A sideways move

EDITOR’S LETTER

Claire Lloyd has been a member of the Homebuilding & Renovating team for over 13 years. She’s currently in the midst of another renovation

Changing priorities

A round-up of the latest self-build and home renovation news, products and events. By Jack Woodfield and Amy Reeves

Building the dream

After years of looking for a home with history and charm, Helen and Dan self-built an oak frame manor-style home with a modern twist

Barn reborn

Persistence paid off for Rosie Bradbury, who waited 10 years to give a dilapidated barn the conversion it deserved

Thinking outside the BOX

What began as a potential investment opportunity soon turned into a renovation project for Tim and Aisling Cooney. With the help of their architect, the couple transformed a run-down terrace into a contemporary family home

Extensions for under £50k

Adding extra space without breaking the bank can be tough; find out how these projects managed it

“It was incredible how quickly the house came down”

Ben and Karen Foufa are in the middle of a major renovation in south Buckinghamshire

13 things you need to do before starting on sıte

If you’re about to take on a self-build then be sure to follow Mark Brinkley’s pre-build essential steps for project success

CREATING AN OUTDOOR SOLACE

Although thought of as one of the last jobs in a project, this month Natasha Brinsmead explains why getting the outside spaces shipshape early on eased the stress of her renovation

Venetian plaster

A great alternative to tiling, Venetian plaster is making a comeback. Here’s how to get the look

4 OF THE BEST

ALIWOOD’S RECTANGLE Made using sustainable Redwood timber and

ROOF LANTERNS

Bring extra light into your home

HOW TO HIRE TRADES

Looking for the right people for your project, but not sure where to start? Bob Branscombe explains how to get accurate quotes and get the best from tradespeople

THE RENOVATION FILES

THE CRACKED CONCRETE FLOOR

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-buildplot

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!

Interior doors

Internal doors don’t only perform a practical function — the impact they have on your home’s look and style is huge too. Our guide will make selecting your perfect doors a breeze

CHOOSING A DOOR STYLE

While practicalities are important, for many people their choice of doors ultimately comes down to style — how are your doors going to look in your home? There is a door style out there to suit all kinds of homes and needs, including:

WHICH DOOR FURNITURE?

No door is complete without door furniture, by which

HOW TO SAVE ON YOUR BUILD

These tips for repurposing old materials will not only help you reduce your build costs, but will be kinder on the environment into the bargain

4 MATERIALS REPURPOSED

Save on skip hire by repurposing materials in your renovation

Home office

Dedicated room or nook under the stairs, find out how to plan and create a functional, practical and inspiring home office with whatever space you have

LESSONS LEARNED ON SITE

Taking on courses or attending lectures can be invaluable in providing the necessary knowledge before starting a project — find out how it helped these homebuilders

HOW TO FIND A PLOT

PART THIRTEEN: BUYING LAND AT AUCTION

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

Let’s decorate

Get the perfect finish when you decorate your home, with these helpful tips from Harris Brushes

Entrance hallways

Entrance halls should be given just as much consideration as the other rooms in your house — if you are lacking inspiration, our roundup of ideas is here to help

Working From Home

This may well make life easier

Beginner’s to guide self-build

IMAGES: GET TY; *HBR SELF & CUSTOM BUILD

Structural warranties

What are they and how can they help protect your selfbuild against any unforeseen problems once built?

WINNERS REVEALED

The Homebuilding & Renovating Industry Awards were launched last year to acknowledge and celebrate the amazing and diverse businesses and people that make our sector what it is. The shortlist was compiled by a panel of experts with all companies, products and services demonstrating a positive impact on the lives of self-builders and renovators. Voting was then opened to the public, who decided the winners : read on to discover who won in each category!

GREEN HOMES

Green from the top down IMAGE: ALISTAIR NICHOLLS

GREEN NEWS

Green light for heating project

49% of Brits would consider installing a heat pump in the future*

My eco hero: #2 David Hilton nominates a

Digging deep

Mark and Clare Shenton were keen to replace their dated pool house while dipping their toes into energy-efficient heating — so they looked underground for a novel solution

Greening up the roof

Green by name, but are green roofs green by nature? What are the actual pros and cons of this popular feature? Tim Pullen investigates

Sustainable interior fınishes

Tim Pullen explains how to finish your home in a more eco-friendly way

Q Are there greener ways to stay cool?

Can air conditioning ever be green, asks one eco-conscious self-builder. David Hilton looks at the alternatives

On the edge

This striking self-build replaces a tired house on the white cliffs of Dover. Mike Tonkin of Tonkin Liu Architects explains the ethos behind the design

NEXT MONTH

Building quotes: Why they’re coming in over budget!