Working with water

Glyn Hyett, managing director of 3P Technik UK Ltd and director and founding member of the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association, addresses the issues surrounding the implementation of rainwater harvesting and sustainable drainage systems Water design stakeholders There are a number... View Article

Standing the test of time

Richard Brown, category marketing manager at Wienerberger, explains how the versatility of clay combined with its inherent properties makes it an extremely viable and attractive choice for self-builders. Most know of the inherent solidity and security associated with the material,... View Article

From manor house to floating home of the future

Selfbuilder & Homemaker meets Tony and Nicky Maude who swapped their listed manor house for an ultra modern home that’s the model of minimal living. Tony and Nicky Maude lived in a listed manor house but dreamed of building a... View Article

Now is the time to create a stunning home

The first Western Home Show is on at the Three Counties Showground from 12 – 14 September and right now is a great time to enhance, renovate, extend or even build your own home. With the property market and the... View Article

Lighting for a digital age

As LED lighting increasingly becomes the solution of choice, it’s important to understand how it works and what makes the difference between good LED lighting systems and disappointing ones. Duncan Chamberlain, director of Philips Lighting explains. Switching on a light... View Article

Green lime mortars show their true colours

Roger Shroff, sales and technical executive of Lime Technology Limited, explains the benefits to using increasingly popular lime mortar, both internally and externally. One of the joys of embarking on the journey of becoming a self-builder has to be the... View Article

Build tight, ventilate right

Graham Copson, technical manager at Klober, explains why it’s worth spending time getting the balance between ventilation and airtightness right. The phrase ‘build tight, ventilate right’ has become synonymous with the construction of low energy buildings, yet awareness of how... View Article

The A-Z of stairs

To help self-builders understand the dos and don’ts when planning and designing the perfect staircase, the BWF Stair Scheme has produced a helpful A to Z guide of everything you need to know about stairs. A is for… Accidents. Stairs... View Article

One final hurdle for Belfast landmark stadium

Steve Menary reports on plans for Northern Ireland’s newest venue, the Ulster GAA Stadium, designed by Populous. With the troubles now hopefully consigned to Northern Irish history, a new political consensus has emerged that is aiming to heal wounds scarred... View Article

Something old and something new

The new University of Cumbria is not lacking in character and history – and architects are helping it get the message across, as James Pringle reports. The University of Cumbria may be a newcomer to British higher education, but it... View Article

It’s time to put fabric first

According to Peter Wilcox, technical manager at insulation specialist Recticel, the construction industry has a problem. It’s a problem that affects us all – whether designers, contractors or occupants – new buildings aren’t meeting their designed energy efficiency targets. The... View Article

Using modular balustrade systems in your designs

With modular solutions that increase efficiency and reduce carbon footprint, contemporary balustrade design is at the forefront of modern methods of construction. Jason Hensey, national sales manager at Neaco, explains the benefits of modular systems and the key considerations involved... View Article

Are you ready to specify an oak framed building?

Sarah Sell, sales manager at English Heritage Buildings, looks at what to consider when specifying an oak framed building. Traditional oak frame buildings are making a resurgence in the market as discerning customers look to achieve beauty, style and green... View Article

Roman House with 21st century technology

Richard Hayward, lead marketing manager for Legrand’s range of building automation systems, discusses the use of smart home technology at Berkeley Homes’ prestigious Roman House scheme. For the bespoke home and the penthouse apartment, intelligent control systems have become ubiquitous.... View Article

Growing concerns

With increased demand for grass paving to driveways, access roads and parking for both commercial and domestic applications, there are certain aspects of both ground conditions and utilisation that building specifiers and installers should consider. By Robert Howden, managing director... View Article

Glass trends

Rebecca Clayton, technical sales executive at IQ Glass looks at the changing trends in glazing, due largely to constant innovations in technology. As in all elements of design, trends change over time. This is therefore true of architectural glazing. Various things throughout all... View Article

Look down – how comforting is that flooring?

Steve Urwin, Tarkett UK marketing manager, says flooring can have a major impact on the wellbeing of people living in sheltered accommodation – for some surprising reasons. It’s well-known that the UK’s population is ageing – more than 10 million... View Article

Too green to build?

So determined was a Peterborough school to gain a BREEAM Very Good rating that it had become too expensive to construct. Mark Smulian hears how the architects adapted the design Any architect in pursuit of a BREEAM rating has a formidable... View Article