Ask the experts

Welcome

The beauty of taking on a major project, whether it’s

Modular marvel

Terry and Shirley Rose’s impressive new home in the Scottish Highlands started life in a factory in East Sussex

The WOW factor

A double-height glazed extension has transformed Liz Ashley and Brendan Bracey’s Edwardian property into a stunning, light-filled home

The house that Jaques built

Joe and Becky Jaques drew on family heritage to create a Georgian-inspired home that boasts 21st-century style

Room to grow

In need of space to accommodate their expanding family, Emma and Simon Bradford self built an open-plan oak frame home in an idyllic countryside location

Top of the leaderboard

For Mark Kingston, self building his own home proved to be a thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable experience, but living in the result has turned out to be even more fulfilling

Beginner's guide to basement extensions

If you’re outgrowing your home, the best solution for adding space could be to extend down – Emily Smith explores what’s involved

15 ways to add value and kerb appeal

Rebecca Foster unveils some ideas to help you update the visual appeal of your home

Will a combi boiler suit me?

Martyn Bridges reveals how to determine whether these appliances will complement your home, lifestyle and hot water usage

Can smart heating save you money?

The latest bells-andwhistles thermostats give you instant, intuitive access to managing your home’s heating and hot water – but will they slash your bills? Chris Bates talks to the experts to find out

What you need to know about staircase design

Emily Smith presents the key considerations for choosing the right flight, along with some top tips from leading industry experts

What will it cost? Fitting a stove

These practical heating solutions offer an ambienceboosting focal feature. Emily Smith investigates how much you can expect to pay to get your appliance installed

Inspiring stoves

Let our hand-picked selection of home heating appliances spark your imagination, from traditional-style units through to strikingly contemporary models

What can go wrong? Push-fit plumbing

Andy Butchers shares his insider tips to help troubleshoot this part of your project

Insulating your home’s floors

There’s a whole host of options available when it comes to insulating new and existing floor structures. Chris Bates looks at how you can specify the right products

The rise of the bungalow

Architect Julian Owen investigates why bungalows are a popular house style choice for self builders and unveils the numerous advantages of single-storey living

10 top tips for buying building materials

Self build expert Mike Hardwick reveals the tricks you need to know to ensure you get real value for money when sourcing the products you need

Applying for listed building consent

If you’re considering a project that involves making alterations to a listed building or its curtilage, you’ll usually need to apply for specific consent for the works. Alan Tierney reveals how you can win approval

How to secure planning consent for an urban project

Keen to create a bespoke home in a built-up area? Mike Dade reveals the wealth of opportunities that could fit the bill – from infill plots to office and shop conversions

Working with trades: Carpenters

Your carpentry team may be involved in everything from erecting your home’s structural shell through to fitting flooring and skirtings. Tim Doherty reveals how to ensure you get the right trades for the job

Family ties

Jane and David Brewer live in one of the plotlands

The perfect blend

Nestled within Aberdeenshire’s spectacular Cairngorm National Park, this contemporary one-storey

Project of the month

Situated in the Scottish Highlands, this striking modern home commands

News round up

A shortlist of 12 finalists has been revealed as part

What’s on?

Discover an upcoming event near you

Industry news

Eco-conscious self builders hit by high council tax

Product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

Interiors notebook

It’s never too early to start looking for the finishing touches for your self build

Your views:

Got a funny story, a gripe or some superb self build advice? Write to us at buildit@castlemedia.co.uk or the address below for your chance to win a prize

Self build mortgages

Looking for funding for your self build project? Each month we round up the best deals from leading lenders – and update you on what you need to know about securing the right finance

Land for sale

It’s FREE to subscribe to PlotSearch – the UK’s premier

Focus on:

We catch up with Angela Doran, NaCSBA’s self build representative for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, about how she is working to promote bespoke home building projects in these areas