RENOVATING HOMEBUILDING & EXTENSIONS | SELF-BUILDS | HOME IMPROVEMENT | CONVERSIONS Britain’s Best Selling Self-build Magazine EXPERT ADVICE Underfloor Heating for Renovators Storage Solutions Multi-Room Audio Treating Timber Decay How the New Energy Regs Affect You 10 9 770960 086291 October 2014 | £4.35 Opening Up A 1930s House Gets a Modern Transformation BBC2’S PIERS TAYLOR’S £15K SELF-BUILD PROJECT COVER STORY REVEALED: THE FIVE THINGS YOU MUST HAVE IN YOUR NEW HOME AN ULTRA-LOW ENERGY TIMBER FRAME DESIGN ‘Survival Guide’ for Home Improvers 10 Tips on How to Keep Your Sanity!
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homebuilding.co.uk 1
RENOVATINGHOMEBUILDING& EXTENSIONS | SELF-BUILDS | HOME IMPROVEMENT | CONVERSIONS
Britain’s Best Selling Self-build Magazine
E X P E R T A D V I C E
Underfl oor Heatingfor RenovatorsStorage SolutionsMulti-Room AudioTreatingTimber DecayHow the New Energy Regs Affect You
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October 2014 | £4.35
Opening UpA 1930s House Gets a Modern Transformation
BBC2’S PIERS TAYLOR’S
£15K SELF-BUILD PROJECT
C O V E R S T O R Y
REVEALED: THE FIVE THINGS YOU MUST HAVE IN YOUR NEW HOME
AN ULTRA-LOW ENERGY TIMBER FRAME DESIGN
‘Survival Guide’ for Home Improvers10 Tips on How to Keep Your Sanity!
Oct 14 Cover FINAL.indd 1 13/08/2014 16:33
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homebuilding.co.uk 5
“The excitement really IS building, for
me, as it is for you”
JASON ORME IS THE EDITOR OF HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING MAGAZINE
Reflections on a Decade
This issue is a bit of a personal anni-versary, marking 10 years since I took over as Editor of this �ne publication. �ings start moving worryingly quick as you get older of course, but even
allowing for that, it has gone by in a �ash. �e process of building and improving homes hasn’t changed a great deal in that decade either. Back in 2004 we were introducing our readers to issues as diverse and familiar to today’s readership as structural insulated panels (SIPs), heat pumps, condensing boilers (known back then in the magazine as ‘energy-e�cient boilers’), triple glazing, and so on. Homebuilding & Renovating has a tradition of scepticism about new technologies but, in many ways, these things – innovations back then – are now �rmly part of a home’s standard spec. Some things, such as the Code for Sustainable Homes and Community Infrastructure Levy, have come and gone in that time — perhaps for the better. Today’s Government is pushing self-build in a way that, back in 2004, we could only have dreamed of. But it’s probably just as di�cult, if not more so, to get planning per-mission for a new home in 2014 as it was back then.
�ose 10 years have seen consid-erable change for me, too. I’ve self-built a family home to later be �lled
by a wonderful family; I’ve travelled thousands of miles seeing all di�erent types of housing; visited dozens and dozens of your �nished houses and taken something from every one (not literally…); and learnt so much about our mysterious world of homes, and continue to do so.
A decade on and I’m now in the middle of design work on a major remodelling and extension project. People tell me that a decade editing one magazine is a sign of madness — and perhaps that’s true. Funnily enough, it’s also the number-one remark from ‘others’ about people who take on self-build and renovation projects.
When your day-to-day job is e�ectively a hobby, it’s di�cult to imagine doing anything else. Nothing beats a building project to rekindle those life energies and get you excited again. I’m still discovering and getting excited about it all — that amazing new home, that great little idea, that smart product that solves a problem you never knew you had. �e excitement really is building, for me – as I’m sure it is for you – and it has been a pleasure being with you for the ride. I won’t say here’s to another 10 – who can look that far ahead? – but I hope I’ll get to continue for as long as I can provide you, the reader, with interesting articles, and for me, that there is still stu� to learn. Enjoy the issue. n
Homebuilding & Renovating is Britain’s best-selling and most in-depth magazine for anyone
building or renovating their own home. We aim to give you the confidence to take on your
own project and provide you with the very best independent expert advice, design ideas for
inclusion in your own home and the best examples from others who’ve already done it
HB RHOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING
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Editor’s Letter
In Between Issues
Homebuilding & Renovating
experts and staff contribute
daily to blogs and more at
homebuilding.co.uk; you can
also keep in touch with us through
social media on Facebook,
Pinterest, LinkedIn and
Twitter
Welcome Oct 14.indd 5 15/08/2014 09:44
October 2014
O T H E R W A Y S W E C A N H E L P Y O U
Homebuilding.co.ukOur website archives a huge amount of content — from readers’ homes and expert
solutions to your problems, to advice features on all aspects of self-build and renovation
Plotfinder.netLooking for a building plot or
renovation opportunity? Plotfinder.net is the UK’s
leading database of building plots. See page 129 for more,
or visit the website
Visit the ShowsHomebuilding & Renovating
and Home Improvement Shows provide an invaluable resource for self-builders and renovators. See homebuilding
show.co.uk for information
My Building ProjectGet a detailed estimate
of your building costs and find a reputable trades- person in your area at
mybuildingproject.co.uk
E X P E R T A D V I C E
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HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATINGHB R&
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Charlie Luxton’s Home Truths The designer
considers the real value of contemporary design
How to Pour a Concrete Floor
A Beginner’s Guide to Planning Permission
Underfloor Heating for Renovators A look at
the innovations making retro installations simple
Piers Taylor: More with Less The architect explains
how taking a different approach to construction
can result in wonderful things — and savings, too
The Normal Person’s Guide to the
New Building Regulations Part L
A Guide to Living on Site During a Renovation
Project Clinic How to present your scheme and
create a development plan to seek funding
Timber Decay How to get to the bottom of the
problem, and why eradicating damp is key
Oak Frame Homes Your questions answered
Essentials: How to Get Started Our must-read
guide to building or renovating a home — plus our
monthly mortgage table and build cost calculator
Pitch Perfect A modern self-build takes its cue from
the vernacular to provide the best of both worlds
Living Off the Land A new home on a 300-acre
farmland site is the ultimate in sustainable living
Opening Up A dated 1930s bungalow is
transformed into a contemporary family home
In Good Health A prefab package build makes
for a modern eco home with health benefits
Old Meets New A four storey extension and
renovation transforms a Victorian property
H O M E S
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Contents Oct14.indd 7 15/08/2014 09:45
O N T H E C O V E R
107
Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in Homebuilding & Renovating, the publishers can accept
no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. No guarantee can be made of the safe return of unsolicited text or photographs. Copyright for all materials
published monthly. ISSN 1471-5791. Competitions: By providing your details you are consenting to receive information, news and offers from
Homebuilding & Renovating and its parent company, Centaur Media. If you would prefer not to receive this information, please state ‘No contact’ on your entry. Occasionally, we may pass on your details to
other carefully selected companies. If you would prefer not to receive this information, please state ‘No other companies’ on your entry.
Member of the Audit Bureau of CirculationJan-Dec 2013 23,383
Centaur Special Interest MediaA Centaur Media Company
Share your views on the magazine, your building experiences and more.
All printed letters win a year’s subscription to Homebuilding & Renovating
We welcome your opinions and take them into account when producing the magazine. We also want to hear about your project. Email us at
mailbag@
homebuilding.
co.uk or
write to us
at Mailbag,
HB&R, 2 Sugar
Brook Court,
Aston Road,
Bromsgrove
B60 3EX.
“RICS has to Provide Values which Reflect Rather than Lead the Market”
Mailbag
Letter of the Month
A CALL FOR CHANGEI sit here feeling very sorry, if not very cross, for David and Mrs Snell after reading about their troubles in the August issue’s ‘On Site with Snell’. What a sorry tale, and one we hear too often — even with 12 builds under his belt, David wasn’t able to get his scheme approved. � is has to be an example to put in front of MPs to illustrate how the planning system, at times, simply doesn’t work.
Anything involving planning takes too long. I work within the property and planning sector and I have asked case o� cers I know just how much time they actually spend working on an individual application. In many cases, the actual number of hours logged is quite small — it’s the whole
process that takes the time. Every communication takes a number of days, and every day delayed in responding or actioning something adds to the timeline.
In my ideal planning world, I would make the planners and con-sultees meet once a fortnight, all in one room, with the applicant, and dis-cuss the proposal and agree solutions.
I want the David Snells of this world to build homes — they will be di� erent and built to a good standard with lower running costs.
Once read, I may well send my August issue to the planning author-ity in question. I hope they will be suitably embarrassed.
Jeremy Mur� tt, Leicestershire
Digital MailbagWHAT YOU’VE SAID ONLINE THIS MONTH
Opinion was divided on the social media channels this month when we shared the ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots of a Tudor-style remodel in Shropshire (RIGHT).
On Facebook, Rhodri Morgan was “not keen” on the transformation, and Angela Mumford thought it was “over the top”. On the other hand, Helen Stewart thought it was “inspirational” and James Butterworth argued: “I can’t believe the negative comments! So it’s not to everyone’s taste but I say fair play for seeing the potential in a bland detached house on a great plot.”
For more on our lively social media communities and to join in, visit homebuilding.co.uk/social-media
The main problem with valuing self-builds is that there’s little
evidence of sales of similar homes, and any evidence available
indicates that potential purchasers have no appetite for paying a
premium for an eco build unless savings are refl ected in their utility
bills. The second problem is that the plot cost plus build cost does
not necessarily equal the fi nal value. The inclusion of expensive
eco elements may prove to be costs too far and push the resulting
home into a price bracket unsustainable for the locality.
I recently carried out stage inspections on a self-build with an air-
source heat pump. At fi nal inspection, I asked the couple how their
electricity consumption was doing. Their answer: through the roof,
as the heat pump had a poor Coeffi cient of Performance (COP).
Similarly, I visited a Victorian terraced property with solar
panels. The homeowners produced documentation of their income
from the electricity generated, however the property price had a
specifi c amount included to account for the solar array. The bank’s
rules prohibited me from taking account of the array and I had to
down-value by that amount — the bank’s view was that you cannot
mortgage something with a fi nite life considerably less than the
length of the proposed mortgage. So, where are the real benefi ts?
Tony Lyon, via email
THE REAL VALUE OF ECO HOMES
WHAT IS IT WORTH?Two letters featured in the August issue of HB&R mentioned the same problem: the fact that surveyors and valuers assess properties on their sale value rather than what owners wish they were worth. Until there is sus-tained demand for properties where higher-than-average capital costs are balanced by lower-than-average running costs, then valuations will prove to be disappointing.
Magazines, architects and TV programmes are all telling the public about the advantages of these prop-erties, but with a generally fragile housing market and many would-be buyers unable to get � nance, values will remain low.
RICS (Royal Institution of Char-tered Surveyors) has to provide val-ues which re� ect rather than lead the market. To do otherwise would be to mislead owners and leave valu-ers open to (justi� ed) litigation. � e route by which these standards can be raised is through Building Regu-lations — which are moving in the right direction, but cannot move quickly enough.
Peter R Hastings, Scotland
Before
After
letters oct14.indd 10 14/08/2014 13:34
LONDON
LONDON, OLYMPIA 26-28 SEPT 2014
STAND J20
Pages_4-26.indd 11 14/08/2014 11:00
www.stovax.com
Firing imaginations for over 30 years...
Over 30 years of British design and engineering have gone into creating the UK’s most comprehensive
range of high quality woodburning, solid-fuel, gas and electric stoves and fireplaces.
PARISH NOTESGovernment scheme news, corrections and moreGREEN DEAL HOME IMPROVEMENT FUNDNo sooner had we sent
our September issue to
print than did we receive
the news that the Green
Deal Home Improvement
Fund (GDHPF) – one of
the features in our How to Spend Less on Heating
supplement – had reached
the fund limit and is now
closed to applications.
The GDHPF was opened
for applications at the
start of June!
▲
A new scheme from the FMB and NaCSBA helps homeowners identify self-build-friendly local builders, says Lindsey Davis
A new service to put self-builders in con- tact with local contrac-
tors has been launched by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the National Cus-tom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA). It is hoped it will ease the stress of � nding a reli-able builder with relevant skills.
Over half of all self-builds in the UK are carried out by main contractors on behalf of private clients, so the new ser-vice will enable customers to � nd a contractor in their area with suitable knowledge of self-build. � e FMB’s ‘Find a
Self Build Contractor’ service is free to use, and holds a database of over 1,500 contractors with self-build experience.
� e service is the � rst of its kind in the UK, and can be accessed via the Self Build Por-tal, NaCSBA’s online resource for self-builders.
MP Richard Bacon, Chair-man of the All Party Parlia-mentary Group on Self-Build, Custom-Build and Independ-ent Housebuilding, said: “Find-ing a suitable builder can be a headache for many self-builders who lack � rst-hand experience of the construction trade. � is
is where the FMB’s ‘Find a Self Build Contractor’ service can help you. Every builder belong-ing to the Federation must have satis� ed a comprehensive set of background checks and also agreed to a rigorous Code of Practice and dispute resolu-tion, o� ering peace of mind to potential clients. I would highly recommend that any prospec-tive self-builders draw on the Federation’s knowledge and experience to help complete their dream home.”
● Access the service via selfbuildportal.org.uk
Meeting BuildersMany builders won’t be interested in one-off homes, so this new scheme aims to help self-builders identify local fi rms who have interest and experience
RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE (JULY ISSUE)In the July issue we
featured an article on the
Renewable Heat Incentive,
and stated that existing
heat pump installations
would be assigned a
seasonal performance
factor (SPF) of 2.5 and
that this is non-negotiable.
This is incorrect — the SPF
on legacy installations can
be recalculated using the
Heat Emitter Guide from
Ofgem. This will ensure
your system has the right
SPF rating and you receive
the correct payments.IMA
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We Like…
Self-build Boost in DevonTeignbridge Council puts self-build in the Local Plan
At the University of Brighton, a building has been constructed almost entirely out of waste and surplus material as part of its research into zero-carbon building methods.
The Brighton Waste House is the combined
efforts of senior lecturer and architect
Duncan Baker-Brown (of BBM Sustainable
Design), undergraduate architecture students,
volunteers, apprentices from the Mears Group,
and construction students at City College
Brighton and Hove.
The idea was developed along with Cat
Fletcher of Freegle – a volunteer-run, UK-wide
movement which sees usable items fi nd
new homes – who helped source unwanted
materials to use in place of standard insulation
and building materials. The team hope that the
project will prove that “there is no such thing
as waste, just stuff in the wrong place,” as items
which may have been sent to landfi ll have been
repurposed for the fabric of the building.
Made from timber frame and scrap plywood,
the structure has been fi lled with video
cassettes, toothbrushes and jeans, and the
thermal effi ciency of these nonconventional
building materials will be tested by sensors
fi tted in the walls by the university’s Faculty
of Science and Engineering.
The house has also been covered with
a vapour control membrane made of vinyl
advertising banners, and an external layer of
carpet tiles for weatherproofi ng.
If the results of the thermal performance
tests are positive, self-builders working to a
tight budget could be given all the inspiration
they need to sustainably insulate their homes.
Either way, much can be learnt from The
Brighton Waste House’s alternative uses of
what is usually deemed to be rubbish.
Ephemera
A research project showcases new uses for old rubbishThe House of Waste
A district council in Devon is among the fi rst to write new provisions for self-build into its Local Plan. Teignbridge Council will force developers, who get permission for 20 houses or more, to make 5 per cent of the land available to self-builders.
Council leader Jeremy Christophers feels the move acknowledges the di� culties faced by plot hunters in the area. He also said: “Teignbridge is positive about self-build, and as a council we are looking to support local people who want to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in to being part of the solution to the housing problem.”
The Waste House in Numbers
20,000 toothbrushes, two tonnes of denim jeans, 4,000
DVD cases, 2,000 used carpet tiles and much more have gone into building The
Brighton Waste House
Upfront Oct 14.indd 17 13/08/2014 16:36
UPFRONT
Healthy Paint, Healthy Home
Products
A new generation of VOC-free paints mixes health pros with stylish schemes
Book of the Month
Modern Country: Inspiring Interiors for Contemporary Country Living
Homes in the coun-tryside don’t need to be built to a tem-plate of traditional style, as the amazing interiors and homes featured in Modern Country go to show.
� e book contains rarely seen pho-tographs from the French interiors magazine Côté Maison, and showcases Europe’s most desirable homes in the mountains, countryside and by the sea. � e author o� ers décor advice alongside inspirational images for anyone design-ing a new country home, or renovating an existing building.
● Modern Country by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, £30, Jacqui Small Publishing
Anyone who has ever tried to paint a poorly ventilated room will know that it is a recipe for headaches and sometimes dizziness or nausea,
and there are some pretty nasty chemicals in conven-tional paints which could be responsible. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – found in most paints – are emit-ted as gases from solids and liquids, and can continue to be emitted up to � ve years after the paint has dried.
Going for a low-VOC paint is one option, but there are ‘eco’ paints on the market which are petrochemical free. � ere are several highly recommended international products including Aglaia and Biofa, but if buying British is your bag, try Ecos or Earthborn.
Earthborn paints are clay-based and allow your walls and woodwork to breath, which is particularly important when working on older homes, and helps to minimise condensation and mildew by allowing moisture to escape. What’s more, the thick paint pro-vides better coverage and is incredibly durable, meaning you need less of it.
� e Irish Heritage Trust and the National Trust are fans of Earthborn’s range of subtle traditional colours and restoration-friendly ingredients. ■
● To fi nd out more visit earthbornpaints.co.uk
HB&R Live in Edinburgh
Events
An essential visit for anyone hoping to
build, renovate or improve their own home,
the Homebuilding & Renovating and Home Improvement Show comes to Edinburgh
for the fi rst time this autumn. The Show,
which runs from 25 to 26 October, features
all the essential products and services you’ll
need to succeed, mixed with independent
advice at free seminars and one-to-one
advice sessions. ● For more, visit edinburgh.homebuildingshow.co.uk
A new show in Scotland in October
Paints That Are Good For You
The new Earthborn range for autumn/
winter 2014 features great tones and are
completely free of petrochemicals
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Upfront Oct 14.indd 19 13/08/2014 16:36
Ideas for SeptemberProducts
Materials | Finishes | Launches
� e Privilege Collection from Fiora� e Privilege Collection from Fiora combines a contempo-rary aesthetic with innovative technology, to create a striking look for your bathroom. � e wall panels, combined with the matching shower trays (shown below in Wenge, but available in 13 other colours), cover gaps left by old tiles and are also coated with Fiora’s exclusive Nanobath surface. � e use of nanotechnology means the trays become water resistant, for easy and safe maintenance, as well as repelling bacteria to keep your bathroom hygienic. POA (price on application). ● Fiora: � ora.es/en
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Aluminium Window Range from OriginBi-folding door manufac-turer Origin has launched a new range of � ush casement and � xed-frame aluminium windows, available in a wide range of colours. Like its range of bi-folding doors, Origin’s new window frames have slim sightlines, are low-maintenance with no rusting or warping, and the glass bene� ts from an A-rated thermal performance. � e windows come in a range of con� gurations to suit di� er-ent homes: from � xed, side or top hung, to dummy sash and gable designs. � e windows are also extremely secure thanks to their ‘Secured by Design’ Yale locking system. POA. ● Origin: origin-global.com
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Hansgrohe’s New ShowerSelect � ermostatHansgrohe’s new ShowerSe-lect thermostat with integrated Fix� t hose connection and shower support can be com-bined with a range of hand and overhead showers. � e buttons feature a matte � nish and the � at handle enables the user to control the required tempera-ture with ease. POA. ● Hansgrohe: hansgrohe.co.uk
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� e C714G Gas Hob from Caple� e new C714G gas hob from Caple features a stainless steel base with removable cast iron pan for easy cleaning. � e hob consists of three semi-rapid burners, one rapid burner, and one triple-ring burner — ideal for wok cooking. � e hob also has a safety device that cuts the gas supply if the � ame goes out. It costs £294 incl VAT. ● Caple: 01179 381900
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Max-Top Quartz Kitchen WorktopMax-Top’s new Quartz work-top combines the beauty of natural stone with a lightweight structure, thanks to its patented honeycomb interior. Suitable for both contemporary and traditional kitchens, the work-top is available in 10 � nishes – including sparkling black onyx, warm grey and anthracite – is easy to install, and comes with a 25-year guarantee. � e product, unlike traditional solid stone, also o� ers 100 per cent moisture protection. At a depth of 40mm, the Max-Top Quartz can easily replace old worktops without too much hassle — perfect for renovators looking for an upgrade to their kitchen. POA. ● Max-Top: 0161 224 0333
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Products Oct14v2.indd 20 14/08/2014 13:36
� e Impress Range from Moduleo� e new Impress range from luxury vinyl � ooring manufac-turer Moduleo, complete with registered embossing, creates a realistic wood � ooring e� ect. � e range of tiles, which is set to launch this month, will include � ve wood designs in 22 colours, featured in both dry back and click options for easy installation. POA. ● Moduleo: 01332 851500
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� e Sophia Dove Collection from Topps TilesSuitable for living spaces, kitchens and bathrooms alike, the new Sophia Dove collection from Topps Tiles o� ers a styl-ish touch, inspired by popular damask fabrics. � e Sophia Dove Damask tiles (shown below) are made of etched mar-ble and are available in both co� ee and grey colours. POA. ● Topps Tiles: 0800 783 6262
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Premium Elm Wood Shutters from Shutterly Fabulous� e Premium Elm range from Shutterly Fabulous is crafted from deep-grain elm and allows you to create an earthy, rustic style with a choice of 10 Classic Poplar warm wood stains and an additional 10 paints and stains — meaning you can achieve the exact shade to suit your interior scheme. � e shut-ters also come in four di� erent slat sizes with either a front push rod or hidden rod design. Prices start from £290/m2. ● Shutterly Fabulous: 0800 012 6615
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Vogue (UK)’s Simplicity Arc Towel Warmer� e Simplicity Arc towel warm-er from Vogue (UK) features a sleek, minimalist design which can be used in even the small-est of bathrooms. Available as a round or square tube in two di� erent heights, the stainless steel towel warmer comes in both an electric version and a brass model, which includes Vogue (UK)’s ‘integral valve’, for central heating systems. POA. ● Vogue (UK): 01902 387000
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Smeg’s SY4110-9 Symphony CookerSmeg’s updated SY4110-9 Symphony 110cm dual-fuel, four-cavity range cooker now features side-opening doors. � e stainless steel cooker with gas hob features cast iron pan stands, is � nished inside with easy-clean enamel, has a handy storage drawer, and includes Smeg’s Vapor Clean technolo-gy. � e main oven also bene� ts from seven di� erent cooking functions. POA. ● Smeg: 0844 557 9907
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H
� e Agile Shower Series from MiraMira’s new Agile high-per-formance thermostatic mixer shower collection features eight models, which have a compact, ‘unibody’ design, are easy to install and come with a � ve-year guarantee. While the showers in the range vary with eco options, a choice of valves and showerheads, plug-in modules and accessories, all models feature Mira Magni-FloTM — providing up to three times more � ow, even at low pressure. POA.● Mira: mirashowers.co.uk
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Hergom Glance Woodburner from EurostoveEurostove’s Hergom Glance woodburner o� ers 80 per cent e� ciency performance through its cast iron double structure, has a single lever for air control, secondary combustion system, and choice of top or rear � ue exit. � e stove features stylish front and side ceramic glass vision panels, and top and side surround bars. It can also be freestanding or wall mounted and has a removable ash pan. It costs £2,890 incl VAT. ● Eurostove: 01934 750500
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Products Oct14v2.indd 21 13/08/2014 16:38
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22 HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING
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Designing an individual home which sits comfortably within the streetscape can be a di� cult task — but it’s a balance which this contemporary self-build, with its steep-
pitched gable ends and considered palette of render, stone and brick cladding, has successfully achieved. What’s more, the house not only embraces modern living – this thoroughly airtight property is built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, as well as to Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards – but also manages to incorporate and reinterpret elements of the period properties in which the homeowners, Keith and Norma Justice, had previously lived.
“Keith and Norma came to us with a brief which included a list of key features, but they did not have a set architectural style in mind. When we began to unravel what they liked about old houses, we discovered that it was features such as high ceilings and large windows which held particular appeal,” says Ian Hunter of Hunter Architects and Planners, the practice behind the design.
Indeed, Keith and Norma’s previous family home was an Art Deco vicarage, and with Keith due to retire from
PITCH PERFECT
PROJECTPORTFOLIO
Take Inspiration from the Best New Individual Homes
A modern self-build which takes its
cue from the vernacular provides the
best of both worlds for one couple
SELF-BUILD | MANCHESTER | SIZE: 230m2 BUILD TIME: EIGHT MONTHS ARCHITECT: HUNTER ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS (0161 926 9039; HUNTERARCHITECTS.CO.UK)
High-Volume HallwayLEFT: Inside, the vaulted ceiling provides cathedral-like proportions. A bespoke glass pendant light, commissioned from The Contemporary Chandelier Company, is the centrepiece of the hallway, along with the cantilevered landing
Project Portfolio Oct14.indd 22 14/08/2014 16:43
Project Portfolio
A Sustainable New HomeBuilt to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, this thoroughly airtight home features solar thermal panels (which can be glimpsed on the roof pitch, BELOW); they provide the homeowners with hot water during the sunnier months. The house was also designed to Lifetime Homes standards, meaning even the bathrooms are accessible and could accommodate a wheelchair if required
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Project Portfolio
2
Street-Facing FaçadeThe twin gable ends are a contemporary nod to the neighbouring properties on the street. Glazing has been maximised on this south-facing elevation – particularly to the double-height hallway – in order to bring in light and encourage solar gain. Pushing back one gable end not only reduces massing, but has allowed a fi rst fl oor balcony to be created above the garage
his role as a reverend, the couple’s thoughts had turned to building a new home, with low running costs, for the next chapter of their lives. It was perhaps poetic justice that the plot they went on to purchase was carved from the side garden of another former presbytery, and once sat within the curtilage of the neighbouring church.
� e plot was unique in that it contained a statue of the Madonna, mounted on a substantially constructed monument clad with stone over a reinforced concrete frame. It also presented some particular design chal-lenges. “It’s a narrow plot, which could have resulted in a long house with dark internal spaces,” says architect Ian. “So we really pushed and pulled the � oorplan to create something which worked here.
“� e garden is north facing, so we were aware of the need to reduce glazing on the rear elevation, but also balance where daylight was coming from; wraparound corner patio doors, for example, were designed to bring light into the rear living space,” adds Ian. “In addition, we wanted to maximise glazing on the south-facing front without compromising on privacy. � e glazing above the front door now pulls in warmth and light.”
� e positioning of glazing was also in� uenced by the Lifetime Homes standards, a set of design criteria that provides a model for building an accessible and adapt-able house. “It was not something which Keith and Norma had come across before, but once introduced, they embraced the standards — they even went beyond them by installing a lift.” � is will allow access to the four � rst � oor bedrooms if required in the future. Hav-ing built his own home in accordance with the Lifetime
Homes standards, Ian commends the bene� ts. “Lowering window openings to a maximum of 800mm above � oor level in principal rooms means, for example, that you can see the garden when sat down on the sofa. We took them to � oor level, meaning even our young children can see out when crawling about the � oor.”
� e twin gable ends – which are de� ning features to both the street-facing and rear elevations – were a response to the neighbouring properties, but also take their cue from homes of old. “I doubt we would have got away with a � at roof here, and we didn’t want a ‘standard’ 30-35° pitch. � e steep pitch, which is around 45°, instead looks back to more traditional roof pitches, particularly those common to Victorian properties,” says Ian. Internally, this roof pitch provided scope for a vaulted, double-height hallway with what Ian describes as ‘cathedral-like’ proportions — just the kind of tall ceilings Keith and Norma were after.
Again, inspiration was taken from neighbouring homes for the exterior cladding, with rich, red brick, sandstone and render speci� ed. “An ‘o� -white’ colour was chosen for the render. When the sun hits white render, it can look cold, and we wanted to achieve something much warmer and inviting here,” explains Ian.
Sandstone was also chosen for its warmth as cladding for the chunky chimney. � is eye-catching feature serves to visually break up the rear elevation. “It breaks up the render, too,” adds Ian. “A � replace was always part of the brief, but we wanted to make a focal point of it inside and out. Positioning glazing either side also draws the eye out to the garden from the living room.” ■
Project Portfolio Oct14.indd 24 15/08/2014 09:55
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Over the winter I was really struggl ing
to make progress on the build. �e weather was relentless, the old wall on site had fallen down, and there was a lot of unexpected extra expenditure. But I’m now happy to report that the superstruc-ture of the building is �nally complete.
So, what have I learnt along the way so far? Well, �rstly, if you’re building in the winter – especially the main superstructure –
allow for extra time and money. �ings will take longer and inevitably cost a little extra.
In my opinion you really can’t scrimp on the materials and �nish during the build. I could end up eating my words, but I’ll wager the house will be worth a lot more when it is done because of the materials and quality craftsmanship. It has cost a lot more in the short run, but I think it will pay o.
�e stone I’ve used for the exterior, for example, is a lovely bu-coloured granite from Castle-an-Dinas Quarry (I don’t know anywhere else you can get this colour granite from; it looks like Cotswold stone) which is far from cheap compared to some of the other stone available in Cornwall. Obviously, there is no point spending a lot of money on the stone and not getting a quality craftsman to lay it, which I did with Nathan Eade.
My pièce de résistance, however, (I think) is the chunky oak roof I had made by Carpenter Oak. It is easily the most expensive part of the house, but I think it was worth every penny. �e huge beams and vaulted ceilings really give you a feeling of space and size, and I think it will
be the talking point of the house. Each beam is lovingly handcrafted by Carpenter Oak and they truly look amazing (below).
Now the main structure of the house is com-plete and is (almost) watertight, I can start to crack on with the slightly more fun part: the interior. �e upstairs �oorboards have already gone down and the next job is to lay the radon membrane downstairs (this being Cornwall), add the �oor insulation, install the under�oor heating and pour the �oor screed. �e scaold is �nally gone too, and it’s great to see it come down — like unwrapping a present.
In the mean time, �rst �x plumbing and electrics are going on inside so progress is continuing and hopefully all will be complete in another three to four months. n
You Can’t Scrimp on Materials and Finish”
class of 2014
This month we are following second-time self-builder
Ash Theasby. He is half way through building a
traditional cottage in a Cornwall Conservation Area
Class of 2014
Each month we’ll catch up with one of our four Class of 2014 projects: real self-builds and renovations as they happen.
Follow them all, live, online at homebuilding.co.uk/classof14
— don’t forget to send them your questions too! Meanwhile, meet
the rest of the Class:
JOE SHIMBARTJoe is building an oak frame home on a triangular plot in Hampshire. He plans to incorporate a number of eco-friendly technologies and
methods into his build
DARREN FINDLOWDarren Findlow and his partner
Anthony are first-time self-builders. They are building an
energy-efficient oak frame house on a woodland plot in Cheshire
GILL MELLERRiver Cottage head chef, Gill Meller, is renovating a
summerhouse near Lyme Regis in Dorset. He hopes to turn it into the
perfect sustainable home by the sea, with the help of his wife Alice
Ash Theasby has demolished a dilapidated industrial building in a Cornish Conservation Area. He is replacing it with a traditional cottage-style home
ASH THEASBY
l Check out the latest with Ash’s project online at homebuilding.co.uk/classof14
“
Class of 14 Oct 14.indd 27 14/08/2014 13:37
28 HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING
Nestled into the landscape of their 300-acre farm, Neil and Mary
Gourlay’s self-built home is the ultimate in sustainable living
ECO SELF-BUILD | DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY | DEC 11 – 13 | SIZE: 340m2
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 28 14/08/2014 10:14
Homes
Carved from the SiteThe brief was for a new home that would have
as little impact upon the surrounding landscape as possible. This has been successfully achieved
thanks to using materials such as stone and timber, sourced from the surrounding land,
along with a sloping turf roof which matches the gradient of the slope into which the house is built
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 29 14/08/2014 15:38
“Our brief was for a long-term
family home that would be
sustainable and carbon
negative, warm and airtight,
and would not cost a lot in
terms of power and heating”
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 30 14/08/2014 10:15
Homess
Recycled MaterialsThe exterior of the property features a mix of materials sourced from the surrounding farmland. The majority of the home’s façade is clad in oak from the site’s wind-felled trees, while 500 tonnes of stone was collected from the neighbouring fields to create the dry-stone wall. The turf roof also uses grass from the site
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 31 14/08/2014 10:16
“The Austrian stove is wonderful,”
says Neil, who first came across the
Kachelöfen stove while on holiday
in the country. “I thought at the time,
‘This has to be the way to heat a house.’
It only takes about four logs a day to
heat it; you bung the logs in and keep
the air vent open so the oxygen is there
to burn it down to the ashes, and then
you switch off the oxygen and that’s
all it takes, until the next day.
“In layman’s terms, it could be
described as a solid-mass pizza oven,” he
explains. “A pizza oven is open, but when
this fires up you close the door and it
heats the whole oven up, and it’s made
from lime mortar rather than cement,
which means that it can contract and
expand without cracking.
“It heats up the whole dry-stone wall
that runs through the house,” Neil
continues. “As it’s located in the wall
between the main living space, an
element goes into the snug room and
an element goes into the study, heating
all these areas — and it evenly distributes
the heat, so you don’t have warm and
cold areas. The biggest complaints from
guests are that the house is too hot, even
on this exposed site.”
USING THE AUSTRIAN KACHELÖFEN BIOMASS STOVE
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 32 14/08/2014 10:17
HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING 33
Living SpaceThe primary living space on the
ground floor is open plan to the dining and kitchen area, with the feature
dry-stone wall containing a Kachelöfen stove. The large triple-glazed windows,
from Ling Joinery, offer views of the surrounding farmland. A staircase in
the centre of the space leads down to the bedroom accommodation below
Homes
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 33 14/08/2014 10:18
Pages_34-67.indd 34 14/08/2014 11:02
When Neil Gourlay set out to project manage his rst major self-build, the experience saw the Dumfries and Galloway farmer extend his portfolio beyond the accolade of
the UK’s ‘green energy farmer of the year (2011)’ to becoming one of Britain’s greenest self-builders.
What has emerged following Neil and wife Mary’s ‘four Rs’ philosophy – reduce, reuse, recycle and recover – is �ree Glens, a new long-term family home set among farmland, which is also something of a masterstroke of eco-savvy design and technology.
“Our solution wasn’t to build an ordinary house,” explains Neil of the couple’s o�-grid home, located on a 300-acre farm site which they bought back in 2002, and adjoins the Gourlays’ substantial, mainly grass farmland, which is also home to 3,200 ewes and 500 cows.
�e catalyst for building what is essentially their ‘retirement’ home – they are the third generation of the Gourlay family farming in the Cairn Valley – was actually the recent nancial crisis. “I decided to take the family funds and put them back into my own hands, and do something that I had control over. My options were to do something with the land or on the land, and it was at this point that we decided to build,” explains Neil.
Essentially, when it came to nding their self-build plot, there were 300 acres of farmland for the couple to choose from. “It was easy enough getting planning permission to build a house for agricultural use, in order to ensure the security and wellbeing of the
livestock and make sure there was someone there keep-ing an eye on the land,” explains Neil.
�e specic site eventually chosen for the build was based on a decision reached by the Gourlays in con-junction with their architect, Mark Waghorn, who was responsible for the design of �ree Glens. “When we rst spoke to Mark, our main brief was for a long-term family home that would be sustainable and carbon nega-tive, warm and airtight, and that would not cost a lot in terms of power and heating,” Neil continues. “Already, we have no telephone or internet bills (we don’t have a landline), nor heating, electricity or gas bills, as a wind turbine services the house. All we’ve got to pay is the council tax and by the time we’re 65, we won’t even be paying for our TV licence!
“We were also keen that the house would incorporate as many materials from the farmland as possible and blend into the landscape,” says Neil. “In the event, Mark chose a site where solar gains would be enjoyed yet at the same time where the house’s visual impact on the landscape would be minimal (a copse of trees and outcrop of rocks naturally frames the building). �e nal design also has a roof slope that has the same gradient as the slope of the hill — it has a view to die for!”
�e substantial ve bedroom farmhouse nally emerged in 2013 following a 17-month build by 3b Construction, with the whole project managed by Neil himself. “Our main concern during the build was that water from the hillside would penetrate the property, so we started with a poured concrete wall and then a steel
Going GreenThanks to his knowledge of
energy-efficient technology,
Neil and wife Mary (ABOVE)
can comfortably enjoy a new long-term home which is almost entirely
self-sufficient
Homess
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 35 14/08/2014 10:18
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frame; it had to be a steel frame to take the weight of the turf roof. We took the turf from the site and, as well as being visually attractive, it also keeps the sun o� the Sarna� l � at roof and protects it from any deterioration.”
In order to stay true to their ‘four Rs’ philosophy, � ree Glens embraces the land from which it is quite literally built. Alongside the use of self-grown turf for the roof, the exterior oak cladding was sourced from the surrounding wind-felled trees, while 500 tonnes of stone from neighbouring � elds have been used for the dry-stone wall which passes through the interior of the house. If that wasn’t enough, the couple have even used homegrown sheep � eece to insulate the property.
“We clipped the sheep about four years ago and I took all the � eeces down to Bradford and had them scoured — there are only two wool scourers left in the country now,” explains Neil. “� e wool went from there to a company down the road, John Cotton, which made it into batts. I took the wool � eeces down in my pick-up truck and it took two arctic lorries to bring it back; not from weight but bulk. � ere’s now 150mm of sheep’s wool insulation behind every wall.”
Along with heavy doses of insulation, the property bene� ts from a plethora of energy-e� cient solutions, including a Kachelöfen biomass stove, which sits at the heart of the house and warms up the interior dry-stone wall, evenly distributing the heat to create a constant ambient temperature. A ground-source heat pump (dug vertically to a depth of 100m) is also in place to power the under� oor heating, and a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system ups the ante in terms of energy self-su� ciency. A 34m-tall wind turbine also generates enough electricity for up to 25 homes, with the excess electricity exported to the National Grid and generat-ing extra income for the farm. � e only disappointment for Neil in terms of the kit installed has been the solar thermal panels on the garage roof, “which haven’t per-formed as well as the other systems, although I’m not blaming the equipment, just the weather!”
� e ‘reduce, reuse, recycle, recover’ build philosophy is also largely evident in the interiors, where reclaimed railway sleepers have been sawn, treated and polished by local craftspeople to create the wood � oors and functional furniture; leather hide from the farm’s cows has even been used for the upholstery, too.
“� e advantage of project managing every aspect is that your research is done beforehand and you think about details and interesting features before taking on the build,” says Neil. “For example, the round clock in the living area was made on my father-in-law’s farm in Cumbria, using his mill wheel stone. I made sure that it was incorporated and built into the design — you can’t do these kind of things retrospectively.
“Ultimately taking on a project like this, in addition to the ‘four Rs’, is also about the six Ps!” laughs Neil, looking back. “� at’s ‘proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance’!” ■
Neil and Mary now provide luxury catered holiday accom-modation at ree Glens. For more details, visit 3glens.com
Stepping Down
A gently turning timber staircase
leads down from the main
living area to a lower ground
fl oor, built into the slope. Five
bedrooms occupy this level,
and double doors in a ‘lobby’
area open out to a lawn
Homes▲
1
The LowdownNEIL AND MARY’S COSTSConstruction materials £300,000
Joinery £120,000
Roof £16,000
Windows/blinds/doors £72,000
Flooring £14,000
Heating and plumbing £30,000
Electrical £22,000
Kitchen £9,000
Borehole £7,000
Ground-source heat pump £16,000
Biomass stove £8,000
Solar panels £10,000
Other £76,000
Total: £700,000
SUPPLIERSArchitect Mark Waghorn Architects .............markwaghorn.co.uk
Structural engineer, main contractor, stone fi nishes, plumbing and heating 3b Construction ........................3bconstruction.co.uk
Kitchen and appliances Stevenson McConnel ...... 01387 740112
Fleece scouring John Cotton .......................................01924 496571
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 37 14/08/2014 10:18
Floorplans
Homes
With the brief for the home to have as little impact on the landscape as possible, the house is built into the hill slope with the living accommodation at ground level, and fi ve bedrooms below. In order to maximise on the surrounding views, two large terraces lead out from the open plan living/kitchen/dining space, while a third terrace is accessed from the conservatory. A separate snug and study offer more private spaces to retreat to. To the front of the house, a section is dedicated to utility areas including a larder, timber store, double garage and a space to house the ground-source heat pump.
GROUND FLOOR
LOWER GROUND FLOOR
What We’ve Learned
What was your best buy? The Austrian Kachelöfen
stove. The reclaimed
railway sleepers that
have been used for the
upstairs fl ooring are
also excellent — the
railway sleepers, all
porcelain sinks and loos,
cast iron baths, etc.
are over 80 years old. We went to Tynemouth
Architectural Salvage and asked if, within
three months, we could get seven sinks, two
baths and six loos, and we got everything we
needed within that time frame.
What’s your favourite part of the house?The dry-stone wall is a highlight. We’ve taken
the stones that were stacked in the corners in
neighbouring fi elds and gathered them on the
site – we used 500 tonnes of stone – and this is
now one of the defi ning features of the house.
Did you fi nd anything surprisingly easy or hard while undertaking your project?Planning was amazingly quick (it took six
weeks), but the building warrant wasn’t
— it took 16 months. The house was not the
norm in design terms so we think it went to
and from different departments for comment.
Are there any tasks you wished you had left to the professionals or trades?Neil: It’s been an ambition in my life to build
a house. If it’s your passion, do it yourself. I have
no regrets about project managing the build.
What one piece of key advice would you pass on to other readers?Go for one builder. In a house as interesting and
unique as this, to have different trades might
have been a bit disastrous because if anything
went wrong, they may have all blamed each
other — with one contractor, that won’t happen.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt during this project?One thing we didn’t get right is the electrics.
There are so many options and it all needs to be
worked out from the outset. Know exactly what
you want in terms of every fi tting, switch and
shaver socket right at the beginning.
Would you take on another self-build again?This is our long-term family home, so there are
no plans to take on anything similar for now.
STUDY
LIVINGDINING
KITCHEN
SNUG
TERRACE CONSER-VATORY
GREEN-HOUSE
HALL
BOOT ROOM
GARAGETIMBERSTORE
LARDER GSHP
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BATH
E/SE/S E/S
W/D
TERRACE
TERRACE
Gourlay case study Sept 14.indd 38 14/08/2014 10:19
Pages_34-67.indd 39 14/08/2014 11:02
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