Building contracts: Do you really need one?

Welcome

Creating the right home for you starts with going right

interiors notebook

A delicate contemporary approach to industrial style could be the key to creating your next wow-factor interior design project

your views:

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Loch-side living

Ian and Caroline Urquhart have had a lot of practice tackling bespoke building projects – and they put all of their experience to good use when it came to creating the perfect home to retire to, maximising the potential of this wonderful waterside plot

Low-impact ECO HOME

Setting out to build a healthy and energy-efficient property, Nicola Jones and Paul Rea have created a comfortable, awardwinning 21st century home

Perfect PLANNING

New planning rules meant Helen and Jonny Brown’s small extension project became a more comprehensive house renovation – with results that have delighted them both

Creating a Paragraph 55 countryside home

Annabel and David Jones have created a stunning new property in the Shropshire countryside thanks to a special clause in national planning policy

Stop settling for bad heating

Underfl oor heating gives you the freedom to enjoy your home.

Sleeping beauty

With their first baby on the way, Stuart and Alexandra Seear were under pressure to get the major renovation work on their 1980s bungalow finished in time

Eco renovation: Should you aim for Passivhaus?

Most homeowners are keen to achieve lower running costs and reduce carbon emissions – but how far should you go? Nigel Griffiths looks at the merits of this eco standard for renovators

Knocking down internal walls

Opening up or removing a wall is a great way to create larger living spaces and help natural light to penetrate deeper into your home. Emily Smith highlights the key considerations when doing this

Glazed doors & weather tightness

Edward Stobart from IDSystems discusses why you need to investigate how your doors have been tested to withstand the elements

What’s new with underfl oor heating?

Whether you’re self building or about to retrofi t your existing property, ensuring your home will be a comfortable space during winter is key. Sofi a Delgado finds out about the latest underfl oor heating technology, and what it can do you for your project

Benefi ts of thin joint masonry

Could this modern blockwork system suit your building project? Emily Smith takes a closer look at this construction method

Build cost basics: Single-storey extensions

The Build It Estimating Service’s Adrian Wild takes a look at what you can expect to pay to complete a typical conservatory, fl at roof extension or pitched addition to your home

Planning & infrastructure

Making the Internet of _ings work for you is all about connectivity and infrastructure – here’s how to do it

Controlling your smart home

This tech puts the power at your fingertips – but the real benefits lie in automating tasks so the system integrates into your lifestyle

Audio-visual integration

The right sound and screen solutions could add practicality and wow factor to your home

Smart heating

Create a comfortable, effi cient living environment that’s easy and cost-eff ective to run

Lighting solutions

Smart systems are about much more than just being able to turn your lights on and off from anywhere – here’s how you could use this tech to your advantage

Security & safety

Discover how the right smart tech can help protect your home and safeguard its occupants

Beginner’s guide to the planning process

Before starting works you’ll need to confirm that your project is legal by checking in with your local council – but with various types of permission out there and different guidelines for individual areas, this part of your project could feel like a minefield. Get your head around the basics with Mike Dade’s advice

Updating your Victorian terrace

Whether you’ve spotted a renovation opportunity or are looking to update your tired terrace, Opinder Liddar explores the design options available to maximise space and create a modern dwelling without losing period charm

Shell build: the right route for your project?

Signing up to a single contract for the supply and construction of the shell of your new home can make it easier to manage your budget and reduce stress, says Mike Hardwick

10THINGS NOT TO FORGET AT THE DESIGN STAGE

With so much to think about when designing a new home, it can be easy to overlook elements that could make a signifi cant impact on the fi nished property. Architect Julian Owen highlights the key things to bear in mind to ensure you get the lifestyle you want

Lighting design & budgets

Your home’s artificial lighting will require careful planning early on to make the most of opportunities, says Tim Doherty

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

WOODLAND BARGAIN

Could this idyllic rural patch of land be the perfect self build site or is it too good to be true? Mike Dade takes a closer look at the details

focus on:

This month we catch up with Dudley Moore- Radford, CEO of Moixa, to learn about solar power storage, smart grids and the future of renewables