Why we’re building our own house

Welcome

We’ve got some pretty incredible news this month. In

Harmonious living

Winning both a RIBA and a RIAS Award in 2018, this

The Studio

This small dwelling was originally an art studio for

product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

interiors notebook

With maximalism, more is more. Inject some fun into your home interiors with lavish schemes featuring bright colours, contrasting textures and big bold prints

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

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 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

next month…

January issue on sale 28th November

focus on:

We talk to Nancy Winfield, project manager for Herefordshire Centre for Community Led Housing, to investigate what kind of opportunities are available to self builders in the area

BACK to the ROOT

Amber and Lee Wilmot jumped at the chance to build their dream property in the back garden of Amber’s childhood home in West Sussex

Searching f o r space

Vincent Haines and Jacqueline Jiang- Haines came up with a striking neo- Georgian-design for their self build home

HOME IS WHERE THE HEARTIS

For Donald MacKinnon and his wife Sarah, fond childhood memories of summers spent on the Isle of Skye prompted the couple to self build a home on the family’s croft

5 STAR FAMILY LIVING ON A BUDGET

In pursuit of their first family home, Joe and Rachel Nicol embarked on the restoration of a 1960s gem with a modest budget but grand ambition

First time lucky

When Leanne and James Duncan self built their new home, time was not on their side to move in before they got married, but an efficient approach meant they finished the project in just over three months

Introducing Build It’s

Build It was the first self build magazine launched

Why we’re self building at Graven Hill

The Build It Education House will be part of the UK’s most exciting self and custom build development

Our building plot at Graven Hill

A corner site overlooking woodland could give us the opportunity to create a truly wow-factor home

Modern radiators

The right radiator can create style as well as warmth. Charley Ward explores how to turn your heating into a key design feature

Cladding a timber frame home

Keen to achieve a highquality finish? Chris Bates takes a look at the facade options for timber frame projects

Building to budget: What you need to know at the start

The Build It Estimating Service’s Adrian Wild gives his expert advice on how to keep your project spending in check

10 great masonry homes

Looking for ideas for your self build or renovation? Emily Brooks shares her favourite brick and block projects

MVHR: YOUR TOP 10 questions answered

Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems are recommended for efficient new homes, but how do they work and why are they needed? Here we’ve spoken to leading industry experts to answer your queries

CHOOSING ROOF TILES for your renovation

There’s a plethora of options when it comes to specifying roof tiles for your refurbishment – but which product is right for you? Rebecca Foster summarises what you need to know

Choosing a PROJECT MANAGER

Overseeing the day-to-day coordination of your own project isn’t a job for the faint hearted, so it might be best to hire in a professional, says Andy Butchers from Build-Zone Survey Services

Designing the perfect kitchen

Architect Julian Owen unveils how to create a culinary zone that’s tailored to your needs

Scheduling a home building project

Get your scheme off on the right foot with Mike Hardwick’s guide to the key construction phases

Updating a bungalow

Could a single-storey building off er the ideal canvas for your dream home? Architect Opinder Liddar takes a closer look at how to maximise the potential of these structures

What is a soil survey?

Tim Doherty takes a closer look at what this site investigation involves and how the results could impact on your building project

Myth buster: How sustainable is renewable tech?

Nigel Griffiths takes a look at some popular tech, from solar panels to biomass boilers, and asks just how low-carbon they really are

12 things people forget to do when applying for planning permission

Give yourself the best opportunity to secure first-time consent to build with Mike Dade’s top tips on the pitfalls you need to avoid

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