i-build April 2018

IN THIS ISSUE:

l SELF-BUILDS l RENOVATIONS l EXTENSIONS l CONVERSIONS April 18 Issue 45 Download the free app to your tablet or mobile. Search 'i-build'

20 +

ENGINEERING GUIDANCE FOR SELF-BUILD SUCCESS

Stylish seating options for every interior scheme

SHOULD YOU PROJECT MANAGE YOUR OWN BUILD? DISCOVER THE ANSWER WITH SIMPLY SELF BUILD

COVER STORY:

A TRUE MASTERPIECE How one couple created a remarkable all-glass self-build with stunning views of the surrounding landscape

HANDMADE ROOF TILES

WASTEWATER TREATMENTS

GARAGE DOOR GUIDE

How to ensure the handmade tiles you buy aren’t factory-made

GRAF provides an overview of what’s on offer when it comes to off-grid solutions

Discover the right roller garage door for you with The Garage Door Centre

+ SPECIAL FOCUS: l STAIRCASES

l SWIMMING POOLS l WALK-IN WARDROBES

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Welcome to the April issue of i-build

www.i-buildmagazine.com

Editorial:

Paige Smith

paige@mixedmediainfo.com

Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com Print & Digital Advertising:

Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

Grant Jeffs

Building a house from start to finish is like creating

Sussex. The pair, as empty-nesters, felt they were

a delicate piece of artwork. Every decision you

starting to rattle around in their large Edwardian

make, just like every brush stroke an artist makes,

semi, so they decided to make a drastic change.

will have an ever-lasting effect on the finished

After seeing a house advertised in their local

product, so it’s vital to make the right decisions for

paper, the pair were both instantly struck by it. It

your masterpiece.

was ultra-modern, eco-friendly, made entirely of

grant@mixedmediainfo.com

With that in mind, this month i-build explores

Print Design Manager:

available options for your foundation choices

Jack Witcomb

on page 30, uncovers if you should consider

jack@mixedmediainfo.com

project managing your build on page 14, and

Digital Design Manager:

looks at how to get a bespoke staircase on a

David Perry

david@mixedmediainfo.com Production Assistant:

Sofia Franchi

sofia@mixedmediainfo.com Accounts:

budget on page 44.

Elsewhere in this magazine, i-build takes a look at the luxury finishing touches your self-build may be missing from handmade roof tiles on page 46, how to build your own walk-in wardrobe on page 40, and which swimming pool shape is the one

Managing Director:

Also inside this issue, Artist David Paynter and his

Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

for you on page 48.

of them had ever considered that they would like such modernity, so it was quite a surprise when they both fell in love with the concept. Turn to page 24 to follow their journey.

coming to the end of your self-build and would like us to feature your home as inspiration for other budding house-builders, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. Alternatively, if you’re about to embark on your self-build journey and would be keen for us to document your progress, do get in contact.

wife Lynn let i-build roam around their all-glass masterpiece and gorgeous grounds in Haslemere, @ibuildmagazine

glass and wood, and was a HUF house. Neither

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, if you’re

Charlie Ivy

charlie@mixedmediainfo.com

/ibuildmagazine

ibuildmagazine

Download the i-build app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Search 'i-build'.

Paige paige@mixedmediainfo.com

Pear Platt, Woodfalls Farm, Gravelly Way Laddingford, Kent, ME18 6DA T: 01622 873229 F: 01622 320020

Editor’s picks

www.mixedmediainfo.com Terms and Conditions:

Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editors hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Mixed Media Information Ltd. The Publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher. The Publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement.

Welcome Note

i-build

Schueco UK launches new panoramic sliding door model: See page 50 MYSON FLOORTEC unveils a new range of premium underfloor heating components: See page 54 VELUX launches MyDaylight, the world’s first virtual reality app for renovation design: See page 56

54

Cover story: David Paynter and his wife Lynn discuss their ultra-modern, eco-friendly glass house.

See page 24.

50

56

3

ULTRA SLIM SLIDING PATIO DOORS, BIFOLDING DOORS AND CONTEMPORARY ROOF LANTERNS Allow natural light to flood into your home with our range of slim-line contemporary roof lanterns, aluminium sliding patio doors and bifold doors complete with solar control double glazing.

High specification products designed to add the WOW factor to any home at affordable prices.

sales@foldingdoors2u.co.uk

01621 834123

www.foldingdoors2u.co.uk

Contents

i-build www.i-buildmagazine.com

April 2018

24

32

40

38

06

44

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In this issue: 12 14 16 18 24 30

Desired Designs

ON THE COVER

A look at the latest innovative products and styles for your new home.

Viewpoint

ON THE COVER

Steve McSorley, Director at Thomasons, gives his top tips for self-builds from an engineer's point of view.

Project Management

ON THE COVER

Professor Dr. Michael Benfield of Simply Self Build helps you decide if you should project manage your own build.

Contracts & Legalities

Rachel Pyne from BuildStore explains everything you need to know about a self-build mortgage.

Urban Sanctuary

A look at why one family decided to add an extension to their Victorian property after living in it for 12 years.

Impressive Innovation ON THE COVER

After 25 years of living in their large Edwardian semidetached property in Woking, Lynn and David Paynter decided it was time to embark on their long-held, selfbuild dream with HUF HAUS, the pioneer of bespoke, pre-manufactured homes, based in Germany.

Foundations Simply Self Build’s Professor Dr. Michael Benfield returns on page 30 with his facts about foundations.

32 Garages The Garage Door Centre gives its guide to ON THE COVER

IN THIS ISSUE:

l SELF-BUILDS l RENOVATIONS l EXTENSIONS l CONVERSIONS April 18 Issue 45

06

buying a roller shutter.

Download the free app to your tablet or mobile. Search 'i-build'

& Bathrooms 36 Sanitaryware i-build discusses which bath is the best option for you

20 +

ENGINEERING GUIDANCE FOR SELF-BUILD SUCCESS

Stylish seating options for every interior scheme

SHOULD YOU PROJECT MANAGE YOUR OWN BUILD? DISCOVER THE ANSWER WITH SIMPLY SELF BUILD

– the freestanding or the built-in.

Management 38 Water Matthew Rolph, Managing Director at GRAF UK,

ON THE COVER

provides an overview of what’s on offer when it comes to off-grid methods of managing and treating wastewater.

40 i-DIY Will Gough, Commercial Manager for Spaceslide, ON THE COVER

gives his eight easy steps to creating your very own walk-in wardrobe.

44 i-nterior Richard McLane, Design Director of Bisca, explains ON THE COVER

how to get the best staircase for your budget.

COVER STORY:

A TRUE MASTERPIECE How one couple created a remarkable all-glass self-build with stunning views of the surrounding landscape

HANDMADE ROOF TILES

WASTEWATER TREATMENTS

GARAGE DOOR GUIDE

How to ensure the handmade tiles you buy aren’t factory-made

GRAF provides an overview of what’s on offer when it comes to off-grid solutions

Discover the right roller garage door for you with The Garage Door Centre

+ SPECIAL FOCUS: l STAIRCASES

l SWIMMING POOLS l WALK-IN WARDROBES

Subscriptions: You can subscribe to receive i-build each month free of charge at i-buildmagazine.com/subscribe

46 i-build Tony Kindell, Managing Director at Aldershaw ON THE COVER

Handmade Tiles, discusses how to ensure the handmade tiles you buy aren’t factory-made.

48 i-scape A look at why the most important aspect of pool ON THE COVER

design is selecting the shape.

5

Desired Designs

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2

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Image ©KSL LIVING

Sofa, so good

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A good sofa is the key to a happy home. It’s where you relax after a long and stressful week at work, where you sit and gossip with friends and where you doze in front of the television on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

When you stop and think about it, the sofa is a big part of your everyday life, so picking the right one for you and your family is imperative.

G

one are the days when you had to pick between a selection of dreary and uninspiring three-piece suites to complete your living room decor, just because that was all that was available. Sofas now come in every colour imaginable, a variety of shapes, styles and sizes, and are a perfect outlet for your personal taste and can add a little panache as much as anything else in your home.

Given the sheer amount of time you'll spend sitting on one throughout your life, it's vital to pick a good quality sofa that is comfortable and chic.

After all, you'll be using it every single day for the foreseeable future, so whether you're lusting after a leather one, trying to find a fantastic fabric one, chasing a cute chaise longue, looking for a lowkey understated one or searching for a statement piece, you’re certain to find the sofa you’ve been hunting for here.

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1. Globo Royal chair, AMAZONAS , £POA

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2. OKOME SOFA Nendo 2,

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Alias, £POA

3. RUBENS sofabed light moss, MADE.COM, £POA

4. Gatsby taupe velvet curved four-seater sofa, Alexander & Pearl, £1980

5. Lune three-seater sofa, Chaplins Furniture, £POA

6. Eichholtz Messina sofa, Sweetpea & Willow, £POA

7. Grayson two-seat sofa in sloe

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cotton matt velvet, Sofa.com, £1140

8. Desire sofa, Covet House, £POA

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9. Howard sofa, Oficina Inglesa, £POA

10. Divano new Versailles, VG New Trend, £POA

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1. Oriel sofa, £POA 2. Ruben sofa, £POA 3. Chesterfield sofa, £POA

Desired Designs

1

4. Petal sofa, £POA

4 2 3

Rume Rume is an independent family-owned furniture and interiors company established 12 years ago in East Sussex

by Richard and Libby Baker. All Rume sofas and chairs are designed by Richard and manufactured in the family workshops where the Bakers have been producing fine furniture since the 1960s. Each piece is handmade to order using a wonderful mix of traditional skills and modern materials allowing for complete individuality.

i-build loves...

Something smaller

1. Doris armchair, Essential Home, £POA 2. Otto armchair, Luxxu, £POA 3. Branagh armchair, MADE.COM, £POA 4. Chignon Chair, Maison Valentina, £POA

Sometimes all you need to fill an empty corner of a room is a statement armchair. These may be smaller than a sofa, but they’re guaranteed to make a big impact on your interior.

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2

3

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Desired Designs

Put your feet up Pouffes and footstools are perfect for emergency seating when you have unexpected guests or for just relaxing with your feet up.

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Image ©Tume Hall OÜ

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Pompom perfection

Coastal vibe

The multi-coloured round floor cushion is created with 600 small wool pompoms, building a mesmerising colour surface.

All these little woollen balls are knotted precisely to each other so the round cushion gets a dense and defined look. A filling cushion inside – a stuffed beanbag – with a wool felt outer shell makes it very comfortable to sit on.

Dash & Albert pouffes deliver contemporary style and evoke a summertime ambience and coastal vibe. The pouffes are made of durable polypropylene and filled with polystyrene beads making them perfect for the patio, poolside and playroom. They are UV-treated for outdoor use and can be scrubbed, bleached and cleaned with a hose.

(www.myk-berlin.com)

(www.dashandalberteurope.com)

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Chic and contemporary

Scandi style This footstool is minimalist in style, drawing on Scandinavian style and hygge ethos, where simplicity is combined with layers of texture for an inviting atmosphere. The bright and bold colour will be a gorgeous addition to any interior scheme.

The Pouffe Buttoned Stool is a contemporary and bold statement piece that is a great addition to any sofa range where you want to add a different colour or texture to a room. The stool has a firm base so that if can be used as a table with a tray. (www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk)

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(www.beanbagbazaar.co.uk)

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Outdoor addition

Super sturdy

Ideal as an extra seat, side table or footstool outside, there are three different sizes and heights to choose from to make up stylish combinations.

This is an extremely comfortable footstool with a weather-resistant filling. For the covers, you can choose from a range of no less than 70 different outdoor fabrics.

These hand-knitted rope pouffes are exceptional. Not only do they look cute, but they are also hardy little things that can handle a bit of rough and tumble. Perfect for a child’s room as they’re sturdy and they look adorable too.

(www.gomodern.co.uk)

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(www.loaf.com)

Always in tune with your style a comprehensive range of rainwater systems to accommodate all types of buildings and budgets

Choose from modern, traditional and heritage rainwater systems, available in Aluminium, GRP, Copper, Zinc and Stainless Steel.

For more information please call 0113 279 5854 or email info@rainguard.co.uk

Aluminium

GRP

Cast Iron

Copper, Zinc & Stainless Steel

w w w. r a i n g u a r d . c o . u k

Desired Designs

Pull up a chair Sometimes a classic wooden chair is just the simple finishing touch your interior needs.

Image ©Loaf

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4

Super-sleek

Urban grey

Add a touch of Nordic design to your dining table using these design-led Hudson Living Wycombe dining chairs. Beautifully made, featuring elegant rounded finishes, these stunning light oak dining chairs are perfect for modern, chic dining rooms and kitchens.

Update your indoor furniture with the classic and unique Chapel Chair in charcoal. Crafted from beech, the chunky design pays homage to classic pew chairs found in churches and includes the book holder on the reverse back. (www.gardentrading.co.uk)

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(www.modishliving.com)

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Curved lines

A true classic

The Solid dining chair is made in Belgium by specialist garden furniture brand Manutti. Taking its name from the materials used, the Solid dining chair is made from solid teak, which is either in its natural finish, or in nero brushed teak.

The Solid dining chair has continuous, curved lines which arc around you.

A classic Swedish design and perhaps the one most closely associated with the Gustavian style.

Shown here in the natural mango wood and upholstered in an orange velvet, these have drop-in seat pads that can be easily removed for re-upholstery. (www.scumblegoosie.com)

(www.gomodern.co.uk)

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6

Tree-like

Elegant addition

The legs on the elegant wooden Valerie dining chair branch out to form the backrest, in the style of a tree, with frames available in beech, oak, Canaletto walnut, lacquered or aniline lacquered (where the grain is visible through the lacquer).

Choose to have an upholstered seat in either eco leather (a high-quality faux leather) or leather.

The elegant Head chair was born of a collaboration between Parisian brand Adentro and Italian Designer Federico Pozzi. A versatile and streamlined design, the solid ash chair weighs very little. Exquisitely crafted in Northern Italy, this refined piece will add instant contemporary appeal to any dining space.

(www.gomodern.com)

(www.urbanavenue.co.uk)

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Eyebrow Sub-brow

LEVATO MONO

Porcelain paver system and coordinating internal tiling The Deck Tile Co’s new website www.surface360.co.uk now has +150 colours and finishes in their Levato Mono 20mm porcelain ranges plus co-ordinating internal tiling –

enabling seamless visual transition between internal and external spaces.

20mm porcelain pavers 40x80 45x90 60x60

Highly abrasion and stain resistant

Ideal for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas,

75x75 80x80 30x120 40x120 60x120

Highly slip resistant ; R11 AB+C

for both commercial and residential use

‘Floating floor’ – installation over single ply

Lightweight – 45kgs per m2

Frost proof

membranes Eternal product - zero maintenance required

High load bearing and impact resistance Timber, stone & cementitious effects

– offering massive over-life savings

Completely non porous

Height adjustable/slope correcting support system ranging from 9mm up to 550mm

INTRODUCING OUR NEW WEBSITE: WWW.SURFACE360.CO.UK

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Viewpoint

Engineering success: my top tips for self-builders Here Steve McSorley, Director at Thomasons, gives his advice from an engineer’s point of view.

I

admire anyone who possesses the ambition to build their own property, whether from scratch or as a conversion of an interesting or unusual structure.

It’s never an easy task, from conceptual planning through to when the final brick is in place and roof tile fitted. You’ve got to have

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real gumption to see it through, especially when the odds seem stacked against you.

From an engineer’s perspective, these types of projects come with their own challenges.

They are often ones which can be easily avoided with a degree of forethought. As such, here are my top tips for self-builders.

Plan perfect I’m a great believer in the 'four Ps': poor planning means poor performance. You can never plan enough, and you must be as thorough as possible.

Planning a budget is critical to the success of a project. We have all seen the consequences of clients not being able to complete their dream

Viewpoint home for the money they have (a fairly recurrent theme on Channel 4’s Grand Designs).

It's crucial for clients to engage the services of an experienced quantity surveyor (QS) to help them prepare a budget. However, it’s important to remember they aren’t engineers or architects.

Your design consultants have to help the QS build a picture of what the risks are and what needs to be done to enable them to budget properly.

Holistic awareness With everyone focusing on the house superstructure and what it will look like, a lack of awareness of what is going on below and around the site can be very costly to address. Ignore what is going on outside the immediacy of your build (e.g. ground, site, incoming service access) at your peril!

Engaging the right design consultants from the very start is the best way to avoid these pitfalls.

Yes, there will be an initial cost to bringing them on board, but they have valuable experience and expertise which will help mitigate the worst risks.

The early bird The project’s overall engineering should also be taken into consideration early on. Often it’s only addressed post-planning permission, or once the work is started, when change can be costly and cause long delays.

At Thomasons, we have a long history of consultancy on residential projects. We understand the potential challenges which can arise across a host of environments, and help our clients assess and manage their risk. The earlier this starts, the

more robust the budget and programme will be.

In any event, you may not be able to afford your fantasy home, but at least you’ll know at a point in time where you have the choice to think again, or find more money. Finding out half way through the works that you have no money left is a bad place to be.

Ask the experts It’s well-worn advice but it’s timeless: surround yourself with people who are experienced in the type of project you want to do, and give you the feeling that they want to help you.

You have to be able to engage with them and, likewise, they with you.

www.thomasons.co.uk

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Project Management

Should you project manage your own build?

The fundamental contributor to the success of your selfbuild project is the project management approach that you adopt. The term self-build means so many different things to different people, as every self-builder has different motivations, constraints, resources and involvement.

P

rofessor Dr. Michael Benfield of Simply Self Build, a Benfield ATT Group company, discusses the three broad types of self-builder he has come across during his career to help you discover which one you are and what project management route is best for you.

The skilled tradesperson For those self-builders with the confidence in their own skills (i.e. builder, carpenter, joiner, plumber, handyman etc), you may attempt to ‘build your own’ home. These self-builders get involved in all areas of the build in a very hands-on capacity, generally doing most of the work themselves, or using their colleagues and trade contacts to keep to the – usually smaller – budget. Because the labour charges are lower (this will essentially be a full-time job), there is more scope for a higher profit.

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Advantages Involvement in every area on a day-to-day basis High level of satisfaction Lower labour costs.

Disadvantages Full-time role Approach is generally more reactive than proactive.

Design and build project team Time-rich For those self-builders who have the luxury of time (i.e. a partner in a couple who does not work full-time), but lacks the trade skills to add value to the project, can still do so

by becoming a part-time on-site project manager. This role will be more ‘contract management’. Under 'contract management', you will need a general understanding of construction contracts and know exactly what you want from day one. You will be responsible for keeping the project running on a day-to-day basis through the careful management of sub-contractors.

Advantages Involvement in every area Suppliers are directly responsible to you Approach is generally more proactive, involving strategic planning Still quite involved on a ‘day-to-day’ basis.

Disadvantages You will have to make difficult decisions, and accept responsibility for those Sub-contractor agreements prevent you from causing delay to your sub-contractors You will be completely reliant upon performance of sub-contractors As you are classed as the construction client, your responsibilities are heightened to include providing water, H&S training, facilities, hardstanding, dry storage, safety equipment, signage etc You are solely responsible for the smoothrunning and cashflow of your project, which can be frustrating.

Time-poor The process of self-building can be a resourcestretching time, and you may not have the luxury of being on site when required during the day. These self-builders often appoint a main contractor or project manager with responsibility for making the day-to-day decisions and keeping the project on-track. These can be self-build package companies, architects, project managers, quantity surveyors or builders, and can bring a wealth of experience to your project.

Project Management

State-of-the-art project management

Advantages Offers you the space to continue in fulltime employment or with your day-to-day dedications and errands Less stress Fewer known issues (your project manager can solve these) Mainly, you will only have to make the ‘bigger’ decisions Improved knowledge on-site Project managers can offer experienced support to you If instructed to, your project manager will ensure your compliance with Building Regulations, planning, building control, health and safety and your legal requirements as a construction client.

Disadvantages Project managers can charge around 7 to 15% of the build cost depending on the responsibility you give them, this increases the build cost and, therefore, reduces your profit Not so involved in the day-to-day decisions, and will have to accept that your project manager will make decisions on your behalf.

As you can see, there are various ways to manage your self-build project, offering various levels of distance from the day-to-day running of the project. You will need to decide which approach best suits your experience, ability, resources and lifestyle. Once you have identified this, we recommend engaging the appropriate ‘project partners’ (i.e. the key players in the project; e.g. timber frame company, architect, groundworkers, project managers etc, as applicable) around you from as early as you can.This will give you a support team, offer lots of knowledge, and help you to get your project going.

www.simplyselfbuild.co.uk

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Contracts & Legalities

Why you need a specialist self-build mortgage If you’re planning to build your own home, a traditional mortgage won’t be right for you, you’ll need a specialist self-build mortgage instead.

Many of us dream of building our own home, but before you get carried away with the design, build type and materials, the first thing you need to work out is how to fund the build. Here, Rachel Pyne from BuildStore explains everything you need to know about a self-build mortgage.

T

he first and most important point to note, is that you won’t be able to borrow funds using a traditional mortgage from a high-street lender, as there’s not a habitable property to lend against, you’ll need a more specialist approach.

Self-build mortgage A self-build mortgage is a specialist borrowing solution designed for self-building, and will lend to purchase your plot and fund your build costs. It differs from a traditional mortgage because the money is released in stages, rather than as a single amount.

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The stages for a self-build are generally: 1. Plot purchase 2. Foundations 3. Frame erected or wall plate level 4. Wind- and watertight 5. First fix and plastering 6. Second fix and completion.

Positive cashflow is key to any successful self-build. It’s not just about how much you can borrow like a traditional mortgage, but when that money is available to you throughout the build, to allow you to pay your tradespeople and suppliers – whether that’s monthly, weekly or daily!

Your borrowing, unlike a traditional mortgage, is based on the expected end value of your new home rather than the current value, meaning you’ll have the funds to purchase the plot and for your building works. Just like with any mortgage, the amount you can borrow depends on your financial circumstances and how much you can afford.

While interest rates are higher than a traditional mortgage, currently ranging from 3.99 to 5.59%, most lenders offer an interestonly mortgage during the build period and you only pay interest on the mortgage funds drawn down. When your new home is complete, you can switch onto one of your lender’s traditional mortgage deals, which will have a lower interest rate, saving you money.

Building societies are the main source of lending for self-build mortgages.

Other borrowing options If you have enough equity in your current home or own it outright, you could remortgage or secure a bridging loan. Then when your new home is finished, you can sell your old one to pay off the loan. If you’re building to sell or let, you’ll need a development loan.

www.buildstore.co.uk

Urban Sanctuary

A far cry from the usual rectangular extension When Marie Christine Hughes and her husband moved into their Victorian detached property in West Norwood 12 years ago, they knew they wanted to add an extension to make more room.

M

arie Christine explains: “The house had potential. It was detached and we liked the features and the garden, plus the location is great – great public spaces, easy access into central London and great transport links.

“We always intended to do an extension from the time we originally moved in, the timing seemed right as we approached Plus Rooms. Our inspiration came from friends and the platform Houzz.

“We had our design brief pretty clear in our head but our original plans were refused by the council, but in a way this was a good thing

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as it made us consider more carefully our options and we’re delighted with the results.”

When the pair resubmitted their plans after the initial refusal; the response came back quite quickly, so gaining planning permission took about three months in total.

“The extension took 12 weeks to build, but the finishing, which included the kitchen install, decor and floors, took quite a bit longer. We went away for Christmas and we didn’t want the work being done while we were away, so things were put on hold briefly hence the slightly longer timeline,” explains Marie Christine.

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Urban Sanctuary

Urban Sanctuary

“We liked the exterior of the property so we kept the lines of the original building, hence the L-shape extension. Other than that, we reconfigured a lot of the interior. Although the extension is contemporary, it is done sympathetically with the rest of the house. It’s double-fronted and we put the bathroom on the side to ensure the front room wasn’t shut off. We focused on making sure we had carefully zoned areas.

“We wanted the work done, but didn’t want to project manage ourselves – life’s too busy. Plus Rooms handled the whole thing impeccably from end-to-end. Alex was simply marvellous!

He kept us in the loop but helped smooth the way and proposed solutions all the time. We didn’t work with an architect directly – Plus Rooms liaised with the architects to get the plans drawn as agreed with them, surveying happened but we weren’t involved in the day-to-day.

“We lived at the home through the project which wasn’t too bad as Plus Rooms protected everything to ensure the dust didn’t travel throughout the house and made efforts to protect us with a temporary kitchen arrangement. But, during a cold spell, it was very hard to keep the house at temperature so rather uncomfortable, but this lasted less than two weeks.”

An overview The extension is open-plan between the original kitchen and the back dining room which has created a large and spacious kitchen, dining and living space.

This build was a good example of a broken-plan configuration where elements of structure have intentionally been left in to give subtle division to zone space. Having a staggered back wall is another example of how you can help distinguish different part of zones. The extension also has big sliding doors that slide away from a corner which create an impressive feeling in the dining room looking out onto the garden. This also brings the kitchen outdoors – a lovely feature for summer evenings.

The beams in the ceiling help to create character and interest, a far cry from the usual rectangular open space. The large glass panels help various sections of each room you are in – in particular the garden – to bring the inside out.

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3 20

Urban Sanctuary

2 1: The extension is open-plan between the original kitchen and the back dining room 2: A large and spacious kitchen, dining and living space has been created 3: This build was a good example of a brokenplan configuration where elements of the structure have intentionally been left in to give subtle division to zone space 4: The extension also has big sliding doors that slide away from a corner which create an impressive feeling in the dining room looking out onto the garden

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Urban Sanctuary When it came to material and product specification, Marie Christine said: “Braverman Kitchens made things very easy.

They, just like Plus Rooms, were introduced to us through friends who had done a very large project which we loved.

Again, we knew what we wanted so it was great to see the plans come about. Other items such as door handles, doors and light fittings were all chosen either online or through seeing them at our friend’s property. We checked everything with Alex to ensure the specifications matched. The floor tiles came from Kettering – we’d originally had seen them at the Grand Design’s Show in Docklands. We really love those floor tiles. They’re porcelain. The underfloor heating was a definite must. I love the kitchen and the fact that the snug can be quite separate and can be used for doing something completely different. We aren’t encroaching on each other's activities, but we are together – the extension is a great space for a family.

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“It's made a huge difference to our lives, it’s the warmest part of the house and we simply live there dayto-day. It’s everything we ever wanted from the build.

“I’d recommend Plus Rooms in a heartbeat – they have such experience of similar projects that they can smooth any blips along the way. We had to pay more as we had to dig down deeper at foundation level and secure ground before the build could happen – this added another £18,000 to the overall cost. But there was nothing else unforeseen.

“We’d absolutely do it again with them, they made the whole thing so easy and we’re delighted with the finished product – the back of the house is just so bright and brilliant.”

www.plusrooms.co.uk

Braverman Kitchens made things very easy for the couple when it came to decorating the new extension The sliding doors are a lovely feature for summer evenings

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Urban Sanctuary

Impressive Innovation

A work of art After 25 years of living in their large Edwardian semi-detached property in Woking, Lynn Paynter, a Marketing Consultant and her husband David, an Artist and Poet, decided it was time to embark on their long-held, self-build dream. Working with HUF HAUS, the pioneer of bespoke, premanufactured homes, based in Germany, the couple set about designing and building their dream house in Haslemere, Sussex.

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ynn explains: “As empty nesters, David and I had begun to feel like we were rattling around in our large Edwardian semi. We adored the property, but after all that time, we were erring towards a change.

“Out of the blue, we saw a house advertised in the local paper, and were both instantly struck by it. It was ultra-modern, eco-friendly, made entirely of glass and wood, and was a HUF house. Neither of us had ever considered that we would like such modernity, so it was quite a surprise when we both fell in love with the concept. We made the decision quickly – our self-build journey would commence with HUF HAUS, and we set the wheels in motion.”

“The thought of a clean slate to build a home to our own specifications appealed to us,” commented David. “We are also at a point in our lives where we have more flexibility, especially with our children having left home – so it felt like the right time. Our previous home was an Edwardian property which was draughty and difficult to insulate – we were wasting a lot of energy trying to keep it warm. We

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wanted an environmentally-friendly home in the countryside that was built in a sustainable way.”

“We sold our little cottage in Devon and, after the tribulations of a sluggish market, eventually sold our house in Woking,” continues Lynn. “Our search for a development site began in earnest. We scoured West Sussex, West Surrey and Hampshire, to no avail. We did come across a large site with planning permission in place for a large HUF house, but the price was high, so we ruled it out of the equation early on,” explains Lynn.

David continues: “The plot had been for sale for some time, but at a price beyond our budget.

We knew it would be a perfect spot for a HUF house with floor-to-ceiling triple glazing (being surrounded by woods and not being overlooked), plus there had been a planning application for a large HUF house on the site previously. Eventually, as the recession at the time made money hard to come by for developers, and having already sold our house, putting us in funds, we were able to acquire the site at a reasonable price.”

Impressive Innovation “Unfortunately, the bank had repossessed the site from the developer, but for us, the stars began to align,” adds Lynn.

She continues: “We visited the site and it was ideal; it was home to an old derelict bungalow, but surrounded on three sides by National Trust woodland. We made an offer, which was rejected, but we reviewed our finances and upped the price. In early June, our offer was accepted, and we moved ahead with the legal process post-haste. By the end of the month, we officially owned the parcel of land, and the fun really began.

“Peter Huf – the Lead Architect at HUF HAUS in the UK – provided the architectural designs, and worked with us to understand what we wanted and how the house would occupy the plot. The planning process was fairly easy to navigate as there had been permission for development on the site previously.”

David adds: “Peter has a wealth of experience in helping people with the design of their home.

We spent a lot of time considering what we wanted the house to give us and how it would serve our personal needs for the foreseeable future and as there had been a previous (albeit expired) plan accepted for a large HUF house on the site, before we’d bought it, we were able to clear the planning obstacles within a couple of months, once the bat and tree surveys were completed and a landscape plan submitted.

HUF have an in-house planning consultant to help with this aspect.”

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Impressive Innovation “Work commenced with the demolition of the bungalow, and by May a pit was excavated to receive 700m of pipework, which would provide the infrastructure for our ground source heat pump. In June, HUF HAUS arrived with a team of German workers to begin the construction of the house, starting with the basement,” explains Lynn.

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David adds: “We have a gently sloping site which allowed us to consider a basement – something with which HUF have much experience.

I am a Sculptor, so we needed a studio space for my work. Lynn, and I each wanted a study; otherwise we specified a guest suite to be in the basement and our bedroom suite to be on the first floor, with the main living rooms in between.”

Lynn continues: “The construction process was fascinating and a display of German efficiency – and accuracy – at its finest. They even brought over their own crane and driver!

This was used to swing into place the premanufactured walls, complete with plumbing, wiring and glazing, which all arrived on articulated lorries, after a long road trip across Europe from Germany.

“Within five days, the second floor was complete, and the roof began to go on. The whole process was executed by crane – we were fascinated to find that they didn’t use scaffolding.

By day seven, the roof tiles went on, complete with photovoltaic panels, and the building was weatherproof. At this point, all attention was focused on the interior fit-out, which began with the pouring of cement screed on all floors and concealing the underfloor heating pipes.

“We moved into Whitehanger on 9th November 2011 – less than 18 months after completing the purchase of the site. We had some immediate landscaping to do, such as turfing the basement lawn to help with water absorption ahead of the winter months, and then by March of the following year, we turned our attentions to the garden.”

Impressive Innovation “The landscaping was intimidating at first,” admits David.

“We had a 6.5 acre site that was derelict and needed a total overhaul. Once the house was built we were looking out of our wonderful floor-to-ceiling triple glazing in all directions and saw the need for landscaping on a grand scale (for us).

“We started from the house, with some massive rocks (approximately one tonne each) to build retaining walls to the sides of the basement. Limestone patios were then laid around the other three sides of the house and then we looked outwards. First, we had to fence off the domestic curtilage from the paddock, and fence one boundary for security purposes. We wanted a pond and a swimming pool. The pool came first – a French design – a lapping pool of 12 x 3m with an even depth of 1.3m; mainly for Lynn, who is a keen swimmer. We added a patio seating/sunbathing area. We then installed a greenhouse and some raised beds for vegetables. We planted a wildflower meadow, which attracts the bees and butterflies but has not as yet produced many flowers.

“We initially employed a garden designer to give us a plan for the garden around the house. We decided we wanted perennial planting and for it to be as low-maintenance as possible. The first phase of this was to the west of the house and included perennial beds and a 10m pond. Once we knew more about the plants we liked, we felt confident that we could design the rest ourselves. We added a Japanese garden to the east of the house, taking plant ideas from Kew Gardens.

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Impressive Innovation

Impressive Innovation “We share the garden with wildlife, which was a particular challenge at first, as the deer and rabbits would enjoy a free lunch whenever we planted it. So a very expensive deer fence has now been added to the entire boundary! All but the occasional small muntjac are now restricted to the National Trust woodland which borders three sides of our garden.

“Our own three acres or so of chestnut woods were choked with holly, which took a few months to remove. We added a 350m circular woodland walk, which means we can now enjoy a stroll around our own woodland.

We are attempting to plant some woodland natives, but the local rabbit population seems determined to stop this at every turn. So we are mainly planting evergreen shrubs that they

don’t like. We have also now added a large rockery, which took 40 tonnes of Purbeck rock from a quarry in Swanage. The latest project was to add three more flower beds – a conifer bed, an azalea bed and a heather bed. The rest of the garden is laid to lawn, which is large enough to require a tractor mower.

“Following initial advice from the garden designer, who was a good plantsman, we now have learnt enough to make our own mistakes. Lynn has become an enthusiastic gardener with a natural aptitude for organisation, so all the planting is documented and allows us to see what works and what doesn’t. We open the garden for groups of visitors as part of the National Garden Scheme so we also learn from the experiences many of them bring.

“We have many compliments from visitors when they see our garden and the setting of the house. Delivery men are frequently heard to say, ‘This is my favourite place to deliver,’ so we think we have the right formula, but a garden is an ever-moving thing and we are constantly thinking and planting and weeding and composting and dreaming up the next project.”

Lynn concludes: “We are now into our sixth year of living in our HUF house, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s wonderful to enjoy the fruits of our labour and to have realised our dream. We love having visitors who share in the enjoyment of our home, which we now share with a host of alpacas, cats and chickens, and we look forward to many more years here.”

www.huf-haus.com

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Foundations

The facts about foundations Whatever stage of self-build you are at, the chances are that you are finding the process of designing and building to be challenging, and the technicalities daunting. Many self-builders actually project manage their contractors, as opposed to building the home hands-on. With this in mind, it can be frustrating when you are investing money in a hole in the ground with no reward but, don’t be deceived; foundations can be one of the most critical areas of your self-build.

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ere, Professor Dr. Michael Benfield of Simply Self Build, a Benfield ATT Group company, discusses everything you need to know about foundations.

When it comes to buying your land, get a soil test done. Testing the soil of your land with boreholes can be a sensible precaution and will help you identify which foundation method may be suitable for your project.

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Our advice is based upon experience of building hundreds of self-build homes, and is merely this: With foundations, you get what you pay for Scrimping on foundations will inevitably have its consequences Get a third-party check for level and squareness before your groundwork contractor leaves the site – once they have left your site, it will be almost impossible to get them back in a timely manner to correct any inaccuracies

Plan access for your services – water, waste, gas, electricity and telephone ducts – at the site preparation stage.

Types of foundation There are many types of foundation for homes, especially in the innovative self-build market, although there are a few key popular, triedand-tested types that builders and architects will recommend.

Strip foundations for self-build projects Strip foundations are the most common type of foundation used because of their simplicity and subsequent cost-effectiveness. There are three types of strip foundation – traditional shallow strip, wide strip, (for higher-load structures) and deep strip (which we call trench/fill foundations).

These foundations have narrower trenches filled with concrete within a couple of brick courses of completed ground level.

Foundations

It can be frustrating when you are investing money in a hole in the ground with no reward but, don’t be deceived; foundations can be one of the most critical areas of your self-build There are many types of foundation for homes, especially in the innovative self-build market

Raft foundations for self-build projects Raft foundations cover an area of (at least) the same size as the ground floor area of the building. They are used on soft, compressible subsoils such as soft clay and peat.

Pile foundations Pile foundations are typically the most accurate as they are mostly pre-engineered; these types of foundation tend to be much more precise and therefore reliable. The systems typically consist of stilts or columns which rest on a solid, load-bearing layer up to 10m (usually about 4m) below the surface. The piles may either be precast and drilled into the soil, or cast from ‘wet’ on the site (sometimes referred to as ‘pads’). The use of screw piles can be a very quick, accurate and costeffective solution for many self-build projects.

It is important to note that, especially with modern methods of building a self-build home, accuracy is extremely important. The foundations are the most heavily-loaded structural element in a building. They are constructed in largely unseen conditions and their integrity is reliant on the quality of workmanship in construction. Recent research indicates that, on average in the UK, 20% of building projects are delayed by more than a month due to construction problems in the ground. Simply Self Build would suggest that on timber frame projects, this number is more like 40%; it is not unfamiliar to us to inspect foundations and for them to be out-of-level to an alarming, and, equally, concerning amount.

Please do yourself a favour and do not cause unnecessary delay to your project by installing faulty or inaccurate foundations.

www.simplyselfbuild.co.uk

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Garages

A guide to buying roller shutters When looking for a new roller garage door you will probably already have seen there is an enormous choice in the UK, and if you look quickly, they may all seem to look pretty much the same, right?

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he differences are enormous in the various roller door types, and consumers should be thorough and ask a lot of questions to be sure the product in question is the right and most reliable roller door for you.

Which roller garage door is best?

Firstly, you need to be aware that there are two main kinds of roller garage doors sold in the UK – single-skin ‘continuous curtain’ steel roller doors and a double-skinned aluminium

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insulated type. Both have their uses in different applications and budgets.

The single-skin steel roller door is great for a basic door where insulation, noise and security are not a priority and you also have plenty of internal headroom above the lintel. They are ideal for a manual door in single sizes and spring-loaded for easy operation; larger sizes really need to be motorised, however, for ease of operation. The double-skinned aluminium roller door is made from individual foam-filled slats and will roll into a much tighter roll size, usually, therefore, maximising your garage height for driving through.

This door is generally quieter, usually electrically operated for convenience and will provide higher levels of security and insulation for sound and temperature. However, beware of cheap versions of this type of roller door. Anything aluminium with electric operation under around the £600 mark in a single-garage width size is to be kept well clear of and you are better off with the single-skin steel roller door as it will serve you better and longer as well as being legally compliant.

What makes a good roller garage door?

As mentioned already, the trouble is roller doors can all look the same so making a decision on one being better than another can be hard. It’s the quality of components that really makes the difference and although low prices are tempting, we know all too well the trouble and frustrations of buying cheap with roller doors. It will always lead to reliability issues as there are so many moving parts that have to perform correctly together in order for the whole door to work and keep working.

Garages Which options are best?

For most electric operated roller doors you should expect at least two hand-held radio transmitters to open and close the door from up to 20m away, preferably with ‘rolling code’ technology. Operation by your smartphone is now becoming readily available for convenience.

You should also expect an internal wallmounted control box and receiver unit with a courtesy inbuilt light that comes on for about three minutes when the door is operated although some offer adjustable timers as well as additional low-voltage lighting add-on options. An internal manual override system is also an essential standard item which is a winding handle that engages on the motor side to drive the motor in the event of a power failure. Above this, you can specify control accessories such as external digital keypads or key switches, emergency external manual override systems to ensure access to the internal override if you do not have another door into your garage or even a battery back-

up system to give several normal operations even when there is no mains power.

Options for the actual roller door itself include vision slats to let natural light into the garage using cut-out sections with polycarbonate glazing inserts, extra-wide side guides for increased security, aluminium hood covers for the curtain roll to enclose the entire rolling mechanism and sloping bottom slats for where the ground is not level.

What size roller shutters are available?

For domestic roller garage door specifications, generally, the largest width available is 5200mm and the maximum height is 3000mm. Larger doors are available but the slat type and specification may change and be larger or in double-skinned steel. The guides and curtain roll size would also change at doors over 3000mm high and careful consideration would need to be given to installation on very large doors making sure the structure you are fixing to is sufficiently sound.

What about security?

It is possible to specify certain roller doors to a Secured by Design Level 1 specification. Basic mechanical design features in a descent roller door will make it very secure as standard but it is also surprising how easy certain roller doors can be broken into when there is little attention paid to the method by which the curtain is held secure when closed or substandard curtain slats are used.

Security is the main consideration for most garage doors so pay attention to the locking system on any roller door you may choose to look at.

www.thegaragedoorcentre.co.uk

Above left : There are two main kinds of roller garage doors sold in the UK Above: Security is the main consideration for most garage doors

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Grand Designs Live Preview

Build your very own Grand Design Grand Designs Live, proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements, will return to London’s ExCeL from 5 to 13th May.

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hether starting out on your first renovation, building a new home, redecorating a room, installing a new kitchen or simply looking for inspiration, Grand Designs Live is the must-visit event for anyone looking to learn about the world of interiors, design and self-build.

The show will offer visitors the chance to explore the very latest in technology developments, discover current trends and preview unseen products. Based on the Channel 4 TV series, and presented by design guru Kevin McCloud, the event will be packed with over 400 exhibitors, across five different sections covering Build, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Gardens and Interiors, plus a Technology Trail.

The Grand Build Hall will showcase products to help with any and every project, from adding an extension, renovating a historical property, to building a new home from the ground up.

Grand Interiors will offer sophisticated and unique ways to furnish and complete a home and Grand Kitchens will include some of the most cuttingedge kitchens and appliances on the market. Grand Bathrooms will showcase products from brands such as Motionspot which produces aestheticallyled accessible bathroom designs for the home,

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supplying innovative bathroom products that change lives and those with a particular interest in the outdoors, will relish the Grand Gardens section, with a selection of brands spanning a variety of areas from outdoor cooking, swimming pools, garden buildings, hot tubs, landscaping and much more.

After browsing the halls, visitors can then enjoy the range of informative features at the show: Ask an Expert – This popular service returns for May's edition offering visitors the opportunity to consult with specialists across a range of home improvement areas, from finance to self-build and everything between.

The Grand Theatre, sponsored by Airflow – Kevin, joined by a whole host of industry experts, and some Grand Designers from the latest series of the show, will provide a wide-reaching range of informative seminars on everything from architecture, to building and beyond.

Kevin’s Green Heroes – Each year, Kevin showcases the most revolutionary and useful ecofriendly gadgets and products on the market. This year, visitors can get first-hand experience through live demonstrations of current and past ‘heroes’.

Grand Room Sets, sponsored by AXA Insurance – The theme ‘Designed by You’ will be brought to life by pioneering interior designers in this inspirational installation. These innovative rooms will showcase products which are accessible to visitors and are from British retailers, manufacturers and designers.

The Salvage Yard – Offering high-end, one-off, unique pieces of architectural salvage.

The Lavatory Project – Discover brilliant bathroom decoration for the smallest spaces. This new feature will include mock-ups from six interior designers who will let their imaginations run wild to create unique and striking rooms.

This May’s edition of Grand Designs Live is set to be one of the most exciting, engaging and informative to date.

www.granddesignslive.com

MYSON

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Sanitaryware & Bathrooms

©Luxxu

©The Pure Bathroom Collection

©The Pure Bathroom Collection

©The Pure Bathroom Collection

Built-in bath vs freestanding tub A beautiful bath has become a real statement piece for many interior designs. It should be the focal point of your brand-new self-build bathroom but which style should you invest in?

Here, i-build takes a look at the options to help you make a decision.

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After a relaxing soak in your newly-purchased tub, you’ll need a stylish towel to dry-off with.

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Sanitaryware & Bathrooms

Look Book: Towels

©Bathroom Takeaway

The freestanding tub Chic and contemporary, there is no doubt that a freestanding bath will be an elegant and extravagant addition to your self-build bathroom. A freestanding bath will dominate any space, making it a strong design feature; but despite its beauty, a freestanding tub does have some cons.

Arguably, the most frequent bathers are babies, toddlers and small children, so it is important to be aware of the limitations of a claw-foot or pedestal bath when considering purchasing one for your family bathroom. Getting in and out of these gorgeous tubs can up the risk of slipping so it may be worth investing in some fixtures and fittings to limit this risk.

A non-slip mat would be a simple solution for this.

There are also certain logistics to consider when taking the plunge and installing a freestanding bath. Just as you have no doubt discovered so far on your self-build journey, no job is a simple as it may first look. You can’t pop a freestanding bath in the middle of the room and hope for the best. Technical awareness of plumbing and drainage would be useful, and it is vital. You’ll also need to consider the likelihood of overflow and splashing, so it’s important to think about the bath's placement – you want to be able to walk around it with a mop! You must also remember that a glass pane to prevent any water spillage isn’t going to work with this particular bath.

A shower curtain may be a quick and easy solution for this.

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The built-in bath If you step into most bathrooms across the country, you will more than likely be greeted an by a built-in tub, installed against a wall on two or three sides. There may be a few slight variations – with a shower curtain or sheet of glass, perhaps a showerhead suspended above, maybe just taps – but all in all, this is a bathroom reality for most of the UK. Although not particularly exciting, these baths are popular, but why?

A built-in bath is a practical choice for families because it is a much safer option. They also provide some extra-flat surfaces to place things on – perfect for bath-time with toddlers. Built-in baths take up far less space than their luxurious freestanding counterpart, so they are great for squeezing into tight spaces and far less maintenance.

1. Bemboka cotton bath towel – charcoal, The Design Hunter, £POA

2. Ascot Luxe Rider towels, Christy, £POA 3. Watermark hand towel, iDecorate, £POA 4. Linen waffle bath towel, True Linen, £POA 5. Sherwood turquoise towels, Christy, £POA 6. Watermark bath towel set, iDecorate, £POA

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Water Management

Your guide to off-mains wastewater treatment If you’re thinking about embarking on a self-build project outside the limits of the UK’s main urban areas, there’s a good chance you won’t have access to the mains sewage network.

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atthew Rolph, Managing Director at GRAF UK, provides an overview of what’s on offer when it comes to off-grid methods of managing and treating wastewater.

What is wastewater treatment (WWT)?

WWT is the process of converting wastewater – that is, water that is either no longer needed or no longer suitable for use – into a clean effluent that can be safely discharged back into the environment, without any risk to human health or unacceptable damage to the natural environment.

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Why is picking the right WWT solution for my project so crucial?

With built-up areas reaching saturation, there has been a sharp rise in the number of self-builders venturing further afield to more remote parts of the country. This growing trend has reinforced the need for off-mains wastewater treatment systems that are not only highly efficient, but also comply with the ever-tightening health and environmental regulations. Installing an inadequate WWT system could spell disastrous and unpleasant consequences, such as overflowing or bad odours. You could even run the risk of prosecution under Environment Agency regulations in the event of a pollution incident. The result is heavy fines and large clean-up bills – so it pays to get it right from the start.

WWT is the process of converting wastewater – that is, water that is either no longer needed or no longer suitable for use – into a clean effluent that can be safely discharged back into the environment

Water Management

When it comes to off-mains WWT, there are three main product groups all self-builders should be familiar with

treating it in batches using a series of chambers and an additional buffer tank. Whilst SBR systems work in the same way as activated sludge systems by mixing and circulating effluent inside a main tank, the incoming flow rate has no impact on the speed of the treatment process. This allows for an overall more consistent, efficient performance, and a higher discharge quality.

What else should I know?

What are my off-mains WWT options?

Although these are the most common solutions for off-mains WWT, they are often extremely high maintenance and need regular servicing to avoid overflowing. What’s more, a second round of treatment is usually required to ensure waste meets quality standards before being released back into the watercourses. This is especially true for cesspools, which collect raw sewage but don’t actually treat the waste. Septic tanks do treat wastewater to some degree, but the resulting effluent is usually still low quality.

via soakaways or reedbeds. Two main types of package sewage treatment systems are available: moving bed systems (where colonies of bacteria form on plastic ‘media’ before being mixed in with the raw sewage), and activated sludge systems. The latter encourage bacterial growth by continuously blowing air into the base of the tank.

Whilst both are good options for off-mains projects, each comes with its own limitations: cleaning and replacing the plastic media in a moving bed system can make it expensive to maintain, and activated sludge systems (which treat waste continuously) can struggle to cope effectively when effluent flows through too quickly during peak times – jeopardising the quality of the treated waste.

Package sewage treatment systems

Sequence batch reactor (SBR) systems

These work by encouraging bacteria (that break down raw sewage) to form and multiply. In contrast to septic tanks and cesspools, the treated effluent is much higher quality and can safely be discharged into groundwater

SBR systems are the most technologicallyadvanced type of package sewage treatment system – and here at Graf UK, we see them as the future of off-mains WWT. They minimise the risk of untreated waste overflowing by

When it comes to off-mains WWT, there are three main product groups you should be familiar with:

Septic tanks and cesspools

Depending on the size of your project and the proposed discharge method, bear in mind that you may need to apply for permission under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2014). Whilst not all systems require prior consent, we would always strongly recommend checking. In some rare circumstances where the quality of the treated effluent is extremely high, it may be possible to release it directly into the watercourses – subject to approval from the Environment Agency. If you’re in any doubt at all at this stage, make sure you ask your manufacturer for advice on the best system for your individual job.

Once you’ve decided on the best WWT option for you, it is also worth factoring in the recommended yearly maintenance visit that will ensure there is no residual build-up. Some manufacturers offer maintenance contracts as well as installation services – so enquire early on to get the best deal.

You will need to do some digging – perhaps literally – to find out what the best WWT option is for your self-build, but rest assured that investing the time and resources now to securing a future-proof, reliable solution to manage wastewater at your off-grid property will save you headaches, money (and possibly visits from the Environment Agency) in the long term.

www.graf-water.co.uk

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i-DIY

You will need:

Eight easy steps to creating your own walk-in wardrobe Will Gough, Commercial Manager for Spaceslide, gives the inside track on how to easily section off part of your bedroom for your very own walk-in wardrobe.

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f we were asked to design our dream home, many of us would include a walkin wardrobe or dressing room on our list of must-haves. This dream could actually be a reality for many of us. With the right layout and a clever storage solution, a ‘walkin’ can be created in most bedrooms. Here, Spaceslide has produced a simple DIY guide to help you create the ultimate feature of an ‘en-vogue’ bedroom.

Firstly, you’ll need to decide on the perfect location for your luxury feature. All that you need is a minimum depth of 1.5m, which

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makes it available to almost any bedroom, or indeed elsewhere in your home, without drastically reducing the overall feel and ambience of the space. Your next decision is how to partition your chosen space. Either sliding or hinged doors can be used, but we’d recommend sliding doors in order to maximise the available space and achieve a sleek, contemporary look.

For extra glamour, opt for mirrored sliding doors. Not only will they give the room that bit of opulence, they will also reflect light around the room to help make it feel larger.

Hand drill Tape measure Marking pencil Spirit level 7mm conventional spanner Phillips-head screwdriver 4mm Allen key

After the build With the doors installed, you should then carefully consider what storage you are likely to need.

Modular storage solutions have been crafted with design and function in mind, offering complete flexibility when it comes to organising space.

I’d sit down with a pen and paper to plan out whether you need double-height hanger bars for lots of shirts at eye-level and trousers below, single-height hanger bars for long dresses, highlevel shelves for items that are used infrequently, or maybe even floor-to-ceiling shoe racks.

All that then remains is to add those personal touches to your walk-in.

www.spaceslide.co.uk

i-DIY 01. Firstly, you’ll need to assemble the soft-close units. Prime the

02. Locate the position for the top track, screw it into the ceiling

soft-close units as per the instructions, and insert them into the top tracks on both right and left sides.

using equal spacing and position the lower track, ready to be fixed.

03. Move the soft-close units to the outside of the tracks, and

04. Position the door on both sides of the track and level up by

insert the first door panel into the back channel of both the top and bottom tracks.

moving the bottom track. Once in position, mark the floor to give you the position to secure the bottom track.

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i-DIY 05. Remove the door from both tracks and place to one side.

06. Measure 40mm in from the marked line, and place markers at each 50cm interval across the length of the track, screw the track buttons at each position, before placing the track over the top and pushing it into place.

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07. Insert the back doors into the track. For far left/right doors, fix

08. Once all doors are in place, alter the adjustment bolt on the

the soft-closes in place 2mm from the wall. Position the doors and repeat until all are in place.

bottom wheels with the Allen key to ensure the doors are level.

i-nterior

©Bisca Staircases

©Bisca Staircases

©Bisca Staircases

©Bisca Staircases

©Bisca Staircases

How to get the best staircase for your budget Aristotle famously said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Richard McLane, Design Director of Bisca, explains that where staircases are concerned, the opposite may be true.

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f you think you can’t afford a staircase specialist to design your new staircase, think again. You want the best staircase possible for your money, but the way to achieve this may come as a surprise.

Your quantity surveyor may split out components to get the lowest price on paper but taking this approach with your staircase may end up costing you more.

On paper, a builder’s staircase may appear attractive compared to the price submitted by a staircase specialist. In reality, this can be a very different story.

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Engage a staircase specialist as early as possible in your project A quantity surveyor can add value to some elements of a build, but the staircase is not one of them. You should consider your staircase as part of the fabric of the building.

A far superior quality in design and finish is possible if a staircase specialist is engaged during the design of the house.

The synergy between an architect and a specialist working together is of greater value to the client than either one working

alone. An architect may work on five staircases a year, whilst a staircase specialist will design 50+. Anything other than a standard staircase needs a staircase specialist.

Design work Every bespoke staircase design involves a significant amount of design work. Design resolves interfaces, aesthetics, materials, specifications, loadings and head heights.

This must happen before purchase of materials and before a build begins.

to the price submitted by a staircase specialist, but that's not the case

i-nterior

A builder’s staircase may appear attractive compared

You should consider your staircase as part of the fabric of the building

TOP TIPS FOR GETTING THE PERFECT STAIRCASE FOR YOUR BUDGET: 1. Engage a specialist for design cost options before allocating budget for your staircase.

2. Engage a specialist at the beginning of the project. It’s much easier to move walls and doors on paper than when built.

3. Treat the staircase and balustrade as a single unit. Do not divorce for budget, design or build purposes. The relationship between a staircase and balustrade introduced for the first time at installation will always be uneasy.

4. Understand the implications of including the staircase in the remit of your quantity surveyor.

5. Understand the limitations of concrete stairs if this is what you are considering.

6. When obtaining quotations, ensure you are comparing like-for-like.

7. Understand the differences in stairs offered by bespoke staircase manufacturers. For example, 100% bespoke companies such as Bisca, those offering modular stairs (often wrongly sold as bespoke) and products made by fabricators who pay scant attention to any design aspects and quality of finish.

When planning and budgeting for a staircase you should think of the space as a whole from start to finish. Only 60% of a design is about the staircase, 40% is about how it interfaces with, and integrates into, the property.

Design is an intangible aspect of a project that many clients and particularly their quantity surveyor may not see the value in until the build starts. Once the build starts, the process of working with good design becomes more tangible to everyone. ©Bisca Staircases

www.bisca.co.uk

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i-build

How to ensure your handmade tiles are the real deal There are many considerations to address when sourcing materials for re-roofing a listed property or other historically significant buildings. It is usual to be specified to use a handmade clay tile. Here Tony Kindell, Managing Director at Aldershaw Handmade Tiles, discusses how to ensure the handmade tiles you buy aren’t, in fact, factory-made.

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here are many tiles that state ‘handmade’, but many imported tiles are clearly machine-made – despite their description. A truly handmade tile is not extruded – manufacturers of handmade tiles employ traditional handmaking methods using wooden moulds to recreate copies from original samples or drawings. Where the original no longer exists, the manufacturer has the expertise to create it and, where the original cannot be improved upon, copies can be reproduced in a varied range of tiles and fittings for the construction of new buildings.

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Ventilation tiles may be needed where the roof is mainly unlined (unfelted) and may require a three-piece ventilation set. Secondly, a slotted ridge ventilator and, lastly, a ventilation unit and adapter which can be clad in a clay tile of the same colour as your roof, this tile unit can be connected to a soil pipe or extractor fan outlet for almost invisible ventilation.

A specified handmade tiled roof is usually required to meet planning and conservation standards and the pitch of the roof is important.

A roof on a low pitch allows the weather to abuse the handmade tile in a potentially damaging way, unlike the steep pitches of yesteryear.

i-build The majority of handmade manufacturers will agree for technical reasons a minimum pitch of 40° is fine; but for the realistic enjoyment of a beautiful roof, a steeper pitch affords such an experience.

It is possible to have a single colour tiled roof, but this may give a rather stark appearance, notwithstanding a natural variation in colour, it may lack the subtlety of a blend of tiles, which the use of two or three colours of tiles might give; but ensure that the roofer applies them randomly.

Over a century ago most tiles were made as ‘peg’ tiles i.e. they had no nibs from which a modern tile is hung, just two holes usually square through each of which a wooden peg is pressed and the tile was hung from these pegs. During 1477, a royal statute was issued to attempt to standardise tile sizes in England to 10 ½ x 6 ¼" which is very close to the current standard today of 10 ½ x 6

½". However, some areas of the country steadfastly stuck to their regional sizes in defiance. Leicester maintained the sizes of 11 x 7", Kent 10 x 6" and some areas of East Sussex seem to be 9 ½ X 6 ¼". Although these differences may seem small they are in fact recognisable and when repair or extension work is being carried out it is desirable to use the correct size. Your handmade manufacturer will be sensitive to these issues and be able to help you through your project.

A peg roof may be specified if the underside of the roof is unclad – the pegs being visible to the onlooker. Where a standard peg is specified but the roof is clad, then using a nib tile will produce the same external effect and be less expensive.

In general, a nib tiled roof is the most usual.

Nibs and standard pegs are set on a gauge of 4"; 60 to the square metre. Handmade tiles

and fittings combine the best of all possible worlds – the beauty of the past with the durability of the new.

Second-hand tiles may be similarly priced to new, and may be at the end of a useful life weathered from the roof where they have rested for decades.

Conversely, a new handmade tile is just at the beginning of a beautiful asset. In keeping with a time-honoured and traditional approach to business, staff at a handmade manufacturer are skilled at providing an informed and personal service to customers.

In addition to their product range, a competent handmade manufacturer can be relied upon to produce that special shape, colour or size for your project – no matter how few are required.

www.aldershaw.co.uk

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i-scape

How to choose the shape of your swimming pool There are many design elements to consider when creating your luxury swimming pool. Perhaps the most important aspect of pool design is selecting the shape.

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efore you begin, it is important to first consider determining factors such as price, size, space available, who will be using the swimming pool and for what activities, as well as the depth and shallowness of your swimming pool.

Today, swimming pools come in a wide variety of incredible shapes and sizes that you may have never imagined. Whether you choose to create a custom design or select a standard shape, the experts at Shoreline Pools have written a piece to help you understand the pros and cons of each shaped pool to ensure you make the best decision when installing your luxury swimming pool.

Kidney-shaped swimming pools A once popular swimming pool for modern homes in the 1950s and 1960s; the kidneyshaped pool is perfect for creating a curved pool on a budget. The shape resembles a curved bowl with a medium-size indent on one side of the pool. Measurements

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of a kidney-shaped swimming pool are approximately 40ft in length and 30ft wide.

This design creates more square-footage yet less perimeter footage, which typically is more inexpensive to install.

With its highly versatile shape, many homeowners opt for a kidney-shaped pool.

Pool owners can easily add on features at the indentation point, such as a pool bench or sun shelf to hug the outside perimeter.

Rectangle-shaped swimming pools Rectangle-shaped swimming pools feature clean-cut 90° corners providing a modern design for your garden. This familiar shape is perfect for water aerobics and avid swimmers.

Depending on design preference, pool owners can choose to keep the hard edges or round off the corners, thus softening the appearance.

Rectangle swimming pools fit most gardens.

Typical dimensions for a narrow pool are 8 x 10ft, meanwhile, a larger rectangle swimming pool is approximately 30 x 35ft.

Rectangle-shaped swimming pools are a common design. Thus, finding an appropriatelysized pool cover is easy, compared to more complex pool designs. Pool owners should keep in mind that rectangle-shaped swimming pools generally are more expensive than the other types of curved shaped swimming pools. This is due in part to the wide perimeter footage. Furthermore, narrow-sized rectangle swimming pools have more hard to reach nooks and crannies, making pool maintenance cleaning more challenging.

L-shaped and lazy-L-shaped pools The L-shaped swimming pool is an excellent choice to encompass all types of swimming activities. Whether you plan to use your pool to swim laps, dive or for children to play, L-shaped pools are ideal for all ages and stages.

The smaller area of the pool, known as the foot, extends from the main section. A spin-off of the L-shaped swimming pool, the lazy-L-shaped swimming pool resembles a rectangle shape with a space for both lap swimming and pool entry steps to the side. This unique design allows for lap swimmers and those relaxing simultaneously, without crossing swim paths.

Both of these swimming pool shapes will delight swimmers of all ages, as the foot area allows young children to wade in the shallow area, while avid lap swimmers can enjoy the deeper end. The shapes of both L-shaped and lazy-L swimming pools easily adhere to pool regulations and code requirements; they are both 15 x 30ft on average.

These pool shapes also offer a natural gradual slope from shallow to deep ends, rather than a steep slope that most other swimming pool shapes have.

i-scape Classic Roman- and Grecianshaped swimming pools Named for ancient architecture discoveries, the Roman- and Grecian-shaped swimming pools are upscale yet classic choices for many swimming pool owners. The Grecian-shaped swimming pool is a rectangular shape with modified 90°-angled corners. Meanwhile, the Roman-shaped swimming pool similar in design provides a curved edge. In addition, you can tailor the design depending on your personal style; more modern features edges while rounded create a softer and elegant appearance.

Pool owners should keep in mind; though there are many benefits to a Roman or Grecian pool design, there can also less desirable factors.

For example, both of these classic pool designs tend to reduce the usable square-footage of the swimming pool, due to the cut-off corners. These shapes can cause friction issues when built against a wall. A simple solution is to design your classic swimming pool in a half style called half Roman or half Grecian. This style offers rounded edges on one end of the swimming pool.

One size does not fit all While there is no definitive 'perfect' swimming pool shape, all these swimming pool shapes provide options with unique benefits.

Depending on how you intend to use your swimming pool, each one can unite your garden creating a beautiful focal point. Keep in mind that the ideal shape of a pool for your garden may not fit the environment as your neighbours. This makes designing your luxury pool an exciting and personal experience.

www.shorelinepools.com

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Product Guide

Häfele brings the innovative and stylish Ninka Qanto to the UK market Furniture fittings and architectural hardware specialist Häfele has teamed up with furniture manufacturer Ninka to bring the innovative Qanto corner storage unit to the UK market.

Available exclusively through Häfele in the UK, Qanto is a complete, pre-assembled cabinet that transforms previously inaccessible kitchen corner space into a key storage asset. The cabinet provides two or three storage trays, crafted from high-quality, easy-clean ABS, that rise to kitchen surface level at the touch of a button.

Quanto uses a linear drive as the lifting mechanism, ensuring that the trays are able to move smoothly and steadily. It is also equipped with an inbuilt safety mechanism which eliminates the risk of objects getting trapped in the moving column.

Chloë Thacker, Marketing Director at Häfele UK, comments: “The Ninka Qanto is a truly innovative design, one which allows homeowners to realise every inch of value from their kitchen layout. As the footprint of a typical home gets smaller, consumer demand for more technological, spacesaving and adaptive furniture solutions is increasing and Häfele is committed to providing innovative solutions to meet this demand.”

www.hafele.co.uk 0800 171 2909

Iconic design meets modern tastes Continuing its tradition of partnering with industry-leading brands, Häfele has added the Smeg 50s Retro Style hand blender, variable temperature kettle, and two-slice and four-slice toaster to its portfolio of stylish Smeg small domestic appliances.

The new ranges offer a modern twist to the well-known retro design that Smeg is renowned for. With a stylish white finish and improved technology, this collection strikes the perfect balance between iconic design and contemporary innovation. Each appliance comes in a range of colourways and features Smeg’s iconic styling and aesthetic.

quickly and intelligently. The convenient speed control at the top of the grip makes it easy to operate, while the turbo function makes the most of the 700W motor. The stainless steel arm and blades, combined with the exclusive FLOWBLEND system, ensure excellent cutting results and easy preparation.

Retro Style variable temperature kettle Retro Style hand blender Designed to be durable, functional and comfortable with its ergonomic and antislip grip, the Retro Style hand blender is an indispensable small home appliance for cooking

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Beautifully crafted with a stainless steel body, the Retro Style variable temperature kettle has a large capacity of 1.7l. Features include a push-pull opening lid, 360° swivel base and an automatic shut-off at 100°C.

Retro Style two-slice and four-slice toaster Smeg produces both two- and four-slice versions of its popular retro toaster. They are beautifully made in deep drawn sheet steel and have extrawide slots that are perfect for thick-cut bread and bagels. Other features include six toasting levels, four functions (defrost, reheat, cancel and a bagel setting), illuminated dials and a touch-release removable stainless steel crumb tray. The built-in cord keeps things neat and tidy while anti-slip feet ensure everything stays in place.

www.hafele.co.uk 0800 171 2909

Boston branch of Buildbase supplying YBS insulation for conversion work

Fibo’s innovative and stylish wall panels helped to transform a recent kitchen refurbishment.

Fibo’s wall panels are the smarter way to transform walls in social housing, and a cost-effective alternative to ceramic tiles for kitchens, bathrooms and wetrooms. They are quick and easy to install with Fibo's unique Aqualock system; can be fitted directly onto stud partitioning, plaster or existing tiles; look and feel like traditional tiles and come in a wide choice of colours, textures and designs to suit a range of tastes.

Housing specifiers and local authorities can choose panels with a routed ‘grouting’ line for an authentic finish, or mix designs to create feature walls using different colours and patterns without added cost or hassle.

The versatility of panels means tenants can personalise their space by adding hooks for mirrors, ornaments, utensils or other accessories without risk of damaging or cracking the panels.

www.fibo.co.uk

01494 771242

sales@fibo.co.uk

World’s first Passivhaus accreditation for Roof Maker Leading rooflight manufacturer, Roof Maker, is celebrating a world-first after being awarded the Passivhaus standard for its fixed flat rooflight.

A Passivhaus standard can be awarded to a building, component or individual that meets the stringent criteria of the standard, which aims to dramatically reduce energy use and carbon emissions from buildings in the UK, as well as providing high standards of comfort and building health. This is the very first time that a rooflight of this kind has been accredited. Since 2001, Leicester-based Roof Maker has been at the forefront of research and development for the manufacture of innovative rooflights, offering architects and specifiers a wide range of bespoke sizes, styles and designs. However, it is the thermal performance of its rooflights that make them unique, offering the industry’s lowest Ug rating from 0.2 for quadruple, with triple glazing as standard, which delivers superior thermal insulation and solar gain efficiencies.

www.roof-maker.co.uk 0116 214 7701 sales@roof-maker.co.uk

Being able to offer customers viable alternatives to familiar products is an important factor for growing a merchant business, with a branch of Buildbase in Lincolnshire now supplying the YBS product range to both deal with a shortage of more conventional insulation and also provide a more flexible solution where space is at a premium. Buildbase in Boston has been stocking YBS SuperQuilt and BreatherQuilt since autumn last year, with the two multilayer products proving popular with local contractors involved in refurbishment and conversion work. Recognised by the NHBC, compliant with Part L of the Building Regulations and holding an Agrément certificate, SuperQuilt is suitable for both new-build and refurbishment work.

Product Guide

Fibo panels help to transform walls the smart way

www.ybsinsulation.com 01909 721662 sales@ybsinsulation.com

Your lighting solutions If you are seeking to transform your home in a simple yet wholly artistic way true to your tastes, then consider relighting your home with Lighting Sensations. The lighting is designed to not only illuminate, but enhance the atmosphere of any environment. With access to a wide range of European and British lights, the company provides the best lighting facilities, aiming to provide beautiful and stunning lights that create relaxing and enchanting ambient moods. Whether it be for interior or exterior lighting, clients can turn to Lighting Sensations for innovative, stylistic and cost-effective ways to light up their space, their way.

www.lightingsensations.co.uk 01223 874434 info@lightingsensations.co.uk

Schueco’s new panoramic sliding door has additional design benefits Schueco UK has launched a new version of its highly successful panoramic door system. Designated the Schueco ASE 67 PD, the new door provides the same minimal sightlines with an outer frame that remains concealed in the building structure, resulting in a huge panoramic area of glass. However, it can now be configured in a variety of opening combinations with 2/3/4 leaves each up to 3.2m wide and 3.5m high. The new door is available in two options with different size outer frames. Both offer a very slim central mullion width of 31mm.

www.schueco.com mkinfobox@schueco.com 01908 282111

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Product Guide

BSW Timber expands its product offering for 2018 season

Black Millwork launches brand new range of bi-fold doors

UK timber business BSW Timber is expanding on the success of its fencing and landscaping products by introducing a new range of eco-friendly composite decking in 2018. The new Habitat Composite Decking range is manufactured from a blend of 100% recycled wood fibre and 100% recycled polyethylene, providing an environmentally-friendly, long-lasting, low-maintenance solution for your outdoor space. Timber decking, sleepers, fence panels, tongue and groove boards, beams and cladding still remain a part of the core BSW Timber product portfolio for construction and landscaping.

Black Millwork has once again reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering its expansive range of window and door products by adding a new collection of bi-fold doors to its product catalogue. Black Millwork’s new bi-fold doors can be supplied in sets or designed to bespoke requirements to fit a particular design goal. The products are crafted from a range of materials including aluminium, aluminium clad and oak. The doors open in a concertina style meaning they fold nearly flat when open. Black Millwork’s new doors open expansively to help create a seamless connection between a property’s indoor and outdoor environment.

www.bsw.co.uk

www.blackmillwork.co.uk

0800 587 8887 marketing@bsw.co.uk

01283 511122 info@blackmillwork.co.uk

Fenwick & Tilbrook launches designinspired paint range

Helping customers find the right ground source solution

A Norfolk-based company is launching a new range of exceptional quality, Scandinavian-inspired internal and external paint. An outstanding selection of 120 inspirational colours is available, although the company’s colour matching service means that customers can specify any colour they choose. Fenwick & Tilbrook paints are inspired by Scandinavian exterior paints that were originally designed 40 years ago to withstand the worst of Arctic weather. The ingredients used for their manufacture have been accurately matched to the Scandinavian originals, which has created a range of paints with an exceptional lifespan.

A new suite of online resources to help customers identify the best configuration of ground source technology, and analyse the associated costs and savings, has been launched by UK manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps. The new website sections on www.kensaheatpumps.com showcase a number of typical costed examples and schematics for innovative ground source system architectures that can be applied across a variety of domestic and commercial scenarios. Customers can review estimated costings for the supply and installation of the Kensa heat pump and ground array equipment, alongside projected running and servicing costs.

www.fenwickandtilbrook.com 01362 684125 sales@fenwickandtilbrook.com

www.kensaheatpumps.com 0845 680 4328 enquiries@kensaheatpumps.com

Still more new tools added to Makita’s popular 10.8V CXT range

Remmers Exhibits at Hayward Gallery

The new Makita DA333D 10.8V CXT Angle Drill will run up to 1100rpm, has a chuck capacity of 0.8 to 10mm, and will drill 10mm into steel and 12mm into timber. This very compact angle drill with a minimum head size and ultra-slim body weighs just 1.4kg and will prove very useful in contained spaces. With keyless chuck, electric brake and LED job light, the DA333D has a large switch lever for variable speed control and has forward/reverse rotation. The DA333D is available as a body-only machine or complete with two 2.0Ah batteries and a 10.8V charger which features a charging status indicator and is wall mountable.

www.makitauk.com customerservice@makitauk.com 01908 211678

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The world-renowned Hayward Gallery is a contemporary art gallery within Southbank Centre in London. As part of a twoyear restoration project, Remmers' restoration products were selected by Cemplas, to complete extensive concrete repair and renovation works to the internal architectural concrete elements of this prestigious major arts venue. Remmers ‘Arte Mundit’ was applied to remove the decades of superficial dirt that had built up on the concrete walls and ceilings.

Arte Mundit is a self-vulcanising cleaning paste that dries into a peelable natural latex. It provides thorough water-free removal of residues to varied substrates and there is no development of dust making it the ideal product for specialised restoration projects.

www.remmers.co.uk sales@remmers.co.uk 01293 594010

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Product Guide

A new range of premium underfloor heating components from MYSON FLOORTEC MYSON FLOORTEC has introduced two new premium components to complement its underfloor heating solutions.

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s one of Europe’s leading names in heating technology, MYSON FLOORTEC is at the forefront of the underfloor heating revolution and, with vast experience, has developed the all-new premium manifold and pump pack.

The two new components are specifically designed to work in tandem to ensure the user gets the most out of their underfloor heating system.

The new and improved premium manifold comes complete with all fixtures and fittings. It is both neat and compact incorporating a number of new features and benefits. These include easy-to-use flow meters, locking identification tags, fitted automatic air vent, pressure gauge and is complete with bend formers.

The all-new premium pump pack perfectly complements MYSON’s new premium manifold to control the underfloor heating system, allowing it to work at lower flow temperatures. The premium pump pack has all the advantages of its predecessors, with the

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benefit that it comes fully assembled, designed to give you everything you need in one pack.

The premium pump pack comes fitted with a circulating pump for high efficiency, thermostatic mixing valve complete with sensing probe, integral non-return valve and flow regulating valve which aids the balancing of larger systems.

Both components are available to buy separately and come with a two-year manufacturer's guarantee.

Together, these new components are the perfect addition to the already popular MYSON FLOORTEC range.

www.myson.co.uk underfloor@myson.co.uk 0845 402 3434 Top: The new and improved premium manifold comes complete with all fixtures and fittings Right: The premium pump pack has all the advantages of its predecessors, with the benefit that it comes fully assembled

T: 01622 790 356 W: flooringmegastore.co.uk

Product Guide

VELUX launches MyDaylight, the world’s first virtual reality app for renovation design The app enables homeowners to design their own room, visualising the real effect of daylight, with 360° view and virtual reality options.

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yDaylight is a powerful new app by VELUX that enables homeowners to design their own room or renovation project by easily selecting parameters such as floor dimensions, roof height and ceiling pitch. They can then customise further by adding windows, floor and wall finishes, the room’s location, and more.

After approximately 10 minutes, they receive a digital simulation which can be viewed in 360° or virtual reality, and gives a life-like recreation of the room and the changing effects of daylight inside.

The app bridges a gap, leading homeowners from imagination to implementation: “Many people who are looking to reshape their home find it difficult moving from imagination to concrete proposals. The app brings homeowners one step closer to the home they have envisioned, as the

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360° and virtual reality visualisations make it both tangible and achievable,” says Grant Sneddon, Daylight Expert at VELUX.

Fuelling the home renovation market digitally The do-it-yourself market is booming, with Europeans spending as much as €377bn on home improvement in 2016 (European Home Improvement Monitor, 2016). Meanwhile, the building industry is becoming ever-more digital, and with MyDaylight, VELUX is empowering homeowners with a groundbreaking digital tool to inform their home investment decisions.

Sneddon continues: “As the market for home improvement is growing and our customers are getting more digital, we see a clear business potential in launching an app, which for the first

time will enable homeowners to see just how much daylight can change a home, adding value and ensuring that the renovation pays off. “ We anticipate it will boost sales revenue throughout 2018 and beyond thanks to new renovation projects triggered by use of the app.”

Private capital available for renovation projects across Europe reaches a staggering €30tn (Copenhagen Economics, Healthy Homes Barometer, 2017), and providing homeowners with the best possible information is key to unlocking this potential.

The future is digital The app is a unique opportunity for homeowners to experiment with different renovation options, and a mobile application means the service is available anywhere, anytime thereby meeting the growing consumer trend for online customisation, browsing and shopping.

“The search for inspiration is truly moving into the online space. With this app we meet our customers where they are. Homeowners can investigate different renovation ideas wherever they are – on the bus, the train or at home,” says Sneddon.

The time spent browsing on mobile devices is accelerating and has almost doubled across Europe, from an average of 53 minutes per day in 2012 to one hour, 38 minutes in 2016 (Global web index 2016).

Today, more than 515 million Europeans are internet users, while 296 million are e-shoppers, corresponding to 43% of Europeans over the age of 15 (Ecommerce Europe 2016 Report).

E-commerce increased from €402bn to €510bn from 2014 to 2016, while mobile commerce is expected to triple from 2014 to 2018 (E-commerce report 2015).

www.velux.co.uk sales@velux.co.uk 01592 778225

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Product Guide

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Designer selects steel entrance screen for extension to her 1930s home Architects – and TV shows – talk about using large-scale glazing “to let the outside connect with the inside” of a property, but one design professional has specified a high-performance, triple glazed composite screen from a member of the Steel Window Association to ensure the heat inside does not escape to the outside. And similarly, the stylish assembly was chosen to keep extraneous noise out of her beautifully refurbished and extended north London home.

teel Window Service and Supplies was approached by Hannah MercedesCarter to fabricate and install the 5.5m-long screen, featuring two double doorsets, for a rear extension to her house in Hackney. The screen, which comprised five separate elements, was produced using W40 sections with the proportions being optimised in terms of appearance and the physical limits imposed by incorporating triple glazing.

Hannah, who works for a leading London interior design practice, commented: “For the original loft conversion, we specified double glazed aluminium windows which look okay but have tended to suffer from condensation, so I was determined to avoid that problem with this addition of a large kitchen dining room extension to the rear of our property.

“I was also keen to use steel frames as they are in keeping with the style of the building which dates from the 1930s, and chose to work with Steel Window Services and Supplies because of my experience using them on an office project in London. The triple glazing and frame make-up was also intended to prevent any noise intrusion from outside the building; now they are installed, I realise just how seriously sturdy and secure they are. We are very happy with the way they look and perform.”

The appearance of the classic W40 section has been enhanced by the application of a RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey polyester powder paint finish over the standard galvanised coating; complemented by matching trickle vents and satin chrome ironmongery.

The frames are infilled with 28mm-thick triple glazed IG units using a mix of clear toughened Planitherm One safety glass for the inner and outer leafs, and a clear toughened Planilux safety glass centre pane. The cavities are filled with 90% krypton gas and super spacer bars. This achieves an impressive centre pane U-value of 0.602W/m2K while the installed screen offers an overall U-value of 1.5W/m2k, along with the required sound reduction properties.

Members of the Steel Window Association are able to offer consultants, contractors and end-clients a selection of window and door types suitable for new-build as well as refurbishment projects, and the ability to restore old metal frames for heritage work.

www.steel-window-association.co.uk info@steel-window-association.co.uk 0208 543 2841

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Sensational Lighting 012 2 3 8 7 4 4 3 4 i nfo @l i g h t in g s e n s a t io n s . co . u k www.l i gh t in g s e n s a t io n s . co . u k To browse our brands visit: www.thelightunit.co.uk