OUR EXPERTS

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.

Homeowners set to spend £16bn on green upgrades

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

HOME OF THE YEAR REVEALED

IMAGES (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP): MARK ASHBEE, GRAHAM GAUNT,

Tale of the unexpected

A sudden job relocation saw Jeremy and Melanie Offer move to another part of the country and into the unknown…

WINNER BEST SELF-BUILD & READERS’ CHOICE AWARD

SPONSORED BY HOMEOWNERS John and Patsy Greene DESIGNER

WINNER BEST CONVERSION

SPONSORED BY HOMEOWNERS Andrew and Kerry Scott ARCHITECT

WINNER SPIRIT OF SELF-BUILD

SPONSORED BY ARCHITECT John Kinsley Architects LOCATION Edinburgh PROJECT

HIGHLY COMMENDED SPIRIT OF SELF-BUILD

MAGES: BEN KNIGHT HOMEOWNERS Jamie Adams and Madeline

WINNER BEST VALUE HOME

SPONSORED BY IMAGE: JEREMY PHILLIPS HOMEOWNERS Sam, Chris

WINNER HOME OF THE FUTURE

SPONSORED BY IMAGE: MARTIN GARDNER HOMEOWNERS Mike and

A sideways move

This hands-on husband and wife team have more than doubled the footprint of their small rural cottage and created a modern home fit for 21st century living

HIGHLY COMMENDED BEST EXTENSION

HOMEOWNERS Sean and Marion King ARCHITECT Mole Architects

WINNER BEST GREEN HOME

SPONSORED BY HOMEOWNERS Paul and Sonny Shepherd ARCHITECT

Green future

These custom build homes in Oxfordshire are leading the way in sustainability — during construction and for years to come

Clean living

After four years of hard work and setbacks, Rowan and Ally Adams have made their patch of beautiful Cornish coast greener than ever

SHORTLISTED

IMAGES: JEREMY PHILLIPS HOMEOWNERS Stephen and Helen Surtees

12 reasons to self-build self-build

Self-building your own home is an adventure of a lifetime. Here’s why it could be the right journey for you…

BUILDING REGULATIONS PART M

Building Regulations Part M sets out standards for accessibility in buildings. Expert Paul Hymers explains what the contents of this document means for your self-build

THE RENOVATION FILES

HOW TO DEAL WITH CEILING CRACKS

Beginner’s guide to self-build

IMAGES: GET TY; *HBR SELF & CUSTOM BUILD

The art of tadelakt

The plasterwork technique known as tadelakt is gracing the walls of more and more homes. Here Hugh Metcalf explains the exotic appeal of this finish and how to achieve the look

HOW TO ENGAGE THE BEST BUILDERS

Good builders are a scarce commodity at present, says builder Andy Stevens — here’s how to make sure you attract the best team for your project

NATURAL STONE FLOORING

There’s a type of stone flooring to suit every area – and budget

QUOTE VS ESTIMATE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

If you’re looking to get a price for a job, read quantity surveyor Tim Phillip’s expert advice on these common pricing terms — and discover why quotes may be your best bet

Do you need planning permission for an extension?

If you need more space, it can make sense to extend instead of moving, but what are the planning permission rules? Simon Rix investigates what you need to know

Open-plan living

Kitchen, living and dining all in one space? Here’s how to design a multifunctional open-plan area that ticks all the boxes

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

Amazing hallway ideas

A stylish entrance sets the tone for the rest of your home. With help and advice from our experts, here’s how to design a hallway that creates the right impression

Before you break ground...

The key to the success of your homebuilding project is effective preparation, so get these five essentials in place before work begins

GREEN HOMES

WARMING WOOD WALLS Naturewall’s SlatWall has a recycled

Do solar panels work in winter?

Robin Whitlock investigates just how efficient solar panels are in winter, how much energy they can generate and the use of a battery storage system to store excess electricity

Will new embodied carbon limits affect you?

Architect Paul Testa explains the problem of embodied carbon within construction and why self-builders should be aware of new proposals from the industry

How to insulate a terraced home

Original windows, wooden floorboards and loft spaces — all these charming features are synonymous with terraced homes but over time it’s worth investing in ways to prevent draughts, improve thermal efficiency and airtightness to create a comfortable, well-insulated home

New lease of life

This low-energy home in south Lanarkshire replaces a set of run-down agricultural buildings while reusing many of the original materials