Homebuilding & Renovating

Adding extra space to our home has been on my wishlist for a while now. The house seems to be shrinking on a daily basis as our kids get bigger, and the way we want to use the space has changed, too. We’ve got planning permission in place to extend a

Is an architect and director at MW Architects. Is the author of the ever-popular Housebuilder’s Bible and an experienced self-builder. His latest self build is an eco home built to Passivhaus principles. Is a professional planning consultant and runs

HOMEOWNER Craig Foster LOCATION Derbyshire PROJECT New build HOUSE TYPE Two-storey, five-bedroom detached house SIZE 407m ² BUILD ROUTE Architect and building company BUILD TIME 21 months PLOT COST £627,500 in 2016 BUILD COST £1.2 million Purchased

By stacking and stepping four brick extensions around their semi-detached Georgian home, Lama and Tim Moss have created an exciting and dynamic new layout. One of the most dramatic changes to the house is the new two-storey side extension at the fron

HOMEOWNER Esther Hamilton-Dick LOCATION West Bridgford, Nottingham HOUSE TYPE Rear extension and loft conversion to Edwardian detached house BUILD ROUTE Main contractor with an element of self-project management CONSTRUCTION Brick and block extension

As a planning consultant, I’m often asked by my clients to ‘translate’ much of the language used in the UK’s planning system into plain English. Much of the jargon can seem impenetrable at first, but understanding the language of planning a bit bette

On a building site, one of the most pivotal jobs is that of the project manager. It’s not always clear what responsibilities are covered by this role, so here we ascertain what a project manager does, and provide a level-headed evaluation of the pros

Building a budget-friendly extension is distinctly possible — providing you plan properly and are savvy about where you spend your money. What’s more, a low build cost doesn’t mean that you have to (or indeed should) sacrifice quality or style. There

HOMEOWNERS Faye Perkins and Matt Roe PROFESSIONS Marketing and ITPROJECT Extension and renovationHOUSE TYPE Semi-detached, four-bedroom houseSIZE 114m², extended to 184m²LOCATION NorthamptonshireBUILD ROUTE DIY, subcontractorsBUILD TIME Renovation 16

1 With natural characteristics like subtle veining and a riven surface, stone cladding, such as this green slate design from London Stone, is a perfect way to add a textural surface to a contemporary raised bed and transform it into a focal point. 2

A party wall agreement is a must-have for anyone starting a project that affects an adjoining property. In recent years, the planning rules for extensions have been significantly relaxed, but even homes that are extended under Permitted Development r

HOMEOWNERS Marc and Sally CornwellLOCATION GloucestershirePROJECT Replace a double garage and oil tank with an energy-efficient extensionCONSTRUCTION MasonryBUILD ROUTE Architect, builder plus some owner project managementBUILD COST £3,000/m² We had

Flush-fitting tracks are one of the biggest developments in glazed doors, allowing for a smooth connection from inside to out, thanks to achieving the same floor level on both sides of the doors. However, the work to achieve this should be considered

Conservatories offer a great way to add space, bring your garden into your home and provide you with lots of natural daylight. Compared to regular extensions, they’re easier and cheaper to make your home space-maximising plans a reality and – in theo

With larger glazed panels and narrower frames than their bifold and French door counterparts, it’s easy to see why sliding doors are often the style of choice for new builds and extensions. Not only do they maximise natural light and offer the best v

Adding a porch to your home is not just about enhancing its aesthetic appeal, it’s also a practical investment that can increase your property’s value and provide functional benefits. Understanding the cost implications is crucial if you’re embarking

Once the first fix has been finished and approved by the building inspector, the build can now be ‘closed up’ by the wet trades — plastering and screeding. This month I’ll explain what’s involved and how you can make sure your build achieves the requ

With so many types of heat pumps available (and more being developed all the time), it can be hard to understand which models offer what and how to decide which products are best suited to your project. When you are researching heat pumps, you’ll ver

Whether you are self-building, extending or carrying out major renovation works, it is well worth designing in some natural house cooling ideas to keep your home feeling comfortable all year round. While people have always been interested in how to p

Good bathroom design is all about making the most of the space you have available, to incorporate all the elements that you will need in your room, be that a family bathroom or one that has to incorporate accessible features. When it comes to en-suit

With a large dormer window that punctuates the roofline, the hipped form of the roof of this two-storey extension (designed by Oliver Leech Architects) mimics the original roofline of the house. Planning restrictions meant that the external material

The government has committed to installing 600,000 heat pumps in homes by 2028, in an attempt to lower the UK’s carbon emissions. However, Heatpumps London has revealed that the UK currently has just 412 heat pumps per 100,000 people. FixRadio, the n