Dome Houses – pros and cons? Dome houses, with their unique and futuristic designs, have been captivating architects, builders, and homeowners alike for decades. These distinctive structures, characterised by their curved, spherical, or geodesic shapes, have garnered attention not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their numerous advantages as a construction type. In… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Self-Build
How to use LED lighting efficiently in your home
Lighting design is one of the most important aspects of your home building or renovation project, but is too often an after-thought. The advantages of LED lighting are now well known and, in fact, it may be compulsory that you choose LED to meet building code standards. But it’s not just the position of the… Read more »
How to get planning permission for a new build house
There are a number of different routes to gaining planning permission for a new build house. This article explains the different options that are available to help you decide which route is right for your particular project and circumstances. Featured image above – self-build design by Stephen, architect from Southwark. Click here to see more… Read more »
What is custom build?
It’s common to confuse custom build and self build – many people assume the terms are interchangeable. It all boils down to how much a developer is involved. A custom build house is somewhere between a self-build house and a developer-built new build. Self-build = no developer involvement Custom build = some developer involvement Traditional… Read more »
How much does a self-build house cost?
(Self Build Architects from Design for Me. From Left to Right – Jake, Mark, Lucy, James, Liam, Felix) Ever dreamed about having a house designed just for you? How good would it be to have control over the shape of every room, materials, fittings and fixtures! You ‘bespoke’ means ‘expensive’ but it might be more affordable than you think… especially when you consider there… Read more »
How to get planning permission for a self-build house?
Self-building is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Government incentives such as the Help to Build Loan have been recently introduced, to make the self-build process easier and more affordable, with an aim help to ease the affordable homes shortage in the UK. Design above by Edward, architect from Nottingham, East Midlands. Click here… Read more »
Prefabricated Self-Build Ideas from DfM
Prefabricated self-builds, also known as ‘modular’ or ‘kit’ homes, have been around the UK since the 1920’s, but have only recently surged in popularity among home builders. So why the big fuss all of a sudden? Essentially, the shell, or exterior of these modular homes are constructed in a factory and then dropped onsite for… Read more »
Which plotfinder website is best for your self build project?
Before sifting through loads of plotfinder websites, you might find this very useful… Frustratingly, there isn’t a one-stop-shop for finding your plot of land. Unlike house buying, where you can pretty much rely on RightMove & Zoopla to pick up everything on the market, there are a plethora of plot finder websites out there and… Read more »
Advantages of a Timber Frame Self-Build
You have finally found the perfect plot to build on, have set a proper budget for your project, and are now ready to select a building material. Believe it or not, many UK homeowners in your shoes are turning away from brick and steel in favour of a different material…timber! That’s right, there has been… Read more »
Eco-design principles for your self-build
Title image from Edward, architect from Tooting Bec, London. See his full profile and shortlist him for your project here. Why Sustainable Design? Planning your dream eco-home? We’ve put together a brief summary of the main eco-design principles to follow when designing your new home. Most of us would agree that it is important… Read more »
