Homebuilding & Renovating - 7 Aug 2025
Amazing extensions
HIGH IMPACT, LOW BILLS
BRITAIN’S NO.1 FOR RENOVATORS, EXTENDERS & SELF-BUILDERS
14 WAYS TO CUT THE COST OF YOUR EXTENSION
Kitchen design
TAKE IT OUTSIDE
Guide to solar panels
Neighbour-friendly planning tips
Building on agricultural land
Costing up your project
FROM THE EDITOR
MARK STEVENSON Our self-build expert has worked in construction for more than 30 years and was also MD of Potton, designers and manufacturers of self-build homes.
SARAH HARLEY Our assistant editor has renovated and extended a number of houses, including a listed folly that featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs.
REBECCA FOSTER An experienced homes and interiors journalist, Rebecca has expertise on a wealth of topics.
TIM PHILLIPS A quantity surveyor, Tim has over 30 years’ experience across the commercial and residential sector.
MEET OUR EXPERTS
SPECIAL OFFER! 3 ISSUES FOR £3
WOODED BLISS
TREETOP RETREAT
MADE TO MEASURE
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
SELF-BUILD FOR BEGINNERS: HIGH IMPACT, LOW BILLS
ARE SOLAR PANELS WORTH IT?
BUILDING A HOUSE ON AGRICULTURAL LAND
SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSIONS
14 TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ON AN EXTENSION
HOW TO DESIGN YOUR KITCHEN LAYOUT
KEEPING YOUR NEIGHBOURS SWEET
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOFT CONVERSION
ASK THE EXPERTS
BLENDING INDOORS & OUT
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
5 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CEILING A FOCAL POINT
SOLAR PANELS FOR SWIMMING POOLS
GUIDE TO RENOVATING: STRUCTURAL CRACKS
USING A BILL OF QUANTITIES
AMAZING HOMES
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
ECO-FRIENDLY FLOORING
INSIGHT
Steel City self-builds
GROWING COMPLAINTS
MULTITASKING STOVE
Clean construction
Book of the month
Biggest property turn-offs revealed
THREE COOL KITCHEN LIGHTS
HIDDEN HEATING
TOILET TECH
BAKED TO PERFECTION
Successful showering
Barn conversion plot for sale
OAKWRIGHTS’ OPEN DAY
LONDON HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING SHOW
Made to measure
Made to measure
SPOTLIGHT ON BRINGING THE DREAM TO LIFE
BEST BUILD DECISIONS
Treetop retreat
Treetop retreat
SPOTLIGHT ON FIREPROOFING A TIMBER HOME
BEST BUILD DECISION
Blending indoors and out
KEEPING YOUR NEIGHBOURS SWEET
SIMON RIX
14 tips for saving money on your extension
How to design your kitchen layout
KITCHEN DESIGN CHECKLIST
L-SHAPED KITCHENS
5 KITCHEN LAYOUT MISTAKES TO AVOID
L-SHAPED KITCHENS
your built for life
BUILDING A HOUSE ON AGRICULTURAL LAND
MARK STEVENSON
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
RIGHT TO BUILD LEGISLATION
Rising challenge to the
PROJECT NOTES
EMPLOYING A HERITAGE CONSULTANT
EMPLOYING A HERITAGE CONSULTANT
Solar panels for swimming pools DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLAR
GUIDE TO RENOVATING
If you spot signs of cracking in a potential renovation project, what should you do?
What you should do if you uncover signs of the cracking or movement once you’ve started renovating?
SUBSIDENCE
Who is best placed to offer impartial advice on structural movement?
Wooded bliss
Wooded bliss
SPOTLIGHT ON TIMBER CLADDING
5 ways to... MAKE YOUR CEILING A FOCAL POINT
TOP TIP
TOP TIP
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOFT CONVERSION
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
POSITIVE INPUT VENTILATION EXPLAINED
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
INSTALLING MVHR IN MY OWN HOME…
USING A BILL OF QUANTITIES
AT WHAT STAGE OF YOUR PROJECT SHOULD YOU HAVE ONE?
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
CAN YOU OVERDO LANDSCAPE LIGHTING?
ASK THE EXPERTS Which side of the garden fence is mine?
What’s a half garage conversion and what’s involved?
How important is it to have my chnimd ney swept?
JARGON BUSTER
What are mansard loft conversions and why do they cost more?
Why do I need trickle vents?
TOP TIP
Can I build a garden wall myself ?
Glass rooflight vs roof lantern – which is right for my extension?
Can my neighbours point their CCTV at my house?
WHAT’S ON
TOP TIP
ARE SOLAR PANELS WORTH IT?
DO MAINTENANCE COSTS REDUCE PAYBACK?
Single-storey extensions
Single-storey extensions
CLAD IN COPPER FOR A CONTRASTING FINISH
REPLACE AN OLD CONSERVATORY
HARNESSING THE POWER OF CLEVERLY CONCEALED STORAGE
PLAY AROUND WITH CURVES AND ANGLES
ADD ECO ELEMENTS WITH A GREEN ROOF
FROM THE EXPERT
BREAK UP AN INTERIOR WITH FRAMED OPENINGS
EXTEND SYMPATHETICALLY WHEN WORKING WITH LISTED BUILDINGS
ADD ECO ELEMENTS WITH A GREEN ROOF
FROM THE EXPERT
DOUBLE UP WITH A BOUNDARY WALL
CHOOSING ECO-FRIENDLY FLOORING ADDED BENEFITS
NATURAL LINOLEUM
OPTING FOR RECLAIMED
Self-build beginnersfor
HEATING AND POWER GENERATION
Box clever
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