoke Passivhaus

Multigenerational living

After failing to find a suitable property to divide up, the Horsteadshit upon the idea of self building their way to a home for three generations of the family

DESIGN OPTIONS FOR YOUR PACKAGE HOME

We take a closer look at the various routes you can take to honing the plans for your project, whether you want to work with an independent architect or choose from your kit supplier’s portfolio of schemes

EXTENSIONS & GLAZED DOORS

From bifolds and sliders to French and pivot designs, the right glazed doors will help to elevate your extension and deliver a light-filled, attractive and welcoming new space

Outdoor decking

Whether it’s real timber, porcelain or composite, find here a collection of smart decking solutions that’ll bring character and functionality to your home’s outdoor area

Building systems & energy performance

U-values and insulation depth have long been the starting point for energy efficient walls – but has that all changed since the latest round of Building Regs updates?

CLADDING FOR RENOVATIONS

If you are looking to update your property’s facade, check out our essential guide to sucessfully upgrading your home’s exterior

EXTENDING OVER AN ATTACHED GARAGE

Making use of the unused space above your attached garage is a great way to add extra rooms to your home. Georgina Crothers looks at what you need to know

SMART HOME

PLANNING YOUR

COMPLETE BUILDING CONTROL FROM THEBEN

FACT FILE Type of project New home for

SMART HEATING

Find out how an internet-enabled setup can boost your home’s comfort levels, as well as help you save money on bills

SMART LIGHTING

Discover how a well-designed, intelligent system can transform your living spaces

SMART AV

Discover the possibilities and wide-ranging solutions for intelligent audio-visual setups

SMART SECURITY

From wireless DIY solutions to cabled setups that integrate with the rest of your smart home system, we investigate the options for protecting your home from unwanted visitors

OTHER TYPES OF SMART TECH

From intelligent garden gadgets to automated shading solutions, find out more about the latest innovative products with the potential to transform your day-to-day routine

DESIGNING THE RIGHT EXTENSION FOR YOUR HOME

Architect Opinder Liddar takes a look at the key considerations to make when deciding on a design for your home’s new addition

Is it ever a good idea to build without planning?

With planning applications taking increasingly long time frames, it can be tempting to get started without formal consent. Planning consultant Martin Gaine takes a look at what happens if you undertake building work without planning permission in place

Solar shading benefits & how to do it

Sustainability expert Nigel Griffiths shares the best solar shading techniques to prevent overheating in modern homes

OPTIONS & COSTS

Your choice of roof covering will make a big impact on how your home looks – but how much budget should you set aside? Here we’re investigating the price points for the main options