FOCUS: — SUSTAINABLE DRIVEWAY SOLUTIONS | EC ECHNOLOGY | LOPT CONVERSIONS - a A MONEY-SAVING MODULAR SOLUTION Howone couple saved pratipenny bybypaang renovating JANUARY 20 - De AOVISORY ‘TAKE, BEAT THE SUSTAINABLE ‘TAKE OUT TO CHURCH BLUES SOLUTIONS. ‘THE RUBBISH Howone couple Biophilic-led accessories | Eco-conscious outdoor Top tips on waste transformedarundown | and mood-enhancing environments disposal and skip hire churchintoacontemporary | __ hues to boost your that help combat the ‘for your home homeinjusteightmonths | wellbeing this January issue of plastic waste renovation projectDISCOVER oe ee oe Se er) Fencing. Floorin Timber. Tools. Walls. Win Cee ae ee www.sbpsearch.comPaine reese Cua peers ater ste aes Dehua Wants eee eae Philip Coyle oti aioe) Peeimonrese: aes Prag aoe eee eat Platform tee el etd Editor's Welcome ‘onuary; the stort of a now year, with fresh intentions ‘and rosolutions ~ what better manth to intrediuees You to the new-look i-Build? Our dasign team have been hard at work to give your favourite home renovation and self-build title on updated, crisp lock. We're incredibly pleased with the result, and we hope you are too! {As always. our pages are brimming with inapitational aelf-bulld ana home renovation case studies. From High Wycombo to the Highlands, this month wo've talked to a duo of home- builders: both with very different projects. On page 20 of this month's Jsaue, Sharon MeAllister recalls the ‘arduous process she wont through when she and her husband toot on a dilapidated church renovation project in Auldearn, Scotland. Having purchased Moynoss Kirk in 2009 and ‘complated an extensive restoration on the magnificent Georgian property, the Moallistors have recently put their stunning property on the markat Moving down south, HBuild talks to Holon fond Mike Speakman about their decision ‘on going modiular for theie home pulling project in this article, the couple ‘explains how their plans macie a U-turn when 3 renovation project transformed Into ainew-bulld scheme. Turn to page 16 to road their story. Finally, in true FBulld style, tun to pages 06 to 10 for an abundanca of intorior inspiration fit far your hore. This menth focuses on wollbging and colour psychology te eradicate these gloomy January blues wo're all tolerating. tus, new for 2020, ruilds Stylo Guide rouncls Up our favourite interior eecassories thot follow the intricate, theatrical stylo of Recoce. Tuen te page 10 ta be inspired, |Inope you enjoy this issue, Dor forgot it you're Gaming to the end of your self build ‘and would ike us to feature your doom, home as inspiration for other budcing solf-builders, then please don't hestate to get in touch alternativaty if youre about to embark on your setf-build journey and would be koen for us to document your progress, do get in contact Rebvoca, Rebecea Kemp Editor HOME-BUILDING DECKING RENEWABLE INSPIRATION CLADDING. HEATING The National Self Round Wood of farmhouse in Build & Renovation Mayfield reveals Cambridge is enjoyi Show retums from new high-quality the benefits of a Sist Januarry to 2nd cladding and ground source February 2020 decking options heat pump roviepiayi20helping you build your dream 31st Jan to 2nd Feb 2020 Fri & Sat: 9am - 5pm, Sun: 9am - 4pm. Free Parking. Swindon M4 Junction 16 The National Self Build & Renovation Show 67,000 sq ft exhibition space Over 250 exhibitors Live demonstrations Learn from experts and self builders Meet architects and designers Theatres with free seminars FREE parking MORE INFO & |FREE TICKETS AT Baia fh WWW.NSBRC.co.uK "=" LF SBRC OR £12 PER PERSON ON THE DAY OF EVENT & Renovation National Self Build & Renovation Centreontents January 2020 1 Viewpoint 1 Rural Retreat 0 Desired Designs: Simon Chudloy, National Tho Spoakmans had ived Biophilie Design Commercial Technical in their High Wycombe How to incorporate the Manager at Tormac home for mora than 20 biophiic dosign trond into Cement offers his advice years when a property on your home's interior. to those working with their road come up for mortar in the colder sale, offering the perfect 0. 8 Desired Des 2 menths ehanee for therm to create ‘Mood-Enhaneing Hues their dream house. ect the January blues 1 4 Contracts & Legalities. with these uplifting hues. ‘Skoup’s George Pearce: 2 a Impressive Innovation runs through some tap Having recently put her 1 0 Style Guide: tips to help manage waste property on the market. What is Rococo’ removal ckring home Sharon McAlister rocalis Five intorior piocos that renovations the renovation journey take their ingpiration from she ond her husband took the intricate and theatrical 3 0 Lighting & Eleetricals when converting their I8th~ Rococo style. ark Krull from, Century Georgian United Logicatroining takes Presbyterian church look at how homeowners can incorporate energy bfficient features ancl oo technology into projects. 2 0 Roofing 35 Show Previews :mming Pools Paul Trace from Stella Three dates to add to your ‘sre you strugging wth tle Rooflight offers some. diary to help with your closigns for your poo? Hora, guidarica on tho thermal homme-buiding projoct. Build talks to Cameron performance (U-values) of Homebuilding & Fraser, Director of Coramique rooflights and what to look Renovating 36 Interationale, about looking Out for in the specification Build tt Live x beyond the commonplace process. Surface Design Show 38 plan biuo tie A ’ oring Product Guide OF 32 Bem Fe) BERET scons Oak Frame more environmentally innovative products in the Darren Hook Director of aware, many are turing marketplace. designed English Hortago Buildings, fo sustainable building ‘uth yoursoll-bud in minds explains why planning is solutions. n this article cladding & Decking 41 essential to ensuring & Tom Stringor, Oltoo's Co- 2 successful bull Director, explains how MISC pn plostic woste is utiised at 28 wen Fis business Loft Conversions Barbara Genca Bespoke Furniture and VELUX explain how to make the most of your loft space with in-built furniture and roof windows to brighton up proviously dark areas. roviepiayi20esired esigns (© Neekin © Maenaia IMMERSE YOURSELF IN BIOPHILIA Biophilic design has been pushed to the boundaries in professional interior design schemes, but how do you incorporate the trend within your home? his trend has proven qualitios, of enhancing our moods, Gencentration levels and overall wollbeing: so, it's ‘eqay to see why 9 many homeowners are adopting ite flair. There are mony techniques for incorporating this style into a new home interior in small doses or on ‘a grander scale. the frst port of call is plants, Potted species such as Aloe Vora, Bamboo and English Ivy are not only great for improving IAQ but also add a splash of grocnery to low-key sehemes Furthermore, opting for more natural materials ~ with organic knots ond imporfecity perfect defects = such as wood, evokes sense of natural woodland sattings. If you'ra looking to inject a smaller segment of the biophilic trond into your interior, upholstery is a graat way to do so. Colours nd textures are imperative here, and inspiration con be tokon from an abundance of natural settings from the UK countryside. So. got outside, take same snaps ond stort putting together ‘your vory own biophilic inspired meed boars. « ‘LToba rattan hanging egg _ 6. White peony poster, chair, Artisanti, £315 Hilary and flo, £40 2.Lush groan velvet wail clock, AUDENZA, £49 7. Moss jozz plate, Shekéibba The Danish Home, £19 3.Monstera iron table lamp, Rose & Grey, £140 8. Curvod console table, shimu, £945 8.Norma bed, Loskasas, ©1779 4.Chandeliers, Mequeen I, LUXXU, £POA 8. Giant green shimmer rosin bootio, Gisola Graham London, £30 10.Bamboo plant in glass pot, Swestpea & Willow, £2001.Gold paim tree car from £62 2. Scalloped oyster velvet chair blush pink £375, 3. Brass bird leg side table with glass top, £172 4.Lily pad loaf wall art, 209, re eeit ie ea co offices will increase productivity and concentration levels, enabling you to tic more off your checklist.[pyre esigns MOOD- ENHANCING COLOURS Beat the Fanuary blues with these serene hues. ink: for a feminineRls SCHOOL SURFACES i LE in > RE THE UK’S LEADING ESIGN SHOWCASE WWW.SURFACEDESIGNSHOW.COMS8ita le he intrieate and has adornal ba | | th |} ar alate + Provide accurate, detailed layout drawings + A choice of styles, layouts & components STOVAX Working together for a sustainable future. stovax.com/GreenBritain u roviepiayi20ee mon Chudley National Commer Technical Manager ‘armac Cement offers some essential advice to ldo working with mortar in he calder month Working with mortar in cold weather Good organisation i always an important part of any project, but as winter approaches, industries that involve outdoor construction have an altogether different and challenging task on their hands. When the first frosts bite, even the most thought- out of projects can experience kinks in productivity. As such those planning outdoor building projects should consider winter specific complications, and most importantly, plan ahead in order to execute their operations effectively. Preparing for frost ‘The elements A ertical factor in construction operations carried out in cold weathor Js enauring that mortar gets adequate heat for normal cement hydration The durability cana strength of mortar is atfected by temperature, «and adsitional feara must be token when working with o mortar colder periods Coment vel not hydrate sufficiontly at low temperatures, whien increases the risk of slow sotting, poor strongth gain ang trost(treeze/ thaw) damage. ‘Temperatures ‘ goems obvious, but this can be easily menaged by availing mixing or laying ‘tho mortar when the air temperature is olow 8°C. It's also important to keep the mix above 5°C for 48 hours after it has een placed. Freezing temporatures significantly reduce the compressive strength, the bond strength end also docreases tho water penetration resiatance of masenry. the newly placed mortar does fail below freezing before developing enough strength, ‘twill result in cracking, scaling and crumbling of the product. Although the best advice is to wait for temporatures above 5°C bofore doing ‘those jobs, the formation of cracks and spalls ore ennoyingly unpredictable. in any case, whan gotting the job done {e essential, and there i9 a rak of frost, protect the mortar with an insulation quilt sandwiched betwoon two shoots of polythene sheating Severe wind can cause premature drying as 0 result of increased evaporation. For this reason, its important to make the necessary arrangements to tacklo the risk before laying the mortar windy oreo, Consider putting Up wind barriers to protect your work and the area with plastic sheeting Although fos likely, rain too con cause probloms For example, if the frosh mortar was not covered prior to the onset of the rain, and the initial set has not yet occurred (possibio due to the cold weather slowing the hydration of the cement) if thero was enough rain falling with enough force, the rain may be able wash some of the cement out of the mortar. Without protection from wot weather, you could be left with a woakened surface and the possibility of related problems in the future. This might include dusting of the surface. resulting in 4 porous surface that wil allow far more water to be absorbed, ‘and a reduced ability of the mortar to resist damage dus to freeze/thaw cycles. However, the most serious consequence could be surface sceling, particulary itt was pounding rain. Protecting new mortar from the eloments with a water-resistant tarp or plastic sheeting, proper curing is, essential to ensure proper strength goin and help form a strong bond. Protection of the materials prior to Use is also important and often over-looked; it's always good practice to shoot your materials overnight, but if is going to bo cold (bolow froozing), i's even more important Before mixing the first baten of mortar, make sure the sand is nat frazen, i's aften a good idea to take the top few inches off and place it to one side until it warms up, ‘This helps to ensure that you are not putting vary cold material into the mix bringing down the overall temperature of the mortar and slowing the overall hydration of the mortar. ‘The right product nother significant facter to consider in the colder months is the quality of the mortar mix itself. Opt for a leading menufacturer to ensure your product is airentrained. Air-entroined mixos, sueh as Tarmac Blue Cirle Quality ‘Assured Mortar, contain billions of microseapie air pockets that relieve Internal pressure on the mortar by providing small chambers for water to ‘expand inte when it freezes, This gives your mortar increased resistance to freeze/thaw degradation ond improved durability for many years to come. Fackaging is also important when protecting against the oloments. Oitan, the winter months ean see coment spoilt when left open outside. To keop coment dry and prevent wastage, look for products that are available in weather-resistant pookaging and tubs. It sounds simple, but doing this will save you the time and money associated with purchasing more cement, in addition to reducing the environmental impact of any work you carry out Tools To prolong the lite of your toals ond materials in the winter, and save menay in the process, it's important to give them extra eare. The annoying job of chipping away at hardened cirt for mertar and removing rust in spring can be prevented by kegping your tools eloan and well-oiled throughout the colder months. 6 Cement will nol hydrate sufficiently at low temperatures, which inereases the risk of slow selling, poor strength gain and [frost (freeze/thaw) 9 9 damage 13 —— roviepiayi20Home renovati project 0) are incredibly stressful, and it's walls, painting ceilings and bulldi however, that as well as a beautif ind you need to think | 6. Talk to your skip provider If you're using a reputable company, they will have the best knowledge about how to manage skip removal and construction wi make suro you have a conversation wi them to ensure you don't miss anything crucial. Think about terials Not all of the materials you produce can be throwr Into @ skip easily ~ items liko solvent paint and plasterboard have to be disposed of separately as they can become hazardous waste if left ino mixed wasto skip. “Y corge Poarce. Find out whatyour 5, Be careful when 8. Don't over-fill Commercial local noise restrictions disposing of rubble your skip Manager of are in the area Standard skips wil cilow Using wooden boards to Skoup. tho Skip Skip dolivery and removal 8Crltro bagsof rubble to be __incroase skip size or filing removal service run by waste can be very noisy, and included but not the entire skip waste over the fill lovel can management company siffa, councils have regulations tobe filed with rubbleas this’ make the load too heavy, has come up with some top to avoid disturbance often makosit too heayy=it and too dangerous to tips to help you manage yeur of locals, soit is worth can be worth hiring second transport on the highwoy. waste prodiiction during checking and ensuring that skp inthisinstonee if you nove home renovation: your provider is aware of clot of rubbie to dispose of ny restrictions. 1. Research your skip provider 3. Check whether you Onee the material has need to order a permit been taken away, you want for the skip toknow itis going tobe —_—if you're placing it ona disposed of safely and in highway, you may need line with regulations, so to do this from your local do your research before council. Often your skip choosing a company. Ask companies, lite Skoup, will your provider fora Waste lot you do this from their Teanster Noto, which will website, show you where the waste is boing taken - this should 4. Make sure yo boacompliant cissosci —_—proteet your driveway site which wil dispose oft A skip is a heavy object properly. Typically, 95% of and will bo oven heavier the waste will be recycled. ones you've filed it with, If your waste is found within materials from your fly-tipping, you can typically renavatian project, so be fined in the region of protect your driveway and 400-£600, but up to E6000 leave the drivare seme for using a company that is _ wooden blocks te put the proven to have fly-tipped skip on in ordor to provent your waste. any damage. 4< p A co Lite COL e MinMe ew eie ces we ce rn a ete Pre nel services Pekan erty DTN een UO Rass speed a i ase rere Se ILE Bor Ourbespoke systems are Cea feces ce pee eres cere Ecos itera ey eee HY i Mainenoneeconsaets Uy Aa . niet ces pee es eas roviepiayi20A modular modification J Ne fps / for more The Speakmans had lived in their High Wycombe home next door but one trom than 20 years when a property on their road came up for sale, their oxisting property, the initial offering ject chance for them to create their dream house. plan was to renovate and extend Keen to work with a company that could assist with everything house. “But when our architect costed from project management to construction, WeberHaus seemed the project, the sum was astronomical like a natural fit because the house was in such poor dition.” says Helen. A builder suggested we demolish the house Plus, building a new house would ‘come with the added advantage of peing 2ero-rated VAT on labour and oA materials. Therefore, Helen and Mike idoa at first, Mike realised that would provide nake the a golden opportunity to most of the site's orientation and views. ‘Design decisions are more af @ challange in renavatien Constructing a new one gives you more opportunities, which really excited mo,” says Mike. 16The couple met WeberHiaus at a solf-build oxhibition and wore instantly impressed “We engaged with them immediatoly and were definitly on our wavelength. Thay soemed vary honost ‘and had lot of integrity” says Helen {As Miko travels lot for businass, ho wanted to tale © construction route where the bulk of the design and tule docisions could be made upfront “I didnt wane to leave Holen with a contractor ‘asking her quostions avery day and harassing her for decisions’ Mike says."! wanted to be able to specify os much os possible during the early stagas of the project. taking @ route that wos as atumkay solution ls ho Speakman: NoborHaus tour. "f thoro v thet had histeriealyc re things 10d probleme in the bully they highlight it to you {a the start The sales team were very tronsparant obout what was ond wasnt intha os ny nasty surprises later’ soys Miko. "They also came across as having very strong project management sis 2, 80 we knew there Design process For the Spoakmans, timber frame constr other key advantage of working with WeborHous. ‘I's a proven system, ‘says Mike. “The fact that the struct ‘components aro all manufactured ina factory-controlled environment before being assembled with absolute recision on site really appealed The couple already had a set of plons drawn up by their original ‘rchiteet for the renavation ar ‘extension of the house. WeborHaus pio to uso those, plus a projec wish list the pair hoa drawn up. to create a set of dosigns. “They were good at taking our plans and incorporating what we wanted into the design for tho new house.” says, Mike. “Our designer was flexiple ane would take on board our ideas about what we wanted from the hou (One of the key parts of the design process wos a trip to Germany, whore Helen and mike were able to specity all tho product materials for ld. "We went through the fit- id you know? Modular bulls cre a Construction-favourite for self-builders and home Tenovators. Thanks to the factor controlled conditions they ore fabricated within, hindrances such 8 the great British adverse weather conditions are eradicated, speeding 1p Building time, and in-house high precision equipment leads to less waste for those environmentally= conscious homebuilders, out process, from day one choosing the o: Jours, tiles, doors and windows, right the way through to day five specifying taps, light switches ‘and so forth” says Helen.“ we'd have gone down & mere conventional Bulle in the Uk, wo'd have boon visiting oom after shawroam choosing individual items. With Webertiaus, fevarything was all under one root 38 great because we knew ovorything we chose would come nlealy For Holon ond Mike, getting the local planners and neighbours on side was a koy part of the a rocess, t00."Our neighbours have been brilliant Everyone was s0 excited by the project; we had lots of letters of positive support for i” says Halen, As the house is situated within o ongervation area, the design of the front had to mimic the previous proparty in terms of mossing an colours. “However, on tho rear si, the planners were complotaly open to what wo wanted to do.” says Miko. if they understana where you're coming from and what you're try 2chi gto 2, they can give helpful advice a8 to what they can and can't accept. Thanks te their considered approao! to the design of their new home, Helen cand Miko's scheme was passed by the local planners with no lesues, ang onstruction could begin. Action on site Tho first stop for Holon and Mike was groundworks while their timber frame was being manufactured in Germany. “The preparation of this aspect was probably one of the trickier pphasas of the project, says Mike The couple nad engaged e separate contractor to handio this sido Mike wos coordinating multiple porties. “it was sometimes chal to get things dono in a timoly mann 0 they didn't interrupt the programme of the bulla” says Miko. “Things like getting the soakaway dana seamed 10 toke foraver, as there are various to tackle th 8 you have to g : hrough to got things done.»For the Speakmans, witnessing the cossembly of their WeberHiaus home was the highlight of the whole project. "wa had 23 lorries come to deliver the structural components, arriving fat two-hour intervals. It waa tke clockwork” says Helen. “All of the walls, floors and roofs were oraned in and fitted together with absolute precision, down to the millimetre, it was the highlight of my lif! | was like a child at Christmas: in total, it took nine days for the house to be erected and reach wind and watertight levels, Fantastic result Now the house is complete, Mike ond Holon aro dolightod with the results The couple ives here together, while their 23-year-old son livesin thoi previous property next deer but ane, The Speakmans share three dogs - & labrador, spaniol and a sprudel ~ with their son’ so the new living setup works cexcollontl. Though their 27-year oughter awne her own property, she has bedroom in the new house, t00. The couple has many relatives and cloee friends from road wo come to injoy the now house, too." Although the house seams very big for two people, it's always ful. ts ke a farly hub” says Holon, Wo love it. We had to keep pinching oursalves during the fst few months of ving here becauso it fit like we were in a luxurious vila abroad We've got so much space, but tho house stl feels warm and coay”™ For Helen, one of the key successes is the oparrplan ktchen-diner. As the couple's previous home was traditional with @ bader layout, Helen was teen to ‘ovoid fooling isolated on tho othor sido of the house when sho was in the kitenen. “The kitcher-diner we've got now is fabulous I's modern with white Silestone worktops, and weve get a huge central jaland that we basically ive around. all the materials, ‘complement each other beautifully resulting in a fresh, streamlined feo!” The Speatmans cso enjoy having a large garage that is integral to the layout of the rest of the house, with o utility 2am pposttionod above. This lasign doa was something they drew from trips to visit rolatives in Vancouver and Seattle, and ie something Holan adimite ie working excollontiy so for. For Miko, ono of the standout reas in terms of design detail ie the light-flles lontranee atrium. Its got o very high, lofty roof s0 that when you come in, there's @ vory spacious fool immediately’ he says. {As wall as inviting plonty of sunshine into the house, the broad spans of glazing alse serve to frame fantastic vistas across the surrounding area. ‘We daiberataly positioned the stolrease on the right-hand sido of the space 80 as net to block out Cony of the fantastic views!