Focus on

Welcome

This month the Build It team are fresh from our annual

Strategic transformation

This capacious and energy-efficient home is the work

Sea Edge

This striking project was designed by Kast Architects

New budgeting app for renovators

A new tool lets homeowners estimate the added value

The Tipton enters selfbuild mortgage market

Tipton and Coseley Building Society announced the launch

Mayor of London calls for ban on woodburners to tackle pollution

Mayor of London calls for ban on woodburners to tackle

need to know

One of the main grievances about modern, mass-market

spendvsave

Made of enamelled steel, this inset tub provides a

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

A budgetfriendly new home

When they discovered an affordable model for bespoke rural Scottish houses, Dawn and Torq Allen knew they’d finally found a way to achieve their dream of self-building

Space mission

Hayley Upton took a small and tired seaside house and maximised its potential, creating a spacious and contemporary second home offering luxurious surroundings in which to relax and entertain

Future-proof LIVING

A derelict bungalow just a few doors down from Flicky and David Ridel’s existing house offered the perfect opportunity to create an adaptable self-build home for life

Modernist marvel

Ruth and Don Boardman’s renovation project has revamped their house in Dublin into a stylish abode for a family of five

Polished performence

Surrounded by a tranquil garden, Colin and Chris Pilcher’s Passivhaus-standard Devon home is impressive in both looks and energy efficiency

Subscribe to Build It

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GUIDE TO Ground source heat pumps

Looking for a renewable system to power your home’s central heating? Nigel Griffiths investigates the benefits of this tech and whether it could make sense for your project

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

Ask the EXPERTS

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

Land FOR SALE

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

In Focus

Simply the best way to fit a stove, you can have the

next month…

Partnering with Build It Award-winning architects Millar

Should you build a Passivhaus?

This design and build standard is a popular way of ensuring an energy efficient result, but is it the right solution for your selfbuild? Emily Smith investigates

Design details: green roofs

This sustainable feature could potentially add an eye-catching focal point to your property. Rebecca Foster takes a closer look at how to incorporate this element into your scheme

Underfloor heating vs radiators

Find the best option for keeping your home warm with Sophie Vening’s helpful guide to the pros and cons of the two most popular heat emitters

HOW BESPOKE ARE package homes?

Chris Bates takes a look at how the package house route has evolved to respond to modern self-builders’ desire for ever more individual, design-led solutions for their schemes

10 KEY LIGHTING CONSIDERATION

The lighting scheme that you choose can transform a design from good to glorious. Find inspiration in Opinder Liddar’s illuminating ideas for your project

10 steps to design success

Julian Owen discusses the golden rules to consider when planning the style and layout of your selfbuild or renovation project

A plotted history

If you’re in the market for land to self-build or a house to redevelop, you need to know the property’s planning background before making an investment, says Mike Dade

Planning your new home’s plumbing

From heating systems to cold water supplies, drainage and everything in between, plumbing works cover a host of essential services. Tim Doherty reveals how to make sure you commission an installation that fully meets your needs

How to avoid common project management mistakes

Every building scheme has its ups and its downs, regardless of whether you hire a professional or take on the role yourself. Mike Hardwick reveals some of the most common project management pitfalls selfbuilders encounter and how to beat them

Splendid isolation

Can Carl and Amy Briant get planning permission for a knock-down-andrebuild or a conversion project in the idyllic Kent countryside? Mike Dade looks at the viability of their proposed scheme and how to move forward