Prefab homes offer a whole host of benefits to both budding and seasoned self builders. Speed of delivery, cost certainty and build precision are just a few, but what design opportunities are there when constructing your new offsite manufactured self build home? While, for some, the term ‘prefab’ may still conjure up images of unappealing
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Most home projects start with a picture: a house on a plot, or an extension seen on someone else’s home. The trouble is that the picture comes before the facts. Many people commit money to design before they know what their site will allow or what the project will realistically cost. A feasibility assessment will
The post How to Assess Your Plot or Property’s Potential Before You Start Designing appeared first on Build It.

Wondering which house cladding material is best for a timber frame home? Cladding plays a crucial role in both the aesthetics and performance a finished house. With a variety of characterful materials available in a range of shades, finishes and laying patterns, you’re certain to find an exterior solution that balances these factors with your
The post Timber Frame Cladding Options Explained – Which is Best for Your Timber Frame Self Build? appeared first on Build It.

It’s that time of year again – the countdown to the annual Build It Awards ceremony on Friday 27th November is on. In the run-up to the event, our editorial team and the Awards judges have pored over all the readers’ homes showcased in the magazine over the last year. We’ve whittled them down to
The post Build It Awards: Vote for the Best Self Build Home or Renovation Project 2026 appeared first on Build It.

With sloping roofs, low eaves areas, limited wall height and tight floorplans, loft conversions can be tricky spaces to navigate when it comes to designing and installing adequate storage solutions. Lofts tend to be spaces where we store bulky, seasonal items and often house multi-use rooms, such as bedrooms/office areas – so having the right
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Render is a hugely versatile cladding option for self builds, renovations and extensions. It’s widely available from a range of suppliers and can be specified in a vast array of colours to perfectly suit your home’s exterior design. The manufacturers of building materials are constantly coming up with new ways of blending minerals and chemicals
The post House Rendering Options Explained – Your Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Render appeared first on Build It.

Windows do a lot of heavy lifting on a property – they can contribute to its thermal performance, let in light and external views, and form a huge part of the house’s overall aesthetic. So, getting them right is important. This material guide focuses on window frames specifically and walks you through the benefits and
The post How to Choose the Right Window Frame Material – the Pros & Cons of Each Option appeared first on Build It.

The turnkey house building method gives you all the choice you’d expect with a self build project, but hands the responsibility of your home’s design and construction over to one company. So, a single supplier handles everything from concept drawings right through to completing the internal fit-out. This can be great for those who want
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Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular low-carbon option for space heating and hot water in the UK. More than 61,000 MCS-certified heat pumps were installed in 2025, compared to approx 11,000 in 2015 – an increase of over 450% over the decade. The government’s support for heat pumps has helped make adoption and installation
The post Complete Heat Pump Guide: What Are Heat Pumps & How Do They Work? appeared first on Build It.

When we think about staircases, it can be tempting to see them as merely a functional structure to help us navigate between one floor and another. The reality is that staircases are far more than this: in fact, they’re critical architectural element that shapes the flow, functionality, and aesthetic of your home. Whether you’re updating
The post Staircase Renovation Guide: An Expert Reveals How to Refurbish an Existing Staircase appeared first on Build It.