The renovation game

EDITOR’S LETTER

Claire Lloyd has been a member of the Homebuilding & Renovating team for 14 years. She’s currently in the midst of another renovation.

OUR EXPERTS

REBECCA FOSTER Is an experienced writer specialising in

Easing of material shortages

A round-up of the latest self-build and home renovation news, products and events

Coming home

First-time self-builders Lucy and John Hardwick have chosen the turnkey route to build their charming oak frame home in Northamptonshire

The next chapter

Looking for somewhere in the country with the potential to generate an extra income, Luke and Laura Thomas decided to head for Dorset to convert an old flax shop-cum-garage in the grounds of their new home

Living attaınably

Wanting to downsize without leaving the area she had lived in for 57 years, Heather Turner utilised a local planning policy to build a modest, futureproofed home on a shoestring budget

Heritage-inspired homes

Each of these striking self-builds takes its design cues from period architecture. Discover how historic styles, from mock-Tudor mansions to impressive Georgian-inspired properties, can translate into 21st-century homes

12 things to know about floor structures

Chartered surveyor Ian Rock offers a self-builder’s guide to getting the ground under your feet structurally sound

Laminate VS. vinyl

Can’t decide between laminate or vinyl for the flooring in your project? We break down the differences between the two to help you pick the right option for your home

Beginner’s guide to self-build

IMAGES: GET TY; *HBR SELF & CUSTOM BUILD

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-build plot

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!

No chimney, no problem!

Here’s a warming thought — alog burner without a chimney really is possible. Our guide to installing a woodburner in a chimneyless house explains all

HOW TO ENSURE SUCCESS ON YOUR BUILD

Builder Andy Stevens looks at the most common mistakes made by homeowners on site — and how best to avoid them

Planning permission for solar panels

Solar panels may well be the way to go, but before you commit, take some advice from planning consultant Simon Rix

Bathroom design on a budget

Dreaming of a spa-like bathroom but don’t want to splash out? Our design tips will help you create a beautiful and functional bathroom for less

HOW MUCH DOES A KITCHEN EXTENSION COST?

If you’re planning that life-changing kitchen extension project, start by reading quantity surveyor Tim Phillips’ ultimate cost guide

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

Brilliant fireplace ideas

These stylish fireplace ideas will ensure your hearth becomes the centrepiece of your living space

What is ICF?

Insulating concrete formwork (ICF) can offer extenders and self-builders a quick build and an efficient home, but what’s involved in this build method?

GREEN HOMES

NEUTRAL AND NATURAL TILES Ca’ Pietra’s Sequel Minto

Inspirational eco retrofits

Find out how these amazing eco retrofits enabled the homeowners to reduce energy bills and make their existing homes more energy efficient

How to ınsulate a perıod home

If you’re living in a period cottage you may love the character but find the fuel bills daunting. What can be done to reduce energy bills without damaging the building?

How to insulate underf loor heating

When it comes to insulating the floor beneath underfloor heating, there are some key considerations — energyefficiency expert Tim Pullen explains what you need to know

Reclaimed wood flooring

If you’re thinking of installing reclaimed wood flooring, we lay down the facts about where to buy it, how much it will cost and any potential problems to be aware of

De-risk your self-build

Use the experts in self-build to insure your project, with an insurance and warranty product from Homebuilding & Renovating with Self Build Zone

Creative concrete

A traditional Victorian property has been transformed with the addition of a striking rear extension, finished in pigmented and patterned concrete