i-build March 2016

IN THIS ISSUE:

l SELF-BUILDS l RENOVATIONS l EXTENSIONS l CONVERSIONS

30+

March 16 Issue 20

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Design ideas

Design-led buys to complete your self-build

COASTAL COMFORTS SWEDISH INFLUENCE MELLOW YELLOW

KNOW YOUR HEALTH & SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES FIRE PIT: THE LATEST OUTDOOR MUST-HAVE

COVER STORY:

10

TIPS TO GET YOUR PROJECT OFF TO A FLYING START Expert insight to turn your dreams into reality!

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

MODERNIST MASTERPIECE

LABOUR OF LOVE

Inspiration and time-saving tips to help extend your home

A contemporary home ticks all the boxes for first-time self-builders

A challenging selfbuild blends on-trend building solutions with character and charm

+ SPECIAL FOCUS: l LIGHTING l CONSERVATORIES l SANITARYWARE l EVENTS

Delivering British architecture with German technology Hanse Haus is a premium German supplier of turnkey, pre-manufactured ultra-high efficiency homes.

Founded as a carpentry business in 1929, it now erects some 400 timber frame homes annually Europewide and has been active in the UK since 2006.

To talk to us about your individual requirements, contact us using the details below.

Hanse Haus Email info@hanse-haus.co.uk Telephone 0800 302 9220 www.hanse-haus.co.uk

Welcome to the March issue of i-build

www.i-buildmagazine.com

i-build i-nterior i-scape

T

here is no likely candidate to take on a self-build. Young couples may choose to self-build to get on the property ladder quicker, others may decide to embark on a self-build later on in life so that the home can cater for their established lifestyle. Some, however, may be drawn to the idea of building their own home due to the knowledge and expertise they have acquired in their career. In this month’s issue – and purely by coincidence – all of our readers’ homes were self-built by owners in the building and architecture trades.

Cover story: Fleming Homes explains how to get your project off to a flying start in 2016.

See page 14.

Editor in Chief:

Hannah Frackiewicz

hannah@mixedmediainfo.com Editorial Assistant:

Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com Print & Digital Advertising:

Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

Steve Gull

steve@mixedmediainfo.com

Michael Abrahams

michael@mixedmediainfo.com Studio Manager:

Chris Lilly

chris@mixedmediainfo.com

Welcome Note

i-build

Architect graduates Max and Diana Aiken had a clear vision for their retirement home, however after searching the market far and wide, they could not find a property that met their needs. They felt that the only way they were going to find a home that ticked all the boxes was to build it themselves, and that’s what they did. Using their wealth of knowledge, they began their journey pre-empting planning decisions, gaining approval early on and researching the market for materials – and the result is truly phenomenal. Turn to page 18 to find out more.

Elsewhere, a consultant to a brick manufacturer, decided to take the plunge and renovate an intriguing home on a perfect plot in South Devon – however a disastrous discovery meant that Nick Oldridge and his family became fully-fledged self-builders overnight. To read to full story, turn to page 24.

Finally, in this issue’s ‘i-build’ focus, architect Boris de Swart – who spent years designing other people’s homes – finally gave into his dreams by building his own timber framed house. The brief was a light-filled home which was extremely airtight.

Read how SmartPly’s VapAirTight helped achieve this on page 46.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, if you’re coming to the end of your self-build project and would like to offer your home as inspiration for other budding homebuilders, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the usual address.

Production:

Jack Witcomb

jack@mixedmediainfo.com Artworker/Sub-editor:

David Perry

david@mixedmediainfo.com Accounts:

Editor in Chief hannah@mixedmediainfo.com

Simone Jones

simone@mixedmediainfo.com Managing Director:

Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

@ibuildmagazine

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Editor’s picks Pear Platt, Woodfalls Farm, Gravelly Way Laddingford, Kent, ME18 6DA T: 01622 873229 F: 01622 320020

www.mixedmediainfo.com Terms and Conditions:

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Flooring solutions from Dural UK See page 54

Door systems from Schueco See page 56

Textured doors from JB Kind See page 57

3

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www.i-buildmagazine.com

i-build i-nterior i-scape

52

Desired Designs

12

Time Will Tell

14

Viewpoint

16

Contracts & Legalities

18

Rural Retreat

Contents

i-build

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A look at the latest innovative products and on-trend styles for your new home. i-build continues to follow Will Anderson as his self-build journey unfolds.

Fleming Homes explains how to get your project off to a flying start in 2016.

ProAktive Selfbuild outlines the Health & Safety responsibilities of the self-builder.

Springfield Farm is a modern, contemporary house, which performs without compromise as a home.

Innovation 24 Impressive A disastrous discovery uncovered with a renovation

project turns one family into fully-fledged self-builders.

30 HVAC An HRU has been installed within a private residential

property under construction near Tiverton in Devon.

32 Sanitaryware Roper Rhodes sheds light on sanitaryware options, durable materials and ways to save space.

34 Conservatories Conservatories and orangeries can make brilliant additions to your self-build or renovation project.

Frame 38 Timber English oak continues to deliver superior timber frame designs. Tom Barnes of Vastern Timber explains the advantages.

40 Lighting Brilliant Lighting was recently tasked with

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illuminating a stunning Grade II listed, 15th century Hampshire barn.

08 24

46 i-build At an architect’s new timber frame home, high racking strength and airtightness were crucial in the internal lining specification.

50 i-nterior Be bold and brave with these contemporary, striped carpet options, designed to suit your budget, floorplan and, of course, taste.

s: Secret Traduet for our ‘Tradheout

g Look o otted throu the re s’ d Secret ue. These a h can s this is sights whic ing in d insider luable to bud be inva lf-builders! se

52 i-scape Solus Decor outlines the benefits of installing simple, yet effective, fire pits and offers some inspiration.

5

Desired Designs

2 1

3 4

Image © Laura Ashley

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7

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Sail away with me Coastal themes can enhance natural light and really open up a room.

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pring is on its way. Believe it or not, sunlight will soon be adorning the walls of your new build and the weather will finally start behaving and allow things to run smoothly! Whether your self-build is almost complete or in the finishing stages, now is the perfect time to start planning out your decor for your dream home. Regardless of where your self-build site is situated, the beach hut theme suits any interior scheme. With its bright colours and overall natural appearance, this is a perfect scheme to select, especially if your self-build is due to be completed by this summer. Here, i-build breaks down the beach hut theme and presents some unusual sailing accessories for your home that will make your scheme stand out from the rest.

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1. Industrial chic Chatham Wharf wall light, £38.50, The Farthing

2. Wooden sailing boat, £75, Laura Ashley

3. NANOOK dining chair, £1410, BRABBU

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4. The Boat Shed roll wallpaper, £78, Milton & King

5. Nautical nickel porthole mirror, £290, Alexander & Pearl

6. Sea green Windmill throw,

£58, The British Blanket Company

7. Tall natural sea fan sculpture, £370, LuxDeco

8. Glass globe and rope lamp, £105, PUJI

9. Katherine Williams whale splat ter cushion, from £24.95, Wraptious

10. Destination Unknown

sculpture, £3180, Ben Young sculpture

9 10

1

1. Oar hooks, £22 2. Storage trunk, £80 3. Lighthouse tea light

candle holder, from £20

Desired Designs

2

4. Beach house

three drawer storage, £65

4 3

The White Lighthouse The White Lighthouse brings together a variety of different themes of furniture and accessories that can give your new build its own distinct elegance. Its collection of furniture and home accessories combines white furniture with New England, coastal, Scandinavian, French and Danish designs that bring its own unique charm to your new home. The White Lighthouse’s range of furniture contributes a clean and minimal feel to any coastal themed scheme, with pieces for various rooms within your new build.

1. Wooden ships wheel,

1

£40, House of Fraser

2. Solid brass bell,

£60 Batela Giftware

3. Traditional barometer, £39.95, Metcheck

2

4. Antique wooden brass

telescope on wooden stand, £69.95, Melody Maison

A sailor’s life

Brass and wood were commonly used throughout historic captain’s cabins providing a sense of luxury and superiority. The combination of these two materials look great in libraries, dining rooms and living rooms – practical rooms within the house that are frequently used for entertaining. These fun and quirky brass and wood designs will add the final touches to your coastal scheme. Plus these individual designs will inject a sense of uniqueness and excitement to your new home.

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4

7

Desired Designs

Mellow yellow Adding splashes of yellow to your decor will enhance the natural sunlight that will be flooding in through the windows of your self-build this spring.

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4

Pop of colour

Storage solutions

Add a pop of colour to your decor this spring with this giant statement lamp. The yellow shade offers a playful look that would look great in childrens' bedrooms or playrooms.

A modern take on the chest of drawers, perfect for storing just about everything. Crafted out of solid ash and ash veneer, this is a really versatile piece of furniture.

The colour blocking on this piece is ideal to add that splash of colour to your self-build.

(www.rigbyandmac.com)

(www.snug.ie)

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2

Rocking around

Brave design

A high quality reproduction of the original design, created

by Charles Ray Eames, the iconic Rocker Armchair rod style rocker is one of the all time classics in furniture design. This beautiful chair is ultra stylish, yet surprisingly comfortable for your little ones to rest their feet.

This zigzag coffee table is designed to stand out. Crafted by experts, tubular metal legs are bent to create this striking effect. Built to last, a round metal disc is UV bonded to the glass top. Screws from the legs into the metal disc hold it together for extra stability. (www.made.com)

(www.minieden.co.uk)

3

Perfect peony

6

Bold and contemporary

Surface View’s fantastic wall mural displays a brightly coloured peony as an elegant reproduction of a watercolour painting on paper. Wall murals can create an impact in any environment by bringing stunning imagery to life on a large scale.

Just when you thought that you couldn't innovate the basic clock, Sabrina Fossi has designed the ‘Freakish Clock’.

With a simple, yet bold design this addition would suit a neutral coloured room perfectly.

(www.johnlewis.com)

(www.beut.co.uk)

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LEVATO MONO porcelain paver system The Levato Mono porcelain paver system is the pinnacle of external raised flooring technology; enabling the specification of lightweight, slip resistant and attractive raised flooring solutions, combining incredible technical properties with uncompromising aesthetics; making them the ideal choice for commercial and domestic use alike.

20mm porcelain pavers 40x80 45x90 60x60 75x75 30x120 40x120 60x120 ‘Floating floor’ – installation over single ply membranes Eternal product - zero maintenance required – offering massive over-life savings Highly abrasion and stain resistant Highly slip resistant ; R11 and achieved up to +65 wet in the BS pendulum test Lightweight – 45kgs per m2 High load bearing and impact resistance Timber & stone effects ; 40+ finishes available Ideal for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas, for both commercial & residential use Completely non porous Fire & frost proof Height-adjustable supports from 9mm up to 550mm

t: 0845 2700 696

e: info@thedecktileco.co.uk

www.thedecktileco.co.uk

Desired Designs

Simply Scandinavian

A Scandinavian theme can really contribute to achieving that clean minimalistic interior scheme.

1

4

Practical storage

Marvelous marble

This beautiful, large storage bench is perfect for the kitchen and fits together with other Oliver Furniture dining tables. Storage room is available underneath the seat.

Norm Architects have managed to design this wall clock with simple lines, reminiscent of the classic wall clock. The use of high quality marble allows for a maximum appreciation of its mosaic and complex structure.

(www.nubie.co.uk)

(www.black-by-design.co.uk)

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5

A piece of art

Modern dining

This playful looking shelf is inspired by the wild wolves of the north and is ideal for storing smaller items, such as books and accessories. This item can also work as a stand-alone piece.

This retro, yet modern dining suite has angled legs providing a true Scandinavian style, perfect to achieve that minimal feel in a dining room scheme. This natural table comes with white replica, DanishScandinavian Eames chairs.

(www.bedesign.fi)

(www.ghify.com)

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10

6

Hanging around

Pendant light

This must-have product is great for any Scandinavian interior lover. The leather is organic – vegetable-tanned in Tarnsjo. These hangers can be used in a variety of ways, to hang your curtains or books. The perfect solutions for your home or office.

The Acorn shade resembles the empty shell of an acorn. This pendant lamp belongs to a new breed of designs that replicate the beauty of nature in a functional object. Acorn naturally complements contemporary interiors.

(www.norsu.com.au)

(www.nedgis.com)

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Time Will Tell

Left: One of the tongue and groove boards was used as a pasting table for the wallpaper Below left: The leftover floorboards proved ideal as a carcass for Will’s fitted wardrobes

Using up the leftovers i-build follows Will Anderson as his self-build journey unfolds.

Since i-build last caught up with Will, he has been busy making use of leftover construction materials.

O

ne of the challenges of building is managing all the materials – especially on a self-build with a small urban plot. Sometimes building just feels like an endless process of moving things around.

Just when you’ve shifted one enormous pile of stuff out of the way, a lorry arrives with another.

Consequently there is a curious pleasure to be had in seeing things get absorbed into the building. For

not only is the building one step nearer completion but also you suddenly have space to move again.

Part of the problem is the desire to hang on to excess unused materials in the hope that a use will be found for them further down the line. This happens quite a lot but the result is an accumulation of leftovers. We are building a timber frame house with parquet floors and lots of second-fix joinery, so inevitably the stash of

leftover wood has grown and grown over the past two years. As we near the end, this stash has become ever less desirable to live with, so the pressure has been on to either use it or lose it.

The timber frame went up in 2014 and ever since I have been holding on to a pile of good quality tongue and groove floor boards that Touchwood, our timber frame suppliers, could not fit into the van when the job was done. These are big chunky boards – 600 x 2400mm and 22mm thick with a good finish. And ever since they left them I had a plan for them: using them as the sides of the carcasses for our built-in bedroom wardrobe.

First, however, we used one of these boards as a pasting table for the wallpaper that went up on the other three walls of the bedroom. As I’m not skilled at putting up wall paper, I called once again on the skills of our versatile electrician, Szymon Berlanga.

He did a good job, getting the pattern match of our William Morris willow wallpaper exactly right.

With the wall-papering complete, I set to work to turn the floor boards into cabinets for the fourth wall. Using floorboards isn’t quite as crazy as it might seem. For starters, we had always planned for the wardrobes to be 600mm deep, which is about right for shirts on hangers. Also, I could use the tongues of the boards as the rebate into which the backs of the carcasses could be fitted, thereby saving having to rout out any grooves for this purpose. Nonetheless there was a great deal of sawing involved, creating plumes of dust that filled the house that we are also trying to live in. Such are the joys of self build.

I also managed to use some offcuts of birch ply boards for shelves, though I had to go down the road to the timber yard to finish the job. It’s not a bad job, though it will all look a great deal better when I have built some doors for the cupboards and hidden everything.

Inevitably, all that new cupboard space was just too tempting for the remaining piles of construction stuff. So, for the time being, the wardrobe will also be a builder’s cupboard, with tins of oil and big tubs of paint jostling for space alongside shirts and trousers. One day, everything will be neat and tidy and in its place. But for now, the house remains half home, half workshop.

www.buildingtheorchard.com

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The real beauty is what you don’t see The quality of a Schueco glazed system isn’t just on the surface.

German engineering means sliding doors with concealed frames and narrow central joins. Windows have slender profiles. Façades offer ultraslim mullions and transoms. Entrance doors deliver unbeatable security.

Yet all come with insulation that can be up to Passive House levels.

If you’re looking for a system that is clearly better, there’s only one name on the frame. www.schueco.co.uk

Sub-brow Viewpoint Eyebrow

Get your project off to a flying start Is this the year you finally build your dream timber frame home?

Hayden Martin, Managing Director of Fleming Homes, offers his top 10 tips for getting your self-build project off to a flying start in 2016.

I

t’s a fact that self-building can be a daunting process. Equally true is that it can be rewarding, empowering and exhilarating!

The growing number of self-build projects commencing year on year is testimony to the fact that the majority of individual self-build homes are a complete success. The following article has been written to help ensure your project becomes yet another success story and gets off to a flying start with our top ten tips.

1 Understand the figures Understanding the cost of a self-build project is critical, as is making an assumption on your likely return on investment. The first step should be defining your maximum budget and understanding what you can achieve with it. This will determine whether self-building is the right option for you.

Top Tip: Use our costing guidelines to assist with this process and relate your budgeted figures to our sample designs within our design brochure.

This will give you a clear idea of the size/type of home that is relative to your budget.

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3 Educate yourself Knowledge is king. There are a lot of things to consider when building your own home.

You don’t have to have all the answers but it is important that you have a base understanding of the core elements of a self-build project.

We’ve touched on costs and funding options, now seek information on build methods, design procedures, project stages, U-values, timeframes, build routes, planning procedures, and so on.

Top Tip: Attend self-build shows, visit websites, read magazines; anything and everything that will give you insight and help inform your decisions. Then speak with a self-build specialist like Fleming Homes!

4 Identify and acquire

your plot of land

2 Seek financial advice Now you know what you can achieve for your budget, get confirmation from a professional.

Speak to a financial advisor to discuss funding the project and engage with a local estate agent to determine what the likely value of your proposed development will be.

Top Tip: Speak to self-build specialists Buildstore. They specialise in funding self-build projects so the information you receive from them will be up to date and relevant to selfbuilding.

One of the first stages in the process, it is advisable to visit as many plots as you can and it helps to try to visualise the final product (as opposed to a beaten up piece of land). Consider the planning conditions and ensure the observations noted are aligned with your aspirations.

Top Tip: Use our Finding Plots resource for useful information on how to go about finding land. It’s also worth considering existing properties that could be knocked down and re-developed from scratch. This process often presents options in better suited locations and can have less onerous planning conditions.

5 Consider your build method This should be one of the first design decisions you make. The design of your new home should be directed by the method in which it will be built; this will not only maximise the performance

Viewpoint

7 Start your design The design of your home is the epicentre of the project and arguably the most important aspect of self-building.

There are two main ways you can approach this; use an architect or utilise the in-house design services of a manufacturing company. There are pros and cons of both design routes and you will need to decide which route suits your needs the best.

Top Tip: Regardless of which route you take it is vitally important that you are the driving force behind the design.

Ask yourself; is this designer going to realise my individual objectives? Professional input from a designer is essential, but not to the extent that it becomes their design and not yours. Each self-build project is different; what suits one person is completely different from the next.

8 Consider planning and building regulation routes

Top left: The design of your home is the epicentre of the project and arguably the most important aspect of self-building Left: Hayden Martin offers his top 10 tips for a successful selfbuild journey Above: The design of your new home should be directed by the method in which it will be built Below: The growing number of self-build projects is testimony to the fact that most are a complete success

of your home but could lead to significant cost savings.

Top Tip: Engage with specialists in your chosen build method, whether you use an architect or the design services of a manufacturing company. Their level of expertise in your chosen build method will positively impact your design and ensure you get more bang for your buck.

6 Build your team Self-building is a big undertaking. You will need a good team on your side that will help you realise your individual objectives of the build. Select your team on skills and experience, but also consider the personal relationship you are likely (or unlikely) to establish with the people involved.

Top Tip: Meet with your proposed team as much as you can before committing. Put them through their paces before making a commitment to see how well they respond to your individual requirements.

This will be relative to the decision you make on the design process. This process can be architect lead or manufacturer lead. You could also engage with planning consultants or design technicians which can potentially lead to cost efficiencies.

Top Tip: Understand the options first before being lead down a path of no return. Consider the benefits of using an architect against the benefits of using other methods. Try and assess this in terms of overall value and select the route which ticks the most boxes for your individual project circumstances.

9 Be on the team Strive to be the most valuable player on your self-build team. By now you will be surrounded by a dedicated team of self-build professionals but don’t leave it all to them.

Keep at the forefront and manage the process to ensure you have complete authority at every step of the way.

Remember, out of all the members of your team you will be the only one living in the final product.

Top Tip: Be organised. Log, file, record, detail, manage as thoroughly as you can to keep up with the pace of your project at all times. At the very least keep a file to document proceedings and log key decisions that have been made or need to be made. Keep a record of all transactions on a spread sheet and be sure to keep all receipts; you will need them at the end of the project.

10 Enjoy yourself Of course self-building can be stressful, but it can also be exhilarating. For many, a self-build project is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We say make the very most of it. What you get out of the process will be relative to what you put in.

Top Tip: Remember that the very high majority of selfbuild projects are a complete success. It’s the reason selfbuilding is so popular. Become another testimony to the benefits of self-build and put your heart and soul into your own unique project along the way.

www.fleminghomes.co.uk

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Contracts & Legalities

The CDM Regulations place duties on everyone involved in the construction process to properly plan, design and carry out the project

Smart safety

Andrew Reardon, Senior Selfbuild Account Handler at self-build insurance policy expert, ProAktive Selfbuild, outlines the Health & Safety responsibilities of the self-builder.

S

elf-building a new home or extension can be an exciting and rewarding process. It gives a self-builder the opportunity to create a customised space from start to finish.

Self-build homes can be environmentally friendly, often have innovative designs and may cost less than standard housing when you build your own house. However, construction is one of the most dangerous sectors in the UK and it poses a number of risks for self-builders – including serious injuries.

Based on your knowledge and skill level in construction work, you need to decide whether you are going to selfbuild as a do-it-yourself project or hire workers, contractors and subcontractors to help.

In addition, you may need to follow certain health and safety regulations – factors such as directly employing workers, managing the project yourself and intending to sell the property at completion will determine whether the regulations will apply to you.

The Health and Safety Laws Two of the most important health and safety laws for construction are the Health and Safety

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at Work etc Act 1974 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM Regulations).

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 lays out general workplace health and safety principles for employers, employees and the self-employed. It places a duty on employers to assess and reduce the severity of risks in the workplace as much as is reasonable and practical.

Employers must abide by all relevant health and safety regulations, including the following: The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 The Work at Height Regulations 2005 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 Whether health and safety legislation apply when you build your own house or not, it is important to make sure you eliminate or reduce health and safety risks on your site.

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 will

apply to self builders who directly employ workers.

As employers, self-builders must ensure the health and safety of their employees. The Act will also apply to self builders who are considered to be selfemployed – this could be the case if the self-builder intends to sell the property once it is complete.

The CDM Regulations place duties on everyone involved in the construction process to properly plan, design and carry out the project, including specific duties for clients, contractors and designers. These regulations have recently been revised in 2015 with significant implications for self-builders as domestic projects, which were normally excluded under the 2007 regulations, are now included for the first time.

Duties include appointing suitable persons to ensure that health and safety is being undertaken correctly, preparing health and safety plans and notifying the HSE for certain types of builds. This means self-builders must ensure that the work areas and methods they have asserted control over are reasonably safe and that they appoint. It also means that if the self-builder does not specifically appoint someone to undertake the responsibility for health and safety, such as the Principal Contractor or Principal Designer, then they assume the responsibilities themselves. This could leave you exposed to complicated legislation with unintended consequences.

www.selfbuildonline.co.uk

Baufritz is passionate about creating a luxurious living environment that’s designed just for you. All our homes use an abundance of high quality, natural materials that are completely free of toxins, creating a harmonious atmosphere that looks beautiful, protects the environment and makes you feel good.

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www.baufritz-ib.co.uk Find out more about Baufritz and contac t our UK office: enquiries@baufritz-ib.co.uk | 01223 235632

Sub-brow RuralEyebrow Retreat 18

Modernist masterpiece Sitting on the site of a demolished and undistinguished 1950s farm worker’s cottage just outside Bath, and in the Bath and Bristol Green Belt, Springfield Farm is a contemporary and individual home designed specifically to meet the needs of its owners.

M

The field, which has now got a low grade surface suitable for wild flowers, was seeded three years ago

ax and Diana Aiken, both architectural graduates, wanted a beautiful and practical home that could last them through their twilight years. Diana wanted to have a clear direct view from her desk on the ground floor to a fold in the landscape, so the whole building was pivoted around that. Max is a busy artist, so the brief also required a studio in which he could paint as well as a place for their own art collection.

Diana Aiken explains that the brief had to combine architecture, art and the environment: “We wanted our home to be a contemporary and individual piece of architecture, a home in which to display our art collection, and for the house to sit very comfortably within the rural environment. We asked for spaces, not rooms; divisions, not walls; and vertical and horizontal surfaces to display art, sculpture and ceramics.”

Embarking on a self-build was uncharted territory for the couple, but having previously been involved in home renovations and taking into account their professional background, they felt it was possible, as Max explains: “We had renovated houses before, but

Rural Retreat

Images © Paul Smoothy

The brief had to combine architecture, art and the environment

never undertaken a new build. We were retired and it was perhaps now or never. We both trained as architects and had farmed, so had a range of appropriate skills. We knew broadly what we wanted, and after looking for an existing house, felt that the only way to meet our wish list was to build it ourselves.”

Instead of searching for a home to remodel or extend, the couple were drawn to the idea of starting from scratch. “We identified a number of towns as possible nearby ‘centres’ within easy reach of London and a short list of must-haves for the site,” comments Diana.

“Finding our plot consisted of daily searches online, with weekly trips to view villages, towns and houses – so it was a full time job.”

Diana continues: “This plot was the third one we were interested in, and it immediately ticked all the boxes.

We were able to act quickly.”

Gaining planning permission was a relatively straightforward process thanks to the couple’s impeccable forward-planning. Max explains: “Because we already had our briefed architect on board, we were able to do a pre-planning application and get a

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Sub-brow RuralEyebrow Retreat Whilst being Modernist in style, the property is comfortable and ‘homely’

reply that covered the main issues that were important to the planning department. This was achieved within the time between making an offer and exchange of contracts. So we knew the parameters within which we would be able to build what we wanted. We then took 8 months to finalise our designs with the architect. Our full planning application went through without a hitch.”

Andrew Wood of Andrew Wood Associates worked closely with Max and Diana to create the initial design and plans, and secured planning consent for the project. Designscape Architects then developed the design through

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the detailed design and construction phases, while Max and Diana undertook the project management and were the main contractors themselves. The couple bought a caravan and lived on site to better manage the project.

Precise planning Careful thought was given to the specification of materials, as Diana explains: “For a year and half before we started on site, Max researched materials and local subcontractors, also visiting sites and factories to see materials etc. If you know what you want and have the time and inclination to do the research, then this pays

off. The external Frake wood cladding met the planner’s requirements and was approved by them. I planned the arrangement and panel sizes of the Trespa, which provided a complementary solution to the cladding on the north elevation. The architects were very helpful for all the external work, whilst Max did much of the detailed drawings and specification work for the interior fit out, as he knew exactly what we wanted internally, and broadly how to make it.”

The couple’s vision for their new home was very clear from the outset. They wanted to produce a house that in essence was

Rural Retreat

Modernist, while still being sympathetic to its rural surroundings. Max describes further: “The interior is a series of spaces rather than rooms.

We wanted a place in which our collection of paintings, sculpture and ceramics were able to be displayed, so part of the brief was to provide vertical and horizontal areas for this purpose.

Part of the attraction of the site was the view it afforded over a totally uninterrupted landscape. So it was important that the house flowed into this naturally, and that the 2 acres we are responsible for didn’t in any way conflict with the view it was part of.”

Zoned living The timber frame walls support a Frake hardwood cladding, which has turned silver grey as it has aged and weathered, complementing the grey tones of local lias limestone. The aluminium window frames are a satin finish and coloured to blend with the cladding and grey render. The colour of the cladding between the studio and the house is a darker grey to articulate the recess between the two areas.

The house incorporates living accommodation on the ground floor with two en-suite bedrooms on the first floor. The open plan kitchen and dining area overlook the terrace to the field beyond, whilst split floor levels break up the living space and create a sense of different zones within the plan. Swathes of full height The interior is a series of spaces rather than rooms

The open plan kitchen and dining area overlook the terrace to the field beyond

glazing on the south side of the house take full advantage of the view, as well as maximising solar gain to secure passive heating, whilst a book lined snug at the east creates a cosy retreat in contrast with the light filled “gallery” spaces.

To the west lies a single-storey studio, filled with light from more full height glazing, plus a bathroom and utility room.

Consistency throughout “Our favourite aspect of the home is the consistency throughout,” comments Max. “The external architecture and the architecturally created interior spaces, and the furnishings are all of a piece. Whilst being Modernist in style, it is comfortable and ‘homely’. We use every room everyday, except the dedicated Guest bedroom. The house has built-in flexibility, both for when family come to stay and the flexibility for our old age to have a bedroom with bathroom en-suite downstairs without the need to completely redesign the house.”

The landscaped areas surrounding the home have been given equal care and

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Rural Retreat

The timber frame walls support a Frake hardwood cladding, which has turned silver grey as it has aged and weathered

attention, and contribute significantly towards the overall aesthetics of the plot. Diana explains: “We wanted the house to appear to be growing out of the field, with the field actually continuing over the roof of the western end of the house, and we wanted the field to be a wild flower meadow. We have achieved this by removing the top soil of the 2 acre field, and with it have created a bank which extends to include the roof of the studio. The bank is terraced with flat areas of grass for walking on, and a series of four banks planted with ground cover. The field, which has now got a low grade surface suitable for wild flowers, was seeded three years ago and is gradually developing into a perennial display of wild flowers.

“The wild flower seeds were chosen to suit the underlying soil type, and also for

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the attraction to butterflies and wild life generally, and purchased from Emorsgate Seeds. The plants on the banks were chosen from the catalogue of a supplier of plug plants because we needed vast quantities of plants to cover the area. We then potted them on until they were ready to plant out. We were looking for a landscape that in time would give us the least amount of maintenance work.”

Ahead of the game Despite the build of the home remaining within the budget, the external works took the couple over budget, simply because a budget had been set before the site was found and purchased. Yet, one might say it’s a price worth paying for such a beautiful, rural landscape.

Reflecting on their lessons learned, the couple offer these vitals pieces of advice for prospective self-builders: “Research materials, techniques, subcontractors and suppliers before you start, and choose your team well with the knowledge that this research gives you. Be ahead of the game in planning the work on site, so you can tell people what you want, rather than them telling you what they think is best to do - from our experience the two are rarely the same. It should be your fulltime project from start to finish. It requires total commitment and concentration.

“For us, we’re absolutely delighted with our new home. It’s everything we’d hoped it would be and more. Neither of us would do it again but then, we don’t have to!”

www.dscape.co.uk www.andrewwoodassociates.co.uk

Building A Mortgage Free Home?

Plum Pictures, the creators of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, are looking for people to take part in an inspiring new series that follows individuals who plan to build their own home and become mortgage free in the process.

You could be selling your home and then using the proceeds or using your savings to complete your own mortgage free self build project.

Whether your budget is £5000 or £150,000 we want to hear from you.

Please email your name, contact details and a rough outline of your build plans to;

mortgagefree@plumpictures.co.uk

“ From finding

a roofing contractor to the latest technical advice, NFRC has it covered.

”

info@nfrc.co.uk | www.nfrc.co.uk | @TheNFRC 23

Sub-brow Impressive Innovation Eyebrow

Rising to the challenge When Nick Oldridge and his family found their perfect plot, a disastrous discovery turned them from hopeful renovators into fully-fledged self-builders overnight.

F

inding the perfect plot in an area with a low density population is no mean feat, so when Nick and his family found a renovation project in Totnes, South Devon, bursting with character, they packed their bags and headed south from Leeds.

Nick explains: “We found an old outbuilding that had once formed part of a manor house dating back to the 1850s. The exterior was full of character and charm, but we were slightly underwhelmed by the interior. It had received several extensions and modifications over the years, so thought that we could simply gut it and remodel the layout to suit our needs.

The property also had beautiful grounds and featured a stream at the bottom of the garden, so it was hard not to fall in love with it.

“Having previously been involved in kitchen and bathroom renovations before, we felt

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confident that we could take on a slightly bigger project. We took the plunge and bought it!”

The family longed for some time for a life in the country and with relatives already in the vicinity, it was an easy decision to make.

However, once the house was purchased a horrible discovery left Nick feeling like it was the worst decision they had ever made, as he explains: “In the past we’d conducted a property survey and ended up losing a lot of money. There didn’t seem much point carrying out a survey if we were ripping it apart. However not long after the contract was finalised, a structural engineer condemned the entire roof structure!”

Nick continues: “When we knocked the extensions down, parts of the structure fell down with it. When we removed the roof altogether, that made the structure even more

unstable. In the end we only had a few walls remaining. We took our team’s advice and ended up levelling the whole building and essentially were in the process of constructing a new build. However, as we already had the entire design pre-approved by planning, we had to re-apply but this time with the intention of it being a new build.”

Retaining the heritage Despite being given a clean slate to work from, Nick had invested heavily in the initial design plans. The renovation project would have retained the property’s character and was essentially what had drawn them to the property in the first place. Instead of submitting a new proposal to planners, Nick stuck firmly to his vision and applied to rebuild the original stone building.

Impressive Innovation Above: Masses of glazing lets the light in and bifolding doors open up the home to the garden Left: The original stone was taken from the old house Far left: The solar panels are ‘building integrated’ which is more aesthetically pleasing and fits neatly into the roof slope

Once planning was accepted and the designs finalised, construction swiftly commenced. Yet the project received one final setback. As a new build property, Nick and his team were obliged to carry out a Flood Risk Assessment – this was not required for a renovation. The assessment revealed the property would need to be raised on piles by 200mm. “It was painful to watch the contractors digging down to build up,” comments Nick. “But at the end of the day, we now have a house that’s future proof.”

“Even after the setbacks, our vision for our new home remained the same – we wanted to build something sensitive and in harmony with its surroundings. We are not overlooked at the back of the house so we aimed to transform the rear of the property – masses of glazing to let the light in and bifolding doors to open up our home to the garden.”

Nick called upon a local architect for the early design plans, but once the contractors, Goulden & Sons, became involved they took the lead and were appointed as the main project managers. Nick explains: “Logistics wise, we were tempted to manage the project ourselves as we were residing in an annex in the garden. In the end, we put our faith in the contractors, but were very much involved in every step of the way.”

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Sub-brow Impressive Innovation Eyebrow

As the floor of the building had to be raised as per the Flood Risk Assessment, the layout of the home had to be locked down fairly quickly. Internally, the design caters for open-plan living and is tailored to the country lifestyle the family always longed for.

The ground floor consists of a kitchen and dining area, plus another living area which opens up onto the garden. Also on this level is a living room, playroom/ study, utility room and, of course, a wetroom – perfect for hosing down the family’s children after an afternoon playing in the stream! Meanwhile, the first floor features five bedrooms, a family bathroom and two en-suites.

Character and charm The material choices were dictated largely by ‘blending in’. The original stone was used from the house and the stone mason sourced more from a nearby field. Slates were recovered from the property with only a few additions.

Nick explains further: “The architect recommended some materials, but for the walls I used a Porotherm clay block, which comes from my background acting as a consultant for Wienerberger. We wanted the building erected as quickly as possible and this clay block enabled us to do just that, especially with winter approaching.”

“Many of the materials are ‘us’. In the pre-internet days, the architect or contractor would have said “here are your choices for skirting, door handles etc” and you would have just picked the middle range product, but

Above left: The self-build has retained character inside Left: The flooring has had such an impact on the whole property Right: The flooring adds bundles of warmth and character Above right: The flooring was sourced from Victorian Woodworks at a design event in London

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Sub-brow Impressive Innovation Eyebrow in the world of the internet you have so much freedom and you enter a whole new world of materials, and in a way it’s almost bewildering, but we felt it was important to make these decisions. When the choice is open to you, you feel that you have to play a part in it.”

Nick continues: “The floor was my wife’s find, which she sourced from Victorian Woodworks at a design event in London. As we were using the stone from the original property and second-hand slate, we were worried that it would look like a new house inside – we really wanted to retain its character. Admittedly, the floor was not cheap – and it’s where we overspent – but it has had such an impact on the whole property. It adds bundles of character and warmth.”

Adding further to its sustainability and eco-credentials, the home features air source heat pumps so it is eligible for the RHI. “I brought in an energy consultant based in Exeter to look at the renewables package because I wanted to get it right,” adds Nick. “We also have a solar array, pv48, which comes from Sandtoft, a roof tile manufacturer I used to be a director of, and that's located on the south elevation of the roof. It’s a building integrated system which, in my view, is more aesthetically pleasing and fits neatly into the roof slope.”

Reflecting on his lessons learned, Nick offers some final thoughts to prospective self-builders: “My advice would be make sure you’ve got that thinking time

27

Impressive Innovation and never rush decisions. Now that we have completed our home, we are occasionally tortured by choices that we could have, or should have, made. I also found that one of the hardest things to do was work out the size and orientation of the rooms, so I’d really recommend using an architect and also make sure your existing furniture is taken into account. This will ensure all the belongings you bring with you fit entirely as you intend.”

For Nick and his family, the start of this project left them feeling like they’d bitten off more than they could chew, but one step at a time – and with the help of a very competent contractor – they took it in their stride. The home is truly magnificent and is one that certainly captures the perfect blend of old vs new.

www.gouldenandsons.co.uk www.victorianwoodworks.co.uk Above: Bi-folding doors let vast amounts of light in Right: The ground floor features a second living area which opens up onto the garden

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HVAC

Left: The two-storey 200m2 structure replaces an earlier dwelling on the Bampton site Below: The semi-rigid ductwork is an integral part of the Omnie system and enables good flow characteristics

Controlled indoor environment With less than 400 PassivHaus certified properties so far completed across the UK, the ultra-low energy standard from Germany can still be viewed as nascent in this country, though there are many compliant components and technologies available to assist in these designs, such as the mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system offered by Omnie.

T

he highly efficient PassivHaus certified CA550 heat recover unit (HRU) has in fact just been installed as a crucial element to the building services within a private residential property under construction near Tiverton in Devon. The two-storey, 200m2 structure replaces an earlier dwelling on the Bampton site where Gale & Snowden is the specialist architectural consultant and PassivHaus designer responsible for the specification process.

In addition to the ducted central ventilation system, which will constantly harvest warmth from extracted stale air, the new home uses a holistic set of measures in order to keep energy usage within the tightly controlled PassivHaus parameters. These include a superinsulated building envelope, use of thermal mass to mitigate extremes of temperature and standards of airtightness so exacting as to restrict air changes to below 0.6 per hour.

The latter figure, set by the PassivHaus Institute, is so low that it would lead to problems of stale, moisture laden air becoming trapped in the living spaces, with the possibility of it causing condensation, damp and damage to the fabric of the building or even “sick

30

building syndrome” which adversely affects the health of the occupants.

The Devon self-builder, Hugh, commented: “Sherwood has been built on the site of a former bungalow and has been designed by the architects, Gale & Snowden, to be our forever home – with the scope for us to live on the ground floor if our health deteriorates in later life. We chose the PassivHaus low energy route in order to keep future bills as low as possible, while also utilising materials and products, which would offer a healthy living environment.

“Gale & Snowden identified the HRU as being the most appropriate, low energy model on the market for our needs and the fact that Omnie is an Exeter-based company also fitted with our ethos of trying to buy local. While the HRU and the two manifolds and ducting have been installed by the Go Green Engineering of Exeter.”

In fact the semi-rigid ductwork is an integral part of the Omnie system and enables good flow characteristics to be maintained while routing the pipes around the structure to different rooms. The reduced number of fittings also assists in preventing air leakage.

The CA550 HRU itself is designed to run

continuously at a cost of approximately 30p per day, depending on the tariff and is extremely quiet in operation as well as offering such sophistications as automatic summer bypass and a boost facility for when humidity levels increase.

Overall the Omnie CA550 HRU is 92% efficient making it fully compliant with SAP, as well as able to feature in a near-to-zero energy house design such as has been created by Hugh and his wife along with their consultants.

This advanced ventilation solution is also a key component to Omnie’s whole house offering which can also feature renewable energy in the form of ground and air source heat pumps, a wide selection of underfloor heating systems with sophisticated control options.

www.omnie.co.uk

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To support the fast-paced lifestyles of our audience, all Inex content is pushed via the stylish and easy-to-navigate app for smart phone and tablet users. The Inex app is a vital portal for accessing information on the move.

Sanitaryware

P Sensible sanitaryware selections With a wide variety of sanitaryware designs available on the market you may be finding it difficult to select the right scheme for your new bathroom. Here Helen Shaw, Marketing Manager at Roper Rhodes, sheds light on sanitaryware options, durable materials and ways to save space for your self-build bathroom scheme.

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eople are increasingly looking for bathroom products that will stand the test of time, and are investing in sanitaryware that offers longevity and luxury. Investing and buying good quality sanitaryware products makes economical sense. They are a pleasure to use and will last a lot longer than cheaper alternatives.

Good design is all about using materials that are fit for purpose, and sanitaryware that is manufactured using only the finest raw materials, including English china clay, are durable and will stand the test of time.

When it comes to selecting your sanitaryware, think carefully about how you want your new bathroom to look.

For example, do you want a super sleek, contemporary room? Or something slightly more traditional? There are a wide range of styles and sizes of beautiful basins and WCs available that can help you achieve just the right look, so make sure that you look at all the ranges on offer so you can make an informed choice – where possible go and see the sanitaryware in the flesh so you can really see the quality first-hand.

The size of your bathroom will play a big part in the layout, and choosing sanitaryware that makes the most of your space is key.

Many bathrooms and en-suites within new build homes can be short on space, which makes small bathroom solutions a necessity for many people.

Left: The size of your bathroom will play a big part in the layout Above: Wall-hung WCs can help you replicate the look and feel of a design-led hotel bathroom while also being easier to clean Right: Wall-hung basins and WCs are great for freeing up valuable floor space Below: Choosing sanitaryware that makes the most of your space is key

Sanitaryware

Basins featuring a full pedestal, which hide unsightly pipework from view, have been an incredibly popular design choice in the UK for many years, and there are now a variety of contemporary, as well as traditional, designs available. However Roper Rhodes has seen an increase in demand for wall-hung sanitaryware as more people become aware of its practical and aesthetic benefits. Not only does it look chic and contemporary, but it is particularly well suited to the UK’s typically small bathrooms as it frees up valuable floor space and makes the room seem much more spacious.

The perfect solution for those looking to introduce a touch of designer and European flair to their bathroom, wall-hung WCs, which are fitted with a support frame and conceal all the plumbing neatly from sight, can help you replicate the look and feel of a designled hotel bathroom while also being easier to clean. Similarly, wall-hung basins come in a variety of sizes and can be installed with a semi-pedestal or a chrome bottle trap to conceal the pipework.

There are practical benefits to wall-hung sanitaryware too, as it can also be positioned on the wall to suit individual requirements, making it particularly appealing to those who are looking to future-proof their bathroom and make it more accessible to people of all ages and mobility levels. Comfort height WCs, which were initially introduced to cater for the aging population and make it easier for elderly people to use, have also proved beneficial as the average height and weight of the UK population continues to increase.

Where smaller bathrooms prevail, short-projection WCs continue to be a popular choice, even more so if you go for a back-to-wall option with a concealed cistern, which is a great solution for en-suites. Backto-wall WCs, which hide all the pipework neatly from view behind a stud wall or within a back-to-wall fitted furniture unit, are great for those looking to create a contemporary, streamlined space.

Close-coupled designs, which feature the cistern on the back of the toilet pan, are popular with many people, as they are affordable and relatively easy to install. Water reducing flush technology is now expected to prevail in the UK, especially with an increasing number of consumers paying more attention to their household water consumption. To meet this demand, close-coupled WC models with a 4.5/3l dual flush capacity are increasingly becoming a popular choice of sanitaryware.

www.roperrhodes.co.uk

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Conservatories

Contemporary conservatories Used to add more space to a property for an expanding family, or create an extra room, conservatories are a wonderful way to extend the home. With benefits such as added natural light, energy efficiency and open-plan space conservatories and orangeries can make brilliant additions to your self-build or renovation project.

C

onservatory extensions can add architectural texture and monetary value to your self-build design, and can even help to keep your home thermally regulated throughout the year. As with all aspects of your self-build project, it pays to plan ahead when considering a conservatory or orangery for your new property. Whether you are adding the design and build work to your own to-do list, or drafting in a specialist company, there are a few points you will want to bear in mind.

Materials There are three main framework materials on the market today that are suitable for use when building your conservatory or orangery. Choosing which material to

34

use is key to the final design, it should complement the aesthetic of your property and remain in keeping with the overall style of your self-build project. To add real value to the property, and be sure of its durability, keeping quality in mind when selecting your materials is also key to the success of your new conservatory or orangery. uPVC White uPVC has been synonymous with the conservatory for decades now, thanks to its affordable price point and wide availability. One of the main arguments for the use of uPVC, within a self-build project, is the convenience of the off-thepeg conservatory kits available in uPVC. These are relatively simple to install and promise a one-size-fits-all solution.

Above: Modern conservatories come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes Above right: Conservatory extensions can add architectural texture and monetary value to your self-build Right: As with all aspects of your self-build project, it pays to plan ahead when considering a conservatory

Conservatories However, it's generally acknowledged that the overall aesthetic of uPVC conservatory framework leaves something to be desired.

Moreover, uPVC often warps with time, and is not particularly resilient and won’t add any structural support to you home; which is why it is always worth shopping around before choosing a cheap uPVC kit conservatory.

Wood Wooden frameworks can add character and charm to self-build conservatories and orangeries; complementing rustic build styles and adding personality to the property. For more detailed designs, such as an ornate orangery or a corniced conservatory, wooden frameworks make the perfect choice. Thanks to its pliability, natural wood is an extremely receptive canvas for decorations and adornments that traditional conservatories and orangeries require.

Wooden frameworks do call for much more maintenance and will need oiling annually in order to remain protected against the elements. Like uPVC, they are also prone to warping and sections may need replacing over time as rot or damp sets in, which can become a much larger task over time.

Aluminium Aluminium, which is the strongest and most durable of the three materials, is often disregarded due to its higher cost, but this initial outlay will pay itself back tenfold in added value to the host property.

Aluminium is an extremely good conductor of heat and as such, a thermal break is necessary to ensure no heat loss is possible.

Some bespoke aluminium conservatory companies, can even employ this technology to exceed industry standards and create

conservatories and orangeries which help reduce heating and energy costs in the home.

Aluminium is also naturally resistant to corrosion and relatively maintenance free.

All in all, the choice of an aluminium framed conservatory or orangery will provide a much sounder structure than either uPVC or wood.

Styles Whichever material you have chosen for your self-build conservatory, or whether you have chosen to use a prefabricated kit, buy an

† 35

Conservatories off-the-peg model or go entirely bespoke, you will now need to get a better idea of which structure style best suits the needs of you and your project.

Conservatories Modern conservatories come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes which should be selected to complement the intended host property. Bespoke conservatories often offer the best solution for self-builders, as they are easily adapted to your plans, but prefabricated kits shouldn’t be an issue if included from the start of the project.

The beauty of a bespoke conservatory is that there are no limits; it can come in whatever size, shape and style best served for its intended function, it will be custom-manufactured for the project and able to merge seamlessly with the host property.

Lean-to conservatories The lean-to conservatory is a modern favourite; boasting the sharp lines and clean angles that all contemporary architecture craves. These structures maximise light and space within the home and the simple, yet effective design means that the self-builder need not be too daunted.

The lean-to conservatory can be employed for almost any property type, contrasting well with more traditional build styles, whilst marrying effortlessly with buildings of a more modern persuasion.

Orangeries Orangeries find their heritage in the historical houses of Britain and therefore are perhaps best suited to period or listed buildings. Orangeries make the perfect companion to a barn conversion, or similar renovation projects, and lend themselves to bright, open-plan spaces.

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Final considerations Pay attention to the aspect when planning your conservatory or orangery extension; there is no point planning a breakfast room from which the sunrise won’t be visible.

Remember to bear in mind throughout the process how you will be using the space once your project is over, as this will impact many of your design and build choices along the way.

Do your research when it comes to glazing; triple glazing doesn’t always pay but there are specialist glasses on the market which can save you both time and money.

If you decide to add a conservatory, orangery or any additional structure to your self-build project after receiving your planning approval remember to consult your local council as you may have to reapply.

www.aproposuk.com

Top: Bespoke conservatories often offer the best solution for self-builders Below: Do your research when it comes to glazing; triple glazing doesn’t always pay but there are specialist glasses on the market which can save you both time and money

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Bricks & Blocks

Timber Frame

A national treasure English oak continues to deliver superior timber frame designs.

Tom Barnes of Vastern Timber explains the advantages of English timber and what should architects and designers know to ensure successful implementation.

T

imber frame construction using English oak has always been popular at the premium end of the domestic market, and for good reason. A well-designed and constructed home that uses beautiful English oak as a key part of the aesthetic is truly impressive.

In recent years there has been a degree of concern as to the viability of oak timber frame when pursuing the highest levels of energy efficiency. However, thanks to the application of the latest insulation technologies, the highest levels of thermal efficiency are now being achieved. This application of modern technology will help to ensure England oak remains a popular choice.

For designers looking to use English oak it is worth understanding not only the wood itself, but also the ways in which it is cut and processed, as this can make all the difference to the effectiveness and longevity of the design.

Many people regard English oak (Quercus robur) to be stronger than imported oak because the wood is coarser and features a more interlocking grain. The closeness of the grain around knots not only gives the timber more strength, it also

38

produces a more interesting aesthetic. With French and German oak the grain typically runs in a very straight line, which is excellent for joinery, but the wood is ‘mellow’ and without the interlocking grain.

Another benefit of the coarser wood found in English oak trees is that it provides more resistance to worm attack, which is endemic in oak logs from the continent.

Oak beams are usually cut from trees between 90 and 120 years old, ideally felled during the winter when the sap is down. For construction use beams tend to be fresh sawn or ‘green’, which means that they are in fact wet. While this is of concern to many architects because of oak’s natural tendency to shrink and split, it is the ideal way to use the timber. The alternative, dry oak, is very hard and therefore more difficult to work.

Oak dries very slowly (a large beam can take 8 – 10 years to fully dry) and is consequently expensive. There are four options for the dryness of the timber, and this will have an impact on the price – kiln dried oak beams, air dried oak beams, semi seasoned/weathered structural grade oak beams, and fresh cut structural oak beams cut from

Above: Air dried English oak joinery Below: Green oak beams and curve Top right: Traditional green oak trusses Right: Green oak curved bracing

old felled logs which have been ‘settling’ for over three years. Fresh sawn beams are available up to 9.5m long, and up to 500 x 500mm section size.

In the UK, structural oak (beams) are graded to the British standard BS 5756, Specification for Visual Grading of Hardwood, and EN14081. For

Timber Frame large sections (20,000mm square +) the grades are THB (lower grade) and THA (higher grade).

For smaller sections the grades are TH2 (lower grade) and TH1 (higher grade). The higher grades will be stronger than the lower grade, allowing for the use of smaller sections while maintaining their performance. In order of strength these are THA, THB, TH1, TH2. There is also an overarching grading system defined in standards BS EN 338:1995, Structural Timber Strength Classes, and BS 5268, Structural Use of Timber. This system allows for comparison between species and includes grades such as C24 for soft woods and D30 for hard wood.

The direction of the grain is also a consideration, if a tree is nice and straight, so the grain is likely to be as well. If the tree is bent or twisted the grain can present a structural problem when cutting a straight beam. However, this also presents another benefit of English oak, which due to our fragmented and open woodlands, can often be misshapen.

This becomes a distinct advantage when manufacturing curved oak beams as a curved log will have definite benefits. When cutting curves from a straight log the grain will inevitably ‘run off’ the arc of the final cut.

Drying cracks will run along the grain and therefore across the face of the curve, with the likelihood of the curve snapping. With English oak it is common practice to store curved logs for just this purpose, upon which a curve template can be laid for cutting. The grain of the wood will follow the curve of the template

and the produced piece will have much greater inherent strength when in use.

It is important also to appreciate from where exactly in the tree the timber is cut. Beams cut from the core (heart) of the tree will be stronger as the grain is more compact. When a sawmill addresses a newly-felled tree, full-length logs are cut from a butt end at the bottom of the trunk, typically 2.5 to 4.0m, depending on where the first bough usually appears. This butt end is generally clean and free of knots and will be planked and dried to produce joinery quality wood. The sawmill will take out the middle of the tree up until the point where knots become problematic, and that is generally where beam quality wood is cut from. The very top of the tree, with lots of knots, becomes the lower quality wood, often cut for products such as landscaping sleepers.

Larger timber sections will typically be cut with a ‘boxed heart’, meaning the heart of the tree runs through the length of the beam.

This cutting technique produces a very strong and normally straight beam. Other cutting techniques include half-cut, where the heart runs down one face of the beam, or quarter cut, where four beams are cut out of the log leaving the heart behind. Alternatively smaller pieces are often cut away from the heart or in sawmilling parlance ‘off the heart’.

Better understanding of natural materials, particularly wood, is key to its effective use.

English oak delivers many benefits over imported oak, and it will continue to be a popular choice.

www.vastern.co.uk

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Eyebrow Lighting Sub-brow

B Lighting brilliance Brilliant Lighting was recently tasked with illuminating a stunning Grade II listed, 15th century Hampshire barn, as part of a major conversion project. The restoration included the addition of a sympathetic new build, constructed in traditional Hampshire flint and a contemporary glazed link.

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rilliant Lighting was involved at a very early stage of the two-year project, as the owners were very keen that the lighting be sympathetically integrated into the build with minimum disruption to the structure. Getting early buyin to the design was an important element of getting listed building consent.

In order to minimise disruption to the significant elements of the structure, the homeowners wanted to avoid hanging fittings. They wanted a way of creating a more cosy dining area in the 7m high space and specified a large sail to be suspended over the dining table. They tasked Brilliant with delivering intimate evening dining lighting under the sail. They wanted an easy way to control the lighting and electric curtains and blinds which were essential for the double height windows.

The scale of the building called for high output but not industrial style fittings. High output ground recessed uplights deliver a significant amount of the ambient light for the barn. The custom uplights have a surprising light output for their size and feature recessed and tilted optics, honeycomb louvres and filters, all of which reduce direct glare making the fittings easy to live with in a residential environment. The LED light engine was chosen to bring out the warmth and texture of the interior of the barn.

Lighting Left main: High output ground recessed uplights deliver a significant amount of the ambient light Above left: A contemporary glazed link joins the new build extension and converted barn Above top: Brilliant Lighting was involved at a very early stage of the two-year project Above: Where there are beam mounted lights, they are fixed to the beams using custommade brackets which reduce or eliminate the need to drill into the beams Above right: The owners wanted a way of creating a more cosy dining area in the 7m high space and specified a large sail to be suspended over the dining table

Where there are beam mounted lights, they are fixed to the beams using custom-made brackets which reduce or eliminate the need to drill into the beams which give the barn its special significance. The brackets for the kitchen track lights are clamped to, rather than drilled, into the beams in the kitchen. The area over the dining table features high output fittings which shine down onto the sail to give a warm glow for evening dining.

Both the ultra-quiet curtains & blinds and the lighting are controlled by a Lutron HomeWorks QS system.

Brilliant Lighting chose to use the DALI to dim the lighting; DALI is a dimming protocol more commonly found in commercial environments but ideally suited to a large, listed building like this as it reduces the physical amount of cabling while allowing flexibility in how lights are grouped in the future without having to rerun or add cables.

Lighting zones The problem-free installation is a testament to the organisation and planning of the homeowners. Probably the most nerve-wracking element of the install from Brilliant Lighting’s point of view was how the sail was going to work. The company had tested the sail with a mockup in the early planning stages and could model the output and performance of specific light fittings in software but that was only sufficient to indicate how the

solution was going to work. In practice, the fittings and sail combine exactly as planned with a soft, flattering light filtering through the sail onto the table below.

The need to minimise the impact on the structure played a major role in shaping the design. The floor recessed lights fill the space while leaving the beams relatively visually clear.

Bat galleries at each end of the barn shaped the internal layout of the mezzanine areas and how they were lit.

The barn is glorious and the homeowners are delighted with the results. The specific LED light engine chosen gives a rich warm light that brings the structure and texture of the barn to life. The dining area is an evening haven and the lighting control system makes the whole space easy to zone with light with simple keypads and the homeowners’ own iPads.

The scheme is 100% LED based and the lighting control delivers energy efficiency benefits in three different ways.

Electric dimming has an almost linear relationship with how much energy is used. Lighting control also makes it easier only to light the areas you want to light. Putting the large electric curtains and blinds on the same easy-touse system makes it more likely that they are drawn and opened as needed, making the most of natural daylight and adding additional insulation when drawn in the evening.

www.brilliantlighting.co.uk

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Ideal Home Show Preview

The Gregg Wallace Restaurant - The acclaimed restaurant returns for another year, hosted by Ideal Food ambassador, Gregg Wallace, who is providing a variety of British seasonal dishes to fill you up at lunch time.

Young Gardeners of the Year – This year’s Young Gardeners of the Year competition sees six selected colleges once again design and build a series of six show gardens as they go headto-head to be crowned the winners of this year’s competition. The competition is organised by TV Gardener, David Domoney, and judging will take place on 18th March.

The Smart Home – A must visit for all tech enthusiasts, the Smart Home will host the latest gadgets and gizmos all in a home setting.

This year’s Ideal Home Show is set to be bigger and better than ever before

The ideal home is where the heart is Britain’s largest home inspiration event, the Ideal Home Show, is set to return to Olympia, London. The UK’s biggest consumer home show will be welcoming visitors across the 17-day run from 18th March.

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he Ideal Home Show is to feature seven dedicated sections: the flagship Ideal Home Improvements, Ideal Interiors, Ideal Gardens, Ideal Technology, Ideal Food and Housewares, as well as an Ideal Shopping and an Ideal Fashion and Beauty section – this year’s Ideal Home Show is set to be bigger and better than ever before.

making it the ultimate place to pick up tips and tricks to improve your home.

Celebrities galore – TV presenter and inspirational author, Katie Piper, will be appearing at the show as the ambassador for Ideal Fashion and Beauty, along with other celebrity ambassadors who include TV Presenter and Architect George Clarke, gadget expert Suzi Perry, Food Critic Gregg Wallace, interiors icon Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, and gardening favourite Alan Titchmarsh.

Alongside the Ideal Show Homes, the show offers an array of other great attractions, including:

The Ideal Super Theatre – The ambassadors will take to the Ideal Super Theatre, a purpose-built stage which will host talks and demonstrations from the ambassadors and a whole host of other household names, including Martin Lewis, Founder and Editor of Moneysavingexpert.com,

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Ideal Show Homes – The centrepiece of this year’s show is a series of show homes built in Olympia, London, for visitors to explore, including The Time Saving House, A Traditionally British Home and The Arc by Green Unit.

Ideal Roomsets - This year Good Homes Magazine will be brought to life through six inspirational roomsets, offering style ideas for every room of the house. From kitchens to bedrooms and bathrooms, it will provide inspiration on alternative ways to utilise space.

The Ideal Food & Drink Theatre – Featuring top chefs giving you handy hints and tips for your next culinary creation. With live cook along demonstrations, foodies are able to watch on as a range of recipes are brought to life.

www.idealhomeshow.co.uk This year's show will provide inspiration on alternative ways to utilise space

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your self-build project in our next issue?

Get involved: Know any budding self-builders? The i-build website and magazine have already become an invaluable resource, and subscriptions are absolutely free! Visit i-buildmagazine.com /subscriptions

Whether you're halfway through your build, or sitting back and enjoying the finished article, we'd love to hear from you!

Tell us about your renovation, conversion, extension or new build:

hannah@mixedmediainfo.com

i-build www.i-buildmagazine.com

i-build i-nterior i-scape

Homebuilding & Renovating Show Preview

Meet the experts and bring your plans to life Was your goal this year to finally do that extension? Maybe you’ve been dreaming of building a secure, sustainable house from scratch? A visit to the Homebuilding & Renovating Show, at the NEC in Birmingham this April, will give you practical help to turn your plans into reality.

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he National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, proudly sponsored by Velux, returns to the NEC, Birmingham from 14 to 17th April 2016.

Over four days, you’ll be able to talk to architects, designers, legal experts, craftspeople and self-build specialists – not to mention suppliers of everything from flooring and roof tiles, to interior paint and storage solutions. The show has the freshest, most inspiring ideas and more than 450 exhibitors ready to guide you through the latest products and innovations.

Bring your plans and questions along, and receive tailored solutions in a 15 minute free one-to-one session at the Advice Centre.

Meet self-build and renovation experts such as Charlie Luxton, from More 4’s Building the Dream, and Julia Kendell, who is best known for interior design expertise in DIY SOS, as well as, architects, planners and builders.

Whatever the product, there’s nothing quite like seeing it in real life. Only then can you get a feel for the quality, and picture it in your home. The Homebuilding & Renovating Show brings together

Above: The Homebuilding & Renovating Show brings together thousands of the freshest ideas from suppliers based across the country Below left: Over four days, you’ll be able to talk to architects, designers, legal experts, craftspeople and self-build specialists

thousands of the freshest ideas from suppliers based across the country, all in one space.

Smart, secure and sustainable – whatever you want your project to be, masterclasses can help. They’re short sessions jam-packed with detailed advice on specific talking points, all from the brightest minds in the world of homebuilding and renovations.

Two theatres will be home to bite-sized sessions that give practical answers to common questions. The Self-Build Theatre plays host to specialist talks on every aspect of self-builds.

While in the Home Improvement Theatre, leading designers, architects and planners will be covering topics ranging from interior renovations to building extensions. Each seminar is 30 minutes long and all are designed to leave you full of ideas.

12+ focussed workshops are one hour in-depth, mini-courses which will allow you to talk to experts from The Homebuilding & Renovating Show, the industry and other selfbuilders and renovators about your decisions.

To get 2 for 1 show tickets for just £18* visit homebuildingshow.co.uk/ibuild *£1.75 transaction fee applies. Offer expires 3pm 13 April 2016. Children aged 16 and under go free.

www.homebuildingshow.co.uk

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CUTTING CARBON CUTTING

COSTS CUTTING

EDGE Choosing a solar Thermal system is the most cost effective and environmentally friendly solution for your home. There is a large selection to choose from out there but really only one choice.

At Begetube our innovative heating panels are completely copper based – no aluminium fins, this allows for a more effective heat transfer making the panels more efficient.

There is also a massively reduced risk of dissimilar metal corrosion which is known

to impair the efficiency, this is a common occurrence in copper/aluminium hybrid systems.

Our panels are also fully solar keymarked and MCS accredited and are therefore available for RHI Payments where applicable.

If you then factor in our now legendary technical know-how and back up you have a headache free installation and years of worry free operation.

Contact us now for more information Tel 01463 246600 • Email info@begetube.co.uk • Fax 01463 246624

www.begetube.co.uk Begetube Heating Systems • 14 Carsegate Road • Inverness • IV3 8EX

i-build

Achieving exceptional airtightness At an architect’s new timber frame home in Cork, Ireland, high racking strength and airtightness were crucial in the internal lining specification.

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hen architect Boris de Swart was presented with the opportunity to build his own four-bedroom home in Cork, Ireland, he could not turn it down. A plot had become available in his desired location which possessed a dilapidated house asking to be rebuilt. “I am an architect by professional,” explains Boris, “and most, if not all, architects dream of building their own home. We are also renowned for being our own worst clients – being very hard to please on both the design and the technical build aspects. The plot, for instance, took three years of searching.”

Boris’ vision consisted of an elegant, transparent house, daylight filled and open to the east, south and west. He also required generous space inside for him and his family to live comfortably. Aside from the regulatory requirements, he also demanded a property with

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a high level of energy efficiency – well in excess of current regulations.

“The design brief was simple,” explains Boris.

“A four-bedroom house plus study. Two living spaces – one main are with kitchen and another as a separate space for when the children are a little older. A family-size bathroom and an en-suite.

“Thankfully, obtaining planning permission for this modest, but spacious, home was relatively quick,” adds Boris “but this was helped by there being an existing house on the site.”

Going it alone Boris took the decision to manage his build and act as the main contractor. “I already knew, even if I appointed a main contractor to the project, I would be there full time just to make sure he was doing his job right. So after some hesitation I decided to act as main contractor myself.”

In spite of his vast expertise and experience within the industry, Boris encountered several unavoidable problems, as he explains: “The site seemed generous, but for construction it was very tight. Also it turned out that articulated trucks were not able to enter the narrow access lane. So we had to use a nearby commercial yard and a number of additional smaller trucks for delivery of the timber frame and the large windows. The main challenge really was to manage the build. It would have been my first time to be in charge for a full build.

“I was also conscious of remaining within budget, but like many people we did exceed it. The additional costs were mostly unlucky.

Bad weather when erecting the timber frame meant four extra days crane hire, which is an expensive outlay. The no-access for articulated trucks meant hire of additional smaller trucks to bring the timber frame to site. The site sewage connection was not quite at the level that we had hoped, which meant a much longer trench.

Costs like project insurance are a multiple of what a main contractor would pay.”

Excellent airtightness Designed and built to passive standards by specialist manufacturer Shoalwater Timberframe, the completed, stylish twostorey house incorporates a range of ecological

Eyebrow i-build Sub-brow materials and systems. But with its large glazed areas and two cantilevers at the rear and side of the building, the project required a structural panel that combined racking strength with exceptional airtightness – for which SmartPly VapAirTight proved ideal.

With the installation of 240 sheets of the new SmartPly VapAirTight OSB3 panel, the house achieved an air change rate (n50) of 0.09 air changes per hour at 50Pa – six times better than recommended by the PassivHaus Institute.

“Developed from our OSB3 system, SmartPly VapAirTight has integrated vapour control and unrivalled air barrier properties and will help to close the gap between design and as-built performance,” said David

Far left: The house achieved an air change rate (n50) of 0.09 air changes per hour at 50Pa Above Left: SmartPly VapAirTight is easy to handle and can be readily cut and fixed using standard timber frame fixings Above: SmartPly VapAirTight has integrated vapour control and unrivalled air barrier properties Below: The project required a structural panel that combined racking strength with exceptional airtightness

Murray, Innovation Manager at SmartPly. “We monitored the system’s performance at every stage of the process and upon completion it far exceeded PassivHaus standards for airtightness.”

SmartPly VapAirTight is easy to handle and can be readily cut and fixed using standard timber frame fixings. Being robust, there is minimal risk of damage during assembly, transport or erection, which means the airtightness is not compromised. It is suitable for renovation as well as new build projects and applications include modular manufacturing as well as the production of SIPs and prefabricated roofing systems.

Testing conditions “We insist on the highest quality materials in every timber frame we design and build,” said Donal Mullins of Shoalwater Timberframe. “With work on-site starting in January 2015, the site and the panels themselves endured every type of weather imaginable – providing perfect testing conditions for the new VapAirTight panels.”

Due to the confined site and its challenging location, the issue of double handling provided additional testing for the panels and one which it passed with flying colours. Donal Mullins added: “Everything that happened gave the boards the opportunity to fail and they didn’t. And with SmartPly VapAirTight installed for approximately 98% of the internal linings, the system has certainly proven to deliver outstanding airtightness under real and challenging site conditions.”

The Shoalwater timber frame structure also made

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i-build

use of Coillte’s Medite Vent breathable MDF panel product as part of the roof construction.

With SmartPly VapAirTight installed on the interior, over 230m2 of Medite Vent was used on the roof’s exterior to ensure external vapour diffusion and reinforce the roof’s racking strength prior to the installation of the cellulose blown-in insulation.

Seek a professional “The timber frame arrived on 15th January last year and we were able to move in on 9th August, so it took just short of seven months to complete. I had a six-month timeframe on my original schedule,” explains Boris. “It is a fantastic experience. But also an experience that can drive you over the edge. If I was to offer any advice to fellow self-builders it would be to acquire the services of an architect or design professional who has an interest in a similar type of build. Their work will be quite different to what they would normally do with a main contractor. Ideally plan ahead with costs and timeframe to make sure you have these tools to work with. And keep a decent amount of money aside for unforeseen items.”

www.studiod.ie www.smartply.com

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Above: The completed stylish two-storey house incorporates a range of ecological materials and systems Left: Boris’ vision consisted of an elegant, transparent house

www.firmanglass.com

40 years

in the making...

Founded in 1975, Firman Glass has built a reputation for excellence in architectural glazing.

Challenge us with your project today!

✓ Toughened n ✓ Processed n ✓ Laminated n

✓ Decorated n ✓ Fire Resistant n ✓ Sealed Units n

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www.firmanglass.com sales@firmanglass.com

01708 374534

i-nterior Robert Clements Stripe in Sable Olive

Get in line

Alternative Flooring’s Tutti Frutti range from the Rock ‘n’ Roll collection

There’s a host of striped flooring options available to suit your floor layout, interior decor, budget and, of course, personal taste.

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hoosing a patterned carpet is a bold and brave move, but with so many manufacturers and retailers offering stylish and complementary hues, it’s hard to not fall in love with this statement floorcovering.

Aside from the durable and easy to clean properties of carpet, striped designs can help makes rooms appear bigger than they actually are. This will depend on the style, size and direction of the stripe though. Horizontal stripes will help make your room appear wider, whereas vertical stripes can give the effect of a longer space.

Before you select your floorcovering, think carefully about the thickness and style of your stripes. Thinner stripes will suit smaller spaces better, as wide stripes can lose their impact.

Wider stripes are suited to larger rooms, as narrow stripes can make the room look cluttered.

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Opting for a striped carpet doesn’t limit your room’s interior decor too. Designs often come in two or three complementary shades so it’s possible to mix and match your room’s hues or transform your scheme completely in line with one of the carpet’s main colourways.

Spoilt for choice Inspired by the elements of style that are synonymous with the Laura Ashley brand, this exclusive collection from Brintons combines both modern designs and the strong heritage of both brands. The colour palettes are neutral, which mean that this collection will work with any scheme, adding soft accents.

Meanwhile, from an almost limitless choice of any floor type, through to expert fitting, the team at Robert Clements has continued to innovate with new eye-catching ranges added to its portfolio.

i-nterior

Carpet care: 1. Vacuum your new carpet regularly at least two or three times a week 2. A large, strong doormat will reduce dirt from outside being spread around the house 3. Spillages are more easily removed if tackled immediately 4. Solid residues should be gently removed by scraping with a knife 5. Always remember to test any cleaning products on a small area first 6. Blot stains, don’t rub them 7. Place castor cups or pads under the legs of furniture to prevent damage

Epsom Stripe in Duck Egg

Epsom Stripe in Amethyst

From the two-tone loop pile stripe of Hurlingham to the traditional grey and beige designs of Newlands or Clifton, particular attention has been paid to the company’s carpet offering, meaning there is something for almost any interior setting. Versatility is just one of the strengths of Robert Clements; whether 100% wool, a 60%/40% combination or perhaps the impressive Mowbray faux silk collection is order of the day, the perfect carpet is just waiting to be specified.

Catering further to the homeowner’s desire to inject personality into their living spaces, Crown Floors has introduced a series of new collections, an eclectic mix of carpets for traditional and contemporary home settings alike. Bringing statement design in abundance, whether the stripes and coordinating plains of the 100% wool loop Lauderdale or the bold shades of new generation polyamide in Newhaven, there’s certain to be a hue for you in this latest assortment of underfoot treasures.

Great for use throughout the home and with coordinating stripes so that homeowners can add their own individual flair, the hugely successful Fairfield Creations collection from Lano Carpets offers even more choice.

With the addition of eight plain shades and two new stripe colourways, Fairfield Creations is now an even more formidable collection for homeowners looking to make the most of the trend for adding a splash of striped style in halls, landings and on stairs. In a pattern repeat of 25cm, the stripe retains the easy to install nature that has made Fairfield Creations such a success.

Bringing quirky to a whole new level, Alternative Flooring’s Tutti Frutti range from the Rock ‘n’ Roll collection is a fun and statement floorcoverings. Available in 11 striking colourways, homeowners can choose from a carpet or a 66cm runner with whipped edge.

www.brintons.co.uk www.robertclements.co.uk www.crownfloors.co.uk www.lano.com www.alternativeflooring.com

Epsom Stripe in Duck Egg from the Brintons and Laura Ashley collaboration

Crown Floors Lauderdale Stripe

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Eyebrow i-scape Sub-brow

Feel the heat In this article, Solus Decor outlines the benefits of installing these simple yet effective fire pits and offers some inspiration from applications across the world.

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ith self-build projects, the garden is the last, but not least, item on the agenda.

However, when it does get completed, it is usually of the same high quality as the build itself. Given the nature of the UK climate, a heat source in the garden is a worthwhile investment and will enable you to enjoy your garden all year round.

Fire features and the rise of their popularity in North America is a burgeoning trend that

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started on the west coast of North America and has spread from Miami to Montreal and all points in between. The UK and Europe are not far behind in this move to bring stylish and contemporary heat, light and furniture to their patio decks and gardens. According to the ASLA – American Society of Landscape Architects – fire features are the number one feature in garden design today. The top outdoor design element is a fire pit/fireplace (78%) with lighting (72%) following a close second.

A trend to expand the outdoor space in the UK is nothing new. One of the most exciting trends in the last number of years in the UK has been to open up the kitchen or reception with extendable bi fold doors to allow the outdoors in and extend your lifestyle out.

Although fire features have had limited options in the past couple of years relative to North America, that is all set to change with the introduction of Solus UK fire pits. Solus UK is pleased to be on the leading edge of this

i-scape

outdoor lifestyle and design wave coming to the UK and to Europe.

In both continents there has been a trend to live outside whenever possible, as long as possible.

Incredible advances in outdoor fabrics and furniture have allowed for al fresco dining. It is not just something you do on hot and sunny vacations anymore. In Canada and the northern United States fire simply extends your spring and fall in addition to your summer evenings. It is an ideal way to maximise your time outside and provide a focal point for your family and friends.

Modern fire pits have some big advantages – the absence of wood smoke and upset neighbours being probably the principal ones. The convenience of either bio fuel which is the most environmentally friendly fuel, natural gas or propane are all options you can now consider in your garden firepit design; each with its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your situation. Bio fuel and propane are portable if necessary, whereas natural gas needs to be affixed and plumbed in to a set location. Running costs of gas are generally less, although depending on location, lines can add up.

With propane, you’ll be faced with finding clever ways to hide the unsightly white bottle. All fuels provide heat, ambience, a place to tell stories or share a glass wine and all of this cannot be anything other than positive.

www.solusdecor.com

Above left: The choices we make for the spaces we live in are essential to our well-being Top: Contemporary fire pits for outdoor living Above: Fire pits maximise your time outside and provide a focal point for your family and friends Right: Modern fire pits are available in natural gas and propane

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Product Guide

Controlling floor movement

Even floors subject to heavy stresses remain in better condition for longer when movement joints and decoupling membranes are specified

All hard flooring moves independently by expanding and contracting at different rates so it is a requirement for flooring installations to have movement protection. Judith Mawtus from Dural UK offers some practical advice.

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time saving solution to this problem is to lay decoupling matting directly over the subfloor.

Decoupling matting prevents the subfloor shrinkage and cracking from being passed into the newly laid surface tiles.

If surface tiles are laid directly onto each subfloor raft and they bridge the gap between each raft a perfectly straight hairline crack would appear the first time any vertical movement occurred in the subfloor. The hairline crack would nearly always follow the line of the subfloor movement zone void on the surface tile.

To isolate this problem a movement absorber is needed in the surface tile directly over the subfloor movement void between each raft. This comes in the form of a Movement Joint and is designed to exceed BS5385. Movement Joints and decoupling matting are specified on all types

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of residential, commercial and industrial projects where there are large expanses of hard flooring.

Decoupling matting and movement joints are both designed to cope with heavy stresses and distribute them evenly between the subfloor and floor covering, they can also prevent conduction of noise from footfall and other bodies. Even floors subject to heavy stresses remain in better condition for longer when movement joints and decoupling membranes are specified.

Clients generally do not like movement joints because it is felt that they can be obtrusive and spoil the aesthetic appearance of their carefully chosen floor. But by incorporating decoupling matting and movement joints into early design concepts, architects and contractors are given confidence that their clients will have seamless tiled flooring that will remain permanently crack-free.

Decoupling matting and movement joints are designed to cope with heavy stresses

Specifiers and installers know that movement joints need to be used to absorb the natural movements in the floor. Architects are required to specify products that are fit for purpose and conform to building regulations.

They are advised to consider the position of the subfloor Movement Joints at an early design stage. Installers have a duty to provide good advice and workmanship.

Product Guide

LIGHT THE WAY: Dural UK is proud to offer a new and exclusive range of LED skirting profiles and strips for tiles and natural stone surfaces.

The new range of LED lighting will enhance any tiled installation in the home, even in wet areas such as bathrooms or wetrooms.

Included in the range is DURALIS and SQUARELIGHT LED tile profiles, LED skirting, connection and extension cables, touch and dimmer switches, RC receivers, remote controls, touch sensor switches, tranformers and distribution boxes.

Installation of the LEDs is relatively straightforward, with full step-by-step instructions provided by Dural.

For further information on Dural’s LED skirting profiles and strips, contact the company's flooring experts and they will be happy to provide further information. High quality products are backed up by excellent, competent advice and design solutions.

Discreet Protection

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he popularity of underfloor heating systems has increased signifantly in recent years, as they provide a costeffective, comfortable, unobtrusive heating solution for millions of homes. However, these systems often cause movement between the subfloor and the top substrate in the form of expansions and contractions. Failing to accommodate for this movement will almost certainly result in cracked tiling surfaces.

Dural UK is proud to have developed a solution in the form of Micro Joint Infill, which provides discreet stress protection for tiles and natural stone on heated floors.

Benefits of Micro Joint Infill for tiles on underfloor heating systems Micro Joint Infill has been specially developed for tiled flooring installations which are laid over underfloor heating systems, particularly for residential developments. It provides effective movement protection for tiles and natural stone on heated floors. It means a tiled flooring installation with Micro Joint Infill used is able to effectively absorb the movement energy transferred from the subfloor, protecting the tiles from cracking and loosening.

Importantly, it can be colour matched to the existing grout or tile colour for a discreet appearance – in fact any colour in the RAL chart. Architects and designers will benefit from incorporating Micro Joint Infill into their build projects, as it means they will have confidence in designing seamless tiled flooring over underfloor heating systems. The Micro Joint Infill can be colour matched to the grout or tile colour therefore causing minimum disruption to the visible surface. Importantly, the Micro Joint Infill

Apply epoxy resin into the grout path line

will ensure tiled flooring installations are fit for purpose and exceed requirements BS5385 for hard flooring applications.

Matched accurately to the grout, tile or any colour in the RAL range, Micro Joint Infill effectively blends into the floor surface whilst providing the required stress relief modern heated floors require for a long lasting beautiful performance.

www.colouredmovementjoints.co.uk 01924 360110 info@dural.co.uk

Seamless finish perfect for domestic situations

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Product Guide

Left: Schueco’s Contemporary Living Collection products are examples of the quality engineering for which Schueco is renowned Below: For homeowners looking to enjoy views, a folding door, such as Schueco's ASS 70 FD door system, may well be the best option

Look for quality when choosing residential systems However crowded the marketplace, real quality will always stand out according to Schueco UK, which has increased the range of its Contemporary Living Collection of aluminium windows, doors and facades.

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esigned especially for the residential market, Schueco’s Contemporary Living Collection products are examples of the quality engineering for which Schueco is renowned. Quality is particularly important with residential products such as sliding doors where inferior systems rapidly display their weaknesses.

Fortunately, this is not a likely scenario with any Schueco door since the system will have been fully tested and the fabricator fully trained. This applies to both sliding doors and to the entrance doors, which also feature heavily in the Contemporary Living Collection.

Specifying Schueco therefore means peace of mind for both the end user and the architect or home improvement specialist. As it happens, the Collection’s range of maintenance-free, double glazed sliding doors is comprehensive enough to provide a cost-effective solution for almost any

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specification. As well as straightforward sliding patio doors, the choice includes folding/sliding doors, folding/tilting doors, lift-and-slide doors and panoramic doors.

For homeowners looking to enjoy views, with minimal visual interference from mullions, a sliding door, such as Schueco’s ASS 70.HI door system, may well be the best option. Available in single, double or triple track configurations, these 70mm deep doors look superb and glide effortlessly on stainless steel tracks. The lift-slide action is facilitated by stylish ergonomic handles.

Alternatively, a key feature of Schueco’s panoramic range is the minimal profile face widths of the central meeting stiles (30mm) and the fact that the outer frame is completely concealed in the building structure on all four sides. This not only makes the doors appear supremely elegant, but also maximises the area of clear glass, thus allowing the maximum amount of light transparency. Able

to accommodate very wide openings with two, three or four leaves, each up to 3.2 metres wide and 3.5 metres high, these premium doors are ideal for high-end residential homes.

The windows in the Contemporary Living Collection are equally stylish and deliver impressive U-values. The many types available include inward and outward-opening, side-hung, top-hung, tiltturn and fixed light. All open and close smoothly and have tight, draught-proof weather seals.

Other products in the range include stylish facades that are perfectly suited for more major projects and home extensions. Designed with minimal sightlines for maximum transparency, a Schueco facade is an elegantly engineered feature whose thermal performance can even reach Passive House standard if required.

Similarly, the conservatories in the collection are so well insulated that they can be used not just as a sunny place in which to have breakfast or lunch in summer, but as a permanent extra space for entertaining or relaxing all year round. As such, they are an investment that can add real resale value to any home.

www.schueco.co.uk 01908 282111 mkinfobox@schueco.com

Whether you’re looking to add an extra living or sitting room to your home, create an open-plan dining area or even a playroom, a bespoke oak-framed Arboreta orangery will provide you with a versatile space that you can enjoy throughout the year whatever the weather. Designed and made individually to suit your personal requirements, Arboreta’s bespoke, oak-framed orangeries allow you to enjoy the best of indoor and outdoor living and are created using a combination of hand crafted workmanship and state-of-the-art technology. Whether you have a traditional or contemporary home, Arboreta’s expert team will create a design that ensures your new orangery beautifully complements and enhances your existing property.

JELD-WEN launches technical specification guide for stairs JELD-WEN, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of timber windows, doors and stairs is helping housebuilders, developers, architects and specifiers understand the specifics of stairs, with the launch of its brand new technical specification guide for stairs - available now.

The guide contains detailed information about materials, accreditations and installation guidance as well as technical drawings, 3D visualisations and project case studies to help when specifying stair products.

The new stairs guide provides an overview of the full JELD-WEN stair range, covering components required and the various design options available. It also includes essential Building Regulations information, stair performance details and a selection of common stair layouts for England, Wales and Scotland.

Mike Ward, Managing Director at JELD-WEN, said: “When working to strict Building Regulations or planning criteria it’s useful to have a quick reference guide to product accreditations and standards for stair products. Exact dimensions are also key, particularly at the design stages, so we’ve developed our stairs technical guide with the needs of developers, architects and specifiers in mind.

“We have a vast range of stairs to suit different budgets and development criteria from private housing to communal building projects. We are also the only UK manufacturer of LPBC certified fire protected timber staircases.”

To download the new technical specification guide for stairs, visit the company’s website direct.

www.jeld-wen.co.uk 0845 122 2894 stairs@jeld-wen.co.uk

Product Guide

Enjoy extra living space

www.arboreta-oak.com 0800 288 8333 info@arboreta-oak.com

White is now the toast of the kitchen According to Granite Transformations white is the new black for kitchen worktops. Two years ago it reported that black granite was the most popular amongst its own customers, although later that year it predicted that white worktops would be amongst the top interior design trends, attributing this to the ‘Apple effect’. White and off-white worktops are now at the top of the company’s best sellers – Hydra White and Royal Ivory. Overseas North Americans are currently favouring Royal Ivory, mottled neutral tone Perla di Sabbia and White Star, while in Australasia the most popular surfaces are Hydra White and White Star.

www.granitetransformations.co.uk 0800 044 5393 enquiries@granitetransformations.co.uk

Making waves with door design Taking the trend for texture that is popular with wall paper and tiles, JB Kind has created the exclusive Ripple door design which takes the texture of doors to a new dimension.

Contemporary white moulded doors with a textured ‘rippled’ finish that are perfect for painting, you can individualise your colours to each interior design theme. Including a striking glazed option, this trendy textured design is exceptionally cost-effective with a fire door option too.

www.jbkind.com 01283 554197 info@jbkind.com

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Product Guide

Left: Plots may represent the single most expensive purchase on your entire self-build project Below: Oliver Grimshaw has put together a few expert tips to take the first major step towards bringing your self-build dream to life

Useful resources for plot finding: Plot Finder – www.plotfinder.net Self Build Portal – www.selfbuildportal.org.uk/finding-a-plot PlotSearch – www.buildstore.co.uk/FindingLand RightMove – www.rightmove.co.uk

Top tips for finding the perfect plot There are many frustrated self-builders in-waiting out there.

In a bid to help clear what can be a heavily obstructed view, Hanse Haus’ UK Sales Director, Oliver Grimshaw, has put together a few expert tips to take the first major step towards bringing your self-build dream to life.

T

aking the first financial leap towards a self-build dream by buying a plot of land can be complicated and overwhelming. There are numerous elements to consider.

Location, location, location A common mistake when plot hunting is searching over a large geographical area. Stay focused and aim to narrow your search as much as is possible.

Once you’ve decided on a preferred location, leave no stone unturned. Drive, or walk, around your chosen town or village, scouting for an ideal plot.

Set a budget Often, plots don’t come cheap. In some cases, they may represent the single most expensive purchase on your entire self-build project. In areas where plots are scarce, they can account for over 50% of the total value of your completed home.

Foresight and some amount of compromise

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can be highly valuable when searching for plots and can lead to getting far more for your money. Remaining open-minded and having some flexibility will help you remain objective when faced with a run-down, tangled mess of overgrown hedgerows that could be the place you’ll eventually love calling home.

Planning Planning permission – or trying to obtain it – can be a complex and taxing process which, in some cases, can take years to finalise. Land will most commonly come to the market either with nothing granted at all or with one of two types of planning permission – Outline Planning Permission (OPP), or Detailed Planning Permission (DDP). OPP consents for development to occur, leaving some particulars to be established further down the line, whilst DPP has a particular design already set in place.

Buying plots with existing planning permission will inevitably mean paying a higher price and is

unquestionably the ‘easier’ option. Anyone buying a plot with detailed planning permission for a particular house design should ensure that they are happy with the consented design, or if not, at least ensure via an expert that the house you actually want is likely to eventually get planning permission when you come to re-apply.

Although opting for a site with no planning can be tempting, with the added choice of weird and wonderful plots available, obtaining planning permission is a difficult process. Believing your plot will be given planning permission ‘one day’ can be exceptionally risky although not completely futile.

Seeking advice from a planning expert who has a clear understanding of current and future local planning laws can be very worthwhile and, in some cases, unlock a hidden gem at a throwaway price.

www.hanse-haus.co.uk 0845 658 9780 info@hanse-haus.co.uk

Glass & Stainless Limited offer a range of architectural glazing solutions to enhance the aesthetics of any building. Our systems include:

G-GLAS BESPOKE GLASS Available in a variety of different thicknesses and finishes from screen printed to curved.

G-CUVA CANOPY SYSTEMS & POINT FIXINGS High quality 316 grade components are used in either connecting rod or universal wall mounted system.

G-LINE SLIDING GLASS DOOR & PARTITIONING SYSTEMS To suit a wide range of applications from fixed and non-fixed panels and have the ability to mount to a wall, ceiling or glass.

G-RAIL ALUMINIUM AND STAINLESS STEEL RAILING SYSTEMS Premium quality modular balustrade systems designed to offer flexible solutions to everyday challenges.

G-CUBE GLASS SHOWER CUBICLE SYSTEMS Hinges, handles, knobs, channels and clamps.

G-FLOR BESPOKE GLASS FLOORS Made to measure bespoke glass floor individually tailored to suit your home, manufactured on a either a supply and install or supply only basis.

Request a copy of our 2015 brochure at glassandstainless.com

Get in touch:

0843 504 4545

sales@glassandstainless.com

www.glassandstainless.com

Glass & Stainless Limited | Martins Court | West Street | Congleton | Cheshire | CW12 1LB

A DISAPPEARING ACT Subtle, elegant lines form an unexpected opening, the surprise of a door where before there was a wall.

Frameless : hinged doors, pocket doors, riser doors, skirtingboard.

SYNTESIS Collection 速

60 www.eclisse.co.uk