The future of green space heating

As the nation strives towards hitting net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Heat Pump Association outlines the benefits and considerations for adopting heat pumps in our homes, and looks at current Government incentives Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular... View Article

Open up the potential for big savings

Rachael Munby from Anglian Home Improvements shares her insights on how switching to energy efficient windows could help homeowners save up to £1,800 on their energy bills – while adding greater value to properties With the cost of living showing... View Article

A leap of faith

Renovation novices Claire and Marco were sure they didn’t want a ‘project’ house, but they ended up taking a leap of faith to complete a transformation that realised the true potential of their site TEXT JESS UNWIN IMAGES PHILIP WADGE... View Article

A greener burn when you go off-grid

With solid fuel burning remaining in demand for home heating in rural and off-grid settings, Bruce Allen of HETAS and Woodsure offers guidance for more eco-friendly choices, while cautioning on the importance of maintenance Solid fuel burning is undoubtedly high... View Article

Pump up your indoor air quality

Clarissa Youden, associate director at Total Home Environment, provides a guide to ventilating an energy-efficient, airtight home, going beyond MVHR with heat pump ventilation technology People spend 70% of their time at home, meaning they breathe over 10,000 litres of... View Article

A clean break in Cornwall

When professional artists Pippa Young and David Mankin saw a sub-standard bungalow for sale on the Cornish coast, they decided to leave a lifetime of period properties behind and build a minimalist masterpiece TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT IMAGES ANTHONY GREENWOOD/DAVEY CONSTRUCTION... View Article

Meeting the Future Home Standard

Victoria Brocklesby, co-founder and COO of Origin, delves into the key question of whether triple glazing is needed throughout a property in order to meet the Future Homes Standard As the UK continues to prioritise the ‘green building revolution’ and... View Article

A Sunningdale success story

Despite facing a host of unexpected cost issues from subcontractors, Julie and Michael Clifford successfully melded contrasting styles to achieve their dream modernist home in a highly desirable part of the south east TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES JULIE CLIFFORD Situated... View Article

Home Styling – Embracing quiet luxury

Gloria Sanchez of Tailored Living shares her advice on cultivating subtle elegance to follow the trend of ‘quiet luxury’ in your self-designed interior ‘Quiet luxury’ is an aesthetic that captures the essence of subtle and toned-down elegance, using a preference... View Article

Retreating to
the city

For many self-builders, the big goal is moving from the city to the country, but a couple from the Scottish Highlands had the opposite aim in building their ‘secret garden’ home in Aberdeen TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES JIM STEPHENSON Russel... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

Nicole Collison and her husband Rob, along with their two young daughters, are moving from the coast to the countryside, renovating a Grade II listed Kent barn in search of a rural dream in their home county We’re the Collisons!... View Article

Building excitement

4-8 October, Birmingham’s NEC WHAT’S ON AT THIS YEAR’S GRAND DESIGNS BIRMINGHAM? THE EXHIBITION A great opportunity to meet hundreds of suppliers across different project areas, all under one roof. The five areas of the show are: Build, Kitchens and Bathrooms,... View Article

Ask the Expert – Get your light right

With so many options available from so many suppliers, choosing the right rooflight can be a bit of a minefield. Here Paul Trace from Stella Rooflights answers the key questions you will need to consider when seeking out the ideal... View Article

Why the industry must achieve timber integration

With mounting pressure on the Government to support and facilitate the increased use of timber in construction for sustainability and other reasons, it’s important that all stakeholders seek a more collaborative approach to deliver effective ‘timber integration.’ Andrew Orriss of... View Article

Take care with flooring

With environment heavily influencing health and wellbeing, Ashley Hooper from Joseph Hamilton Seaton discusses how the specification of care home flooring can aid wayfinding, provide visual stimulation, and boost social connectedness Conjure up in your mind the image of a... View Article

UK Construction Week calls on the industry to act

Innovative, inspirational and progressive, UK Construction Week (UKCW) Birmingham returns for its ninth year this autumn, with a ‘call to action’ for the sector to set its own agenda rather than wait for the Government to respond.  The UK’s largest... View Article

Airing ventilated cladding’s healthy set of benefits

Rockpanel’s Mark Snowden outlines the benefits of ventilated cladding buildups, in terms of the affect on fire safety performance in the wake of Grenfell Tower, as well as how such systems can benefit internal environmental quality in projects The Grenfell... View Article

Primary colours

Jemma Saunders from Crown Paints shares tips on using colour in primary school design so that spaces are easier to navigate for young children’s wellbeing Designing a primary school is a tough balancing act; educational spaces must encourage creativity, inspire... View Article

Bringing a sense of theatre to Devon flood defences

Paul Hargreaves from Jacobs describes how the firm innovated a flood defence project in Sidmouth to create a dual-use amphitheatre for residents, as an amenity which enhanced the environment while helping protect them from future floods The Sidmouth flood alleviation... View Article