Homebuilding & Renovating

The UK's best-selling magazine for new and experienced renovators

Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
Homebuilding & Renovating
EDITORIAL EDITORIALEditor Beth MurtonBrand Development Editor Claire Lloyd Deputy Editor Teresa ConwayWeb Editor Amy WillisWeb Assistant Editor Sarah Harley News Editor Joseph MullaneContributions by Seán O’Connell & Alex Burrows ART Art Editor Karen
Homebuilding & Renovating2 min read
From The Editor
One of the key things I learned when renovating our home is that managing a big project yourself is not always as straightforward as you think. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m good at organising and can get stuff done, but this only got me so f
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
Meet Our Experts
Award-winning freelance journalist who specialises in personal finance advice. A self-build expert, Mark has worked in the construction industry for more than 30 years. Our former associate editor is an experienced journalist and renovation expert. I
Homebuilding & Renovating4 min read
Insight
Octopus Energy has launched a pioneering donation trial to aid those who are facing fuel poverty. The world-first scheme, known as Octopus Solar Sharing, invites households with surplus solar energy to donate the value of their excess energy to fuel
Homebuilding & Renovating6 min read
Positive Energy
OWNERS Rob and Hannah Elkins LOCATION Wiltshire HOUSE TYPE Contemporary detached SIZE 300m² BUILD COST £390,000 SITE COST £200,000 OCTOBER 2018 Moved in FEBRUARY 2020 House completed AUGUST 2022 We were firmly in love with life in Bristol,” says R
Homebuilding & Renovating5 min read
Together We Thrive
SPIRIT OF SELF-BUILD HOMEOWNERS Francine and Stephen Burns ARCHITECT Studio Bark LOCATION Herefordshire PROJECT New build HOUSE TYPE Detached, single-storey, two/three-bedroom house HOUSE SIZE 127m² BUILD ROUTE Volunteers CONSTRUCTION U-Build modular
Homebuilding & Renovating4 min read
Brick-clad Homes
Named after the rolling white cliffs that line the Kent coastline, Chalk is a newly built single-storey house composed of a striking palette of white glazed bricks and oak cladding. Standing on Broadstairs’ coveted North Foreland Estate, the house’s
Homebuilding & Renovating6 min read
Pre-application Advice
Embarking on a custom-build project or planning significant home improvements can be an exciting but complex journey. One of the early steps in this process is often to get pre-application advice. There are two main options for this. Some planning co
Homebuilding & Renovating7 min read
12 Tips For Building On Land You Already Own
For many self-builders, tracking down a suitable plot to develop their dream home presents one of the most challenging parts of the project. Finding a patch of land that ticks all the boxes in terms of size, location, views and price can take some pe
Homebuilding & Renovating11 min read
How To Design The Perfect Hallway Space
Getting your hallway right is just as important as every other room in your home. Although the space acts as a transition area, your hallway design still needs careful consideration. Floors, lighting, colours, storage and finishing touches all come i
Homebuilding & Renovating8 min read
Woodburning Stoves
Are you considering a woodburning stove as an addition to your home? If so, you need to know what’s involved, whether installing one is possible in any home and how you decide which one is right for you. It isn’t just a case of picking one off the sh
Homebuilding & Renovating6 min read
Northern Soul
BEST RENOVATION HOMEOWNERS Rebecca and Andrew McNaghten LOCATION South Yorkshire HOUSE TYPE 1930s house HOUSE SIZE 175m ² BUILD ROUTE Main contractor, with Andrew project managing the build. HOUSE COST £245,000 BUILD COST £200,000 VALUE £600,000+ Bou
Homebuilding & Renovating2 min read
5 Ways With... PICTURE WINDOWS
1 If you don’t want to install an opening window with a balustrade or Juliet balcony in a loft conversion, a large picture window is a great way to capture a panoramic view. Opt for a slim-framed design, like this theVISION system by IDSystems, to al
Homebuilding & Renovating9 min read
How Long Does An Extension Take To Build?
Regardless of the size and scope of your planned extension project, adding extra space to your home is an exciting prospect. But understanding the timelines involved is essential if you want your project to go smoothly. From design and planning permi
Homebuilding & Renovating4 min read
Creative Thinking
HOMEOWNERS Angus and Justine Flockhart LOCATION Acton, West London HOUSE TYPE Four-bedroom Victorian terrace HOUSE SIZE 172.8m ² BUILD ROUTE Self project managed with main contractor CONSTRUCTION Brick and block with zinc cladding BUILD TIME Nine mon
Homebuilding & Renovating4 min read
Green Roofs
From covering the top of an extension or garage, to designing an eye-catching display for a modern new build, there are many benefits to incorporating a green roof into your home. Also known as living roofs, grass roofs and sedum roofs, this style of
Homebuilding & Renovating9 min read
THE ULTIMATE BUYER’S GUIDE TO Self-build insurance
You might think that if your builder has insurance then you are covered for all eventualities, but in practice this is not the case. Right from the moment you buy your plot or before work begins on a new build, extension, conversion or renovation you
Homebuilding & Renovating8 min read
How Much Does Central Heating Cost?
One of the most significant investments you will probably ever make for comfort and functionality in your home is a central heating system. Not only does it warm the house, but it also adds energy efficiency to the building and increases the value of
Homebuilding & Renovating6 min read
Part 2 Guide To Renovating
While renovation projects offer a fantastic opportunity to create a unique home and can also be hugely rewarding in terms of breathing new life back into an old building, they are not without their hurdles. When buying a home that has already been mo
Homebuilding & Renovating7 min read
Ask The Experts
Do not render your house in bad weather. If attempting to render an elevation that’s exposed to the elements while it’s raining, you may end up with problems, including lime bloom, colour inconsistencies and textural issues. Keep an eye on the foreca
Homebuilding & Renovating4 min read
One Heat Pump Or Two?
Legislation and the pursuit of energy efficiency in our homes is pushing homeowners to consider heat pumps as an alternative heating solution to fossil fuel boilers. But there are a few differences between the two technologies with the key one being
Homebuilding & Renovating8 min read
Bathroom Trends
Get excited, the bathroom trends for 2025 are nothing short of stunning and there are plenty of great options to suit all property styles. This year, our experts are predicting an even bolder embrace of natural textures and dramatic patterns that wil
Homebuilding & Renovating6 min read
Self-build for beginners MANAGING YOUR OWN SELF-BUILD
Building your home is undoubtedly rewarding, but self-managing your project comes with its own unique set of challenges so it’s important to go into it with eyes wide open, especially if you’re a beginner. The good news is that with proper planning,
Homebuilding & Renovating7 min read
Off-grid Heating Solutions
Desire for off-grid heating solutions is high. Around four million homes aren’t connected to mains gas in the UK, according to OVO Energy, but more homeowners are also looking for sustainable solutions. “As frustrations continue to rise with energy b
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
Brick And Mix
Originally designed by renowned 20th-century architect EJ May, this Edwardian Arts and Crafts dwelling is a treasured asset within its local conservation area in Bromley. The historic character drew the owners in, but in turn, this meant accepting th
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
Welcome
Whether you hold a long-held wish for a family-friendly room where you can all cook and eat together, have a craving for a better layout or you simply need more storage, extending your kitchen could solve your space dilemmas. This guide is packed wit
Homebuilding & Renovating9 min read
How To Create Yourdream Kitchen Extension
Whether you’re looking to create a more open-plan feel to your kitchen and dining space, or simply increase the floor space of a cramped cooking environment, a kitchen extension can be the solution. But transforming your kitchen, regardless of the si
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
Designed With Family In Mind
Planning an extension with a young family as the focus comes with a whole new set of considerations. Is the floor non-slip? Are the surfaces durable? Is ‘going open plan’ inviting toy-filled chaos? This and a small budget meant there would be limitat
Homebuilding & Renovating2 min read
Inside And Out Transformed
This three-bedroom Victorian house was purchased by Rosie and Innes with a view to completely renovating it. ”The property hadn’t been touched since the 1970s and it had a tiny kitchen,” says Rosie. “We initially applied for planning permission for a
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
See-through Solution
When Sam and Sarah Irvine moved into their Chipping Campden coach house cottage, they knew there was the option to do something more with the house, but weren’t sure exactly what. The longer they lived there the more they could see that the L-shaped
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
6 Ways With... GLAZED DOORS
Schüco ASS 70.HI lift-and-slide sliding doors and AWS 70 SC windows, POA, all supplied by Schüco partner L2i XP Slide 25 sliding door system, available with lift-and-slide option as a twin or triple track setup, from £2,750 (excl VAT), Express Bi-fol
Homebuilding & Renovating7 min read
How To Cut The Cost Of Your Kitchen Extension
The money you require for an extension can mount alarmingly as you add in the sums incurred by the various elements of the project. As well as the expense of construction and materials, there’s the cost of design work, plans and drawings and necessar
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
Linked-up Extension
Faye Perkins and Matt Roe increased the size of their home from 114m2 to 184m2 by adding a single-storey ground-floor extension after demolishing an old woodworking workshop while renovating the existing house. “We spent all our spare time working on
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
4 Ways With... ROOF GLAZING
Flat Glass rooflight, available as a double- or triple-glazed option, POA, Korniche Wraparound glazing, corner window and Schüco ASE 60 sliding pocket doors, POA, all supplied by Schüco partner Gresson Lean-to glass roof with aluminium frames, from £
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
Self-designed Kitchen
Charley knew when she found a new family home with her husband, Adam, and their two young children they would have to build an extension. “We converted the original kitchen into a hallway and utility room, knocked down the old conservatory and built
Homebuilding & Renovating1 min read
6 Ways With... STATEMENT GLAZING
XP Glide premium sliding door system, offers large panel sizes over large spans and is available as a twin or triple track setup. From £3,500 (excl VAT), Express Bi-folding Doors Slim profile sliding doors and windows combined with shaped vertical gl
Homebuilding & Renovating2 min read
Framing The View
Removing an old boiler room gave homeowners Paul and Karen the opportunity to reconfigure their 1920s Arts and Crafts home in Buckinghamshire. Wanting to create a bigger open-plan entertaining space with views over the garden led them to consider an
Homebuilding & Renovating2 min read
THE DOs AND DON’Ts
If you are looking to save money but are a little worried that your skills might not match your enthusiasm, be aware that there are plenty of tasks that are well within the capabilities of most homeowners who want to try their hand at this kind of pr

Homebuilding & Renovating

More Issues From Homebuilding & Renovating