Blog
All our guides to building, extending and renovating homes in the UK, newest first. Pick a category below to narrow things down.
Latest articles
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Silicone render and other finish coats: which walls suit which
Sand and cement, monocouche, silicone or lime: how the render systems differ, which walls each suits, what drives the price and when a change…
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How long does planning permission last before work must start?
In England full planning permission lasts three years from the decision date. What counts as starting, how conditions hold you back and what happens…
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How much to rewire a house? Size, making good and the EICR
Old cable, no RCD protection and a rewireable fuse box are the usual signs. What moves the price of a rewire, how long it…
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How to lay a patio: sub-base, bedding and joints done right
Laying a patio well starts below ground. Get the sub-base, the fall and the mortar bed right, choose the right joint, and the slabs…
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Side return, rear or wraparound: planning a kitchen extension
A side return, a rear extension, a wraparound or a glazed box: how each layout trades floor space for light, and what drains and…
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Mortar mix ratio: why softer mortar saves old brickwork
Cement, lime, building sand or sharp sand: what goes into a brick mortar mix, which ratio suits which job, and when cold weather should…
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Getting Building Regulations approval in England
Who can approve building work in England, how full plans, a building notice and regularisation differ, and why the certificate matters when you sell.
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Penetrating damp: water from the outside, not from the ground
Where rain gets through a wall, how to read a damp patch after a downpour, the order of repairs, and why tanking or anti-damp…
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Buying land to build a house: how to find and check a plot
A practical guide to buying land to build a house in the UK: where plots come from, planning status, access, ground conditions, legal checks…
