i-build February/March 2014

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i-build i-nterior i-scape

A package log home complementing its stunning Scottish surroundings

Issue 1

PERSONAL PANORAMA

February/March 14

i-build

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Complications in creating the ultimate passive paradise

DERELICT TO DREAM HOME

Transforming a dated hovel into a luxury London dwelling

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Cover story: Architects Catherine Roberts and Steven Harris have used their own self-build home as an opportunity for inspirational experimentation. See page 16.

i-build www.i-buildmagazine.com

i-build i-nterior i-scape Editor:

Emily Smith

emily@mixedmediainfo.com Managing Director:

Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publication Manager:

Steve Gull

steve@mixedmediainfo.com Studio Manager:

Chris Lilly

chris@mixedmediainfo.com Senior Editor:

Hannah Frackiewicz

hannah@mixedmediainfo.com Artworker/Sub-editor:

Welcome to our February/March issue

W

elcome to the inaugural edition of i-build magazine! This issue is bursting with expert advice, solutions and inspiration to ensure you start your project with a spring in your step.

Spring is the most popular time of year for self-builders to begin their exciting homebuilding adventure. To inspire you at each stage of your project, join us as we follow builder and designer Will Anderson on his self-build journey. In each edition we accompany Will as he experiences the highlights and complications of the project that are yet to emerge. At the heart of his design is a desire to create a home that sustains its own horticultural ecosystem – where the walls of his self-build will be adorned with fresh produce all year round. We look forward to discovering how he brings this edible element to fruition – read his regular column on page 8.

As energy prices continue to soar and weather patterns seem to become increasingly unpredictable, the demand for sustainability escalates. The self-build industry is arguably the biggest reflection of a growing green commitment among consumers for energy-efficient building materials, as well as home designs that boast self-sufficiency.

For this issue's example of outstanding sustainability we unveil a Welsh self-build that has extreme eco-credentials. Architects Catherine Roberts and Steven Harris have used building their own home as the perfect opportunity to experiment with imaginative green elements. Read how they achieved this on page 16.

Elsewhere in this issue, we include essential information for checking a plot of land before buying on page 14, advice to ensure your material suppliers are trustworthy on page 56 and the perfect example of a renovation transformation on page 48.

We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together! We would love to hear what you think of your new self-build reference, so please don’t hesitate to contact the team with your feedback.

David Perry

david@mixedmediainfo.com Accounts:

Simone Jones

simone@mixedmediainfo.com

Emily Smith

Editor emily@mixedmediainfo.com @ibuildmagazine

/ibuildmagazine

ibuildmagazine

Editor’s picks Pear Platt, Woodfalls Farm, Gravelly Way Laddingford, Kent, ME18 6DA T: 01622 873229 F: 01622 320020

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.

Staircases by Canal: See page 54

Flooring by Kährs: See page 44

Kitchens by Mereway: See page 55

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i-build i-nterior i-scape

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8

Time Will Tell

Adorn your home with on-trend yellows to keep the sun shining all year round.

Each issue i-build follows Will Anderson on his self-build journey as it unfolds.

10

Green Living

12

Viewpoint

14

Contracts & Legalities

16

Sustainable Living

22

Rural Retreat

30

Homebuilding & Renovating Show Preview

A woodburning stove provides natural warmth as well as an inviting atmosphere.

Adrian Hateley from the NSBRC guides you through the crucial infant months of self-building.

Mike McMillan provides a plot-buying checklist to ensure your land is the perfect foundation.

An architect couple use their own self-build as an opportunity for sustainable experimentation.

Chartered Building Surveyor Simon Kettle’s selfbuild ambitions took a number of unexpected turns.

Contents

Desired Designs

Contents

i-build

7

Everything you need to know about Birmingham’s dedicated self-build exhibition.

32

Bi-folding & Sliding doors Folding sliding doors provide the perfect opportunity to bring the outdoors in.

34 Flooring New technologies enable wooden flooring to score high eco-credentials and performance.

36 16 56

Heating The contemporary heating market boasts an array of modern designs and energy efficiency.

38 i-build The Thomas family demolished their pre-war bungalow to build a new home in its place.

48 i-nterior Serial renovator Suzanne Noble has transformed 56

a dated wreck into a high-spec dream home.

i-scape The Quinlan’s have created a garden to complement their log home and its stunning surroundings

s: ecreutr S e d Tra ut for o ed

t o Look rets’ - dot e. c u e s s S i e s i ‘Trad ghout th sider throu are the in n be These s which ca ding t d insigh able to bu ! s u r l a e v d il in u self-b

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P B S SBP RY

A R B I L

sustainable-buildingproducts.com sustainable-buildingproducts.com

LIBR

ARY

sustainable-buildingproducts.com Your essential new reference for sustainable building product information 6

web | mobile | tablet

We love the simplicity and fun elements of this beautifully designed ceiling light, perfect for a nursery or children’s bedroom. This playful design features a hanging cord as the on/off switch. The Memory Balloon Glass Ceiling Light requires a standard bulb and is available in eight colours and three sizes starting from £145.95. (01843 808061; www.shoponyourdoorstep.com)

Statement prints A love of colour and beautiful print will never go out of fashion and exciting interpretations complement statement tones with neutral patterns. Harvest Hare wallpaper by Mark Hearld for St Jude’s is a single colour design available in three colourways, all £60 per roll.

The pattern is also available as readymade cushion covers. (01603 662951; www.stjudesfabrics.co.uk)

Desired Designs

Fun features

Let the sun shine!

Keep the sun shining through your home all year round with warming on-trend yellows and soft greys.

Bohemian accents Colourful comfort The Richie three-seater (H86xW188xD85cm) is a classic mid-century design, updated with a cool, contemporary finish. Partner this retro statement with the Mondrian Large Coffee Table (above, right) for an on-trend industrial edge.

The Richie is £599 and the Mondrian Large Coffee Table Set is £105, both from Made. (0845 557 6888; www.made.com)

This romantic fabric collection is both enchanting and gentle enough to incorporate within a wide range of design schemes.

The Bohemian collection is £48 per metre. Vanessa Arbuthnott also has a made to measure service for curtains, blinds and cushions. (01285 831437; www. vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk)

7

Time Will Tell

Crafting an ecohouse

Above all, don’t rush the design and specification. The more time you spend designing, the better the final result will be. The house my partner and I are about to start building is the fourth – and best – design proposed for the site.

We knew it was never going to be easy for our plot sits between two existing self-build homes which are radically different in style. To the left of the site is Tree House, one of the few genuinely ‘zero-carbon’ houses in Britain. I know a lot about this house because I built it a decade ago; you can read the story of its construction in 'Diary of an Eco-Builder' from Green Books. Designed by Peter Smithdale of Constructive Individuals, it is a rather lovely example of organic modernism, drawing on the forms and materials of the natural world. To the right, beyond an intervening garage, is the Slip House, an über-minimalist glass box designed by Carl Turner Architects. Both houses are striking and architecturally distinctive, so our challenge has been to design a building to go between them that stands proud in its own right.

Traditional and horticultural inspirations

Every issue i-build follows serial self-builder Will Anderson on his latest project journey as it unfolds. The story starts in a six-metre wide patch of South London mud between two magnificent self-build homes.

M

ost self-build stories don’t start at the beginning.

They begin half way through, at the moment when the months or years of dreaming, planning and research finally begin to take shape on site; the day when the diggers arrive.

This story is no different as the groundworkers will soon be here, churning up the mud. I am nervous but excited and keen to get started. Having made a thousand carefully considered decisions about everything from parquet floors to solar panels, I’m eager to see the house become real, first in concrete, then in timber, brick, tile and glass.

If you want to build a home that you are going to love living in, the first thing to learn is patience. Every step along the way takes time, but it’s time well spent: finding the land, raising the money, designing the house, obtaining planning permission, specifying all the details and components of the building, getting the approval of Building Control, and finding the people to build it.

Above: Will's plot is situated between two striking self-builds Left: The new self-build will sustain a horticultural ecosystem with a prominent conservatory on the first floor

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We have met this challenge by designing something quite different again. Our principal source of inspiration has been the English Arts and Crafts movement - the creative highpoint of the late Victorian and Edwardian period. The architects of the Arts and Crafts movement shared an approach rather than a singular style: a commitment to craftsmanship and to quality; a love of traditional materials, especially when locally sourced; logical, functional design; and a judicious use of ornament, inspired by nature. The outcome they all sought was utility married to beauty: buildings that worked well and were a delight to inhabit. A century later, this brief still feels like a good place to start.

But don’t write me off as a backward-looking romantic, for the house will also boast an exceptional environmental specification including cutting edge construction methods and technology. A key goal is to drive our heat losses down to the point where almost no active heating is needed in winter - the principal aim of passive house design. We will also be paying close attention to the other key concerns of ecological design including construction materials, water consumption, waste and biodiversity. Above all, we want the house to be a healthy and happy place to inhabit that will be looked after for hundreds of years.

If you are still unimpressed, here’s an additional idea at the heart of the design: we want the house to be edible. Or, more precisely, and to deflect any questions about witches and gingerbread, we want the house to sustain a horticultural ecosystem that will enable us to pick something for breakfast from the walls of the building at any time of year. This ecosystem will include a prominent conservatory, small but intensively planted gardens, warm walls for espaliered trees, rainwater collection, a cool fruit store, and serious composting. Welcome to The Orchard.

www.buildingtheorchard.com

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Green Living

The Yeoman CL5 highline stove by Stovax

Heating the greener home The benefits of woodburning are well documented today with a revival of the activity over recent years still gathering pace. At the heart of this revival is the warmth and pleasure that a woodburner gives; providing an inviting atmosphere and beautiful views in a home from a natural and sustainable fuel source.

F

ortunately for the self-builder, a stove can be easily incorporated into the structure of a house at the design stage. Modern manufacturers have risen to the challenge of today’s discerning consumer and it is now possible to select from a broad and impressive range of top quality woodburning stoves for an appliance that best suits your specific requirements and taste.

Woodburning in a stove or glass-fronted fire is not only attractive but highly effective. Innovations in firebox technology have resulted in triple air systems to ensure that the right amount of air is introduced to feed combustion, burning off unburnt hydrocarbons and keeping the glass in the door clear. The result is excellent efficiency rates and heat outputs, as well as wonderful views of the flames within.

Freestanding stoves now come in a range of styles from contemporary to traditional. Frequently made from cast iron, stoves are often used in combination with steel for increased durability and strength. A diverse range of

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The Stockton 14 stove by Stovax is available in either flat or high canopy

colour options with frames made from glass or steel, as well as innovations in flue pipe, top plates, plinths and benches, allow for a combination of shapes and hues.

There is the option to place a stove into an inglenook for a classic woodburner look or to bring it out into the room for increased impact. Alternatively, there are a number of cassette woodburning fires that are built into the wall and, in some cases, double-sided to connect two rooms or spaces – an effective option for open-plan living.

Selected cassette fires benefit from the option of an air ducting kit which enables you to distribute the heat into up to four additional rooms to make the very most of your fuel.

While radiant heat is important you may also require boiler capacity from a stove. A number of woodburners not only meet your domestic hot water requirements but can be linked up to a central heating system. This will ensure a reliable supply and reduce your dependence on gas or oil while providing the power to feed up to 19 radiators, underfloor heating systems or even supplement solar panels.

The Government has reduced the VAT rate on these appliances to just 5% due to compliance with their Energy Saving Materials initiative.

Finally, if you are building in a town or city, you may need to consider compliance with the Clean Air acts. Your local authority will confirm whether or not you are affected and if you are, you can be reassured that it won’t be a problem. Manufacturers have responded impressively to this legislation by designing woodburning appliances that are suited to smoke control areas. Look for ‘Smoke Control Approved’ symbols or wording in brochures.

Whatever your personal set of requirements, your first port of call should be a local fireplace retailer who will be able to impart practical and expert advice. Refer to the websites of prominent manufacturers who often offer a quick and easy postcode search facility to find retailers in your area.

www.stovax.com

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11

Viewpoint

Start as you mean to go on Spring is traditionally the time when self-build projects come to life, so do your homework now to ensure that your build starts off on the right footing. In the first of his regular columns for i-build, Adrian Hateley from the National Self Build & Renovation Centre shares his advice for the integral infant months of your self-build.

t: Secreing site e d a Tr and

-st o plot t e hard Creat ss to your get fined acce ou don't us ey ngero n e sur reating da from an for c nditions ud! co road erflow of m ov

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Y

ou’ve got your land, planning permission and have appointed contractors for your build and are now raring to go! Like so many others, you are looking forward to more favourable weather conditions, the daylight stretching out and seeing your self-build project come to life!

But before you get carried away with how your new home will evolve, look and feel, you need to address probably one of the most important aspects of construction, namely site set-up.

Often over-looked or put down the list of priorities, making sure that your site is easily accessible, secure, meets the requirements of contractors and will meet the demands of the entire build project should be foremost in your considerations. This is the first topic I address when conducting the self-build tours here at the NSBRC and it is always one that generates a lot of interest and discussion!

Having previously run my own building company, I’m a great believer in starting off with a clean and

Viewpoint

ideally a driveway, to ensure that lorries and contractor vehicles not only can access the plot with ease but any mud and dirt from the site is not transferred onto a carriageway – best to avoid being prosecuted for creating treacherous road conditions from muddy tyres! Also think about where you will position the plethora of skips that you will undoubtedly use – will this be on your plot or on a road?

On-site organisation Before anything arrives on-site, it is advisable to have a site organisation plan, mapping out locality of foundations and footings, access points, site of storage container, toilets, dedicated mixing area, site office and equipment. This is not only beneficial as a reference guide but also gives contractors a clear indication of where equipment should be stored.

Unless you are employing a project manager, you will need to have a dedicated ‘Site Diary’: this is the first reference point for all site activity and needs to contain details about the day-to-day running of your project, contractors and materials delivery schedules, etc. It will prove invaluable if there are any discrepancies with materials or contractors!

Your site shopping list

tidy site as this makes for a clean and successful build.

Even though you may look at starting your build in the Spring with an advantageous climate, that does not mean it will always be the case several months later!

Site access Firstly, have you thought about providing adequate accessibility for the numerous contactor vehicles such as vans, artics and cement mixers? I strongly suggest that the first thing you do is to create hard-standing, or

Above: A dedicated 'Site Diary' will save you a lot of hassle if any discrepancies occur later on Below, far left: Adrian Hateley advises aspiring selfbuilders at his NSBRC tours Below, left and right: An organised site will make building materials and workers arriving seem easy to manage

Also on your ‘shopping list’ don’t forget you need to think about: power and water to the site, toilet provision, site safety and security, site insurance, contractor agreements and appropriate contingency plans - for instance there is currently a shortage in block and bricks so you may need to re-think build materials especially ICF or timber frame.

The National Self Build and Renovation Centre is the UK’s only permanent venue for independent building advice and support. As a non-profit, Community Interest Company, the centre’s mission is to facilitate the growth of the residential construction industry; improving the way we build houses in the UK and upgrading the current housing stock for the good of all.

www.nsbrc.co.uk

13

Contracts & Legalities

Plot purchasing checklist Just because you’ve found an ideal plot in the perfect location, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right place to build your dream home. Conduct careful research to ensure that your land doesn’t create any unexpected costs. Mike McMillan, Quantity Surveyor at Charlie Laing building advice specialists, provides a plot purchasing checklist to ensure your project starts on good stead. t: Secreent’s e d 1 Price a often in place to benefit from future development. If there m Tr overn The price of a plot should reflect what can be built on it. For example, if it is only for a small house then the final value of the house will be lower than a larger property and the value of the plot should be in proportion. Use the following formula as a guide to check if the asking price is reasonable: plot value = final value of house – (build cost + 20-30%).

2

Plot

Is there good access for the building process and also for the completed property; is it near a busy road junction? If the existing access isn’t good then can it be moved and will it require visibility splays on the road?

What services are already on the plot and if not, how far away are mains services and drainage? This can cause large expenses if they are a great distance away, especially in more rural locations.

Have any trial pits been dug? Check for any contamination, the water table level, any rock in the soil and the stability of existing foundations.

Check the flood risk assessment register as raising a building above ground level can be expensive.

Are there are any ransom strips to be removed by paying off neighbours? A ransom strip is a small strip of land that is retained by a previous owner or neighbour,

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are ransom strips then the amount required to release the ransom should be deducted from the purchase price.

Are there any restrictive covenants or easements attached to the plot? These are legal agreements tied to the land that could prohibit development.

Are there any rights of way across the plot or tree preservation orders that could affect your design?

Are there any plant pests that need to be removed before the project can get underway? Look out for Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed.

What are other properties in the area like; are there likely to be objections from neighbours?

3

and KG The U e planning ions onlin ng regulat nd at u i build can be fo v.uk e o c r .g l u a t o res por g in n plan

Planning Permission

Has the piece of land already got planning permission?

Yes - Is it outline or detailed? Outline planning permission is valid for three years only and it can take 12 weeks to get outline planning permission converted to detailed planning permission.

No – Buying a plot without planning permission is a risk and the price should reflect that. However, you can agree to buy a plot subject to gaining planning permission and withdraw if the application is not successful.

www.charlielaing.com

Above: Make sure you thoroughly research the land before buying otherwise you could end up paying out a lot more than you have budget for

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Sustainable Living

The ultimate passive palace Architects Catherine Roberts and Steven Harris had always wanted to put their professional ideas into practice and build their own dream home.

Their brief was simple: ample space and high energy efficiency. For them, self-building was an opportunity for experimentation; allowing inspiration and imaginative ideas to evolve as they designed.

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"

W

e wanted to build a zero fossil fuel family home that fitted how we lived and was affordable to build,� explains Steven. “Our vision was to design a house that combined slick modernist design principles with ethical eco considerations.�

By embarking on this self-build, the couple decided to leave the hustle and bustle of London life to return to their Welsh roots. They chose the village of Llanfoist,

Sustainable Living

All images © 2014 www.crsharchitects.co.uk

The architect couple have created a home that is able to cope with harsh UK winter conditions without using fossil fuels

South East Wales, which is just south of Abergavenny.

“We chose our plot as it was suitable for a house that could harvest sunlight from renewables, was within easy walking access of a town and had beautiful views of the mountains.” And what a beautiful vista is has! The plot is on the edge of the villiage and borders the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park and the Blaenavon World Heritage Site.

The plot turned out to be challenging to the build, as it has two very large water pipes running across

The south wall incorporates oak weather board with a 25mm air gap and breather membrane

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Sub-brow Eyebrow Sustainable Living it that provide water from a reservoir in the Brecon Beacons to a nearby city, but that wasn’t the only constraint. “We knew that our budget would not cover a quick build with a main contractor and all trades brought in, so we wanted to carry out as much work as possible ourselves,” continues Steven. Consequently, the couple acted as both the architects and project managers for their dream build, although this meant a lengthier project duration as this approach required a flexible timeframe – more than six years to be precise!

With a view to creating a home with high levels of comfort and amenity, with little or no compromise to achieve energy goals, affordable future-proofed warmth and power, as well as embodying a zero fossil rule, the couple certainly had their work cut out! However, the Harris’s realistic planning resulted in a new home that remained within the original budget.

The aim was to use natural, local materials with

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Above: Solar panels contribute to the self-build's eco-credentials

excellent energy performance as well as recycled materials where appropriate. All bulk materials were locally sourced, including Low Cement Pulverised Fly Ash and Ground Granulated Blast Slag concrete blocks. It also required lime render and plaster from a local supplier. The intelligent design dictated that high performance construction details could be achieved by local trades and self-build skill levels.

The end result is ‘One The Orchard’ – a home that is super insulated, has large south facing glazing and lots of thermal mass to store solar gain. The solar thermal heating system provides space heating as well as hot water. It has a very large thermal array, PV and a log boiler stove. The self-build is fully heat and power monitored and has achieved actual performance of double what is required for a passive house!

“The ground floor is one large open-plan space with kitchen, dining and living areas that fits our family life very well,” beams Steven. “We run our practice from home and have designed a studio at the front of the house that connects with the main space by a large sliding door. We wanted direct access to the garden, so chose to have the living and sunspace on the ground floor at the rear of the house.”

Sets of sliding doors open the whole south elevation when the weather is warm. The central stair in a triple height hallway leads to the four bedrooms. Curved walls internally exaggerate flow of natural light, and echo the form of the rear garden retaining wall and the curved straw bale wall to the workshop.

Using local resources Below: The home has super insulated thermally massive construction, a large south facing sunspace and a monopitch south east facing roof

“The shape of the house comes from both our desire to maximise our harvest of renewable energy and be complementary to the local landscape,” Steven continues. “The roof slope matches the slope of the iconic Skirrid mountain across the valley and fits well with the slope of our site. The solid masonry sidewalls follow the local tradition for white lime render and the oak weather boarding and slot windows were influenced by local barns. We designed all the construction to achieve very high energy performance standards yet be achievable by local trades and our own self-build labour.”

Nestled among a villiage of more traditional house designs, One The Orchard brings something unique to Llanfoist at the same time as complementing the incredible mountain backdrop. “We have had a very positive response from the local community,” explains Steven. “We received no objections from neighbours for our planning application, an extremely positive planning officer’s report and have received many complimentary comments when we have had the house open for an Eco Open Doors event.

“The house works extremely well for our growing family and working life. Connection out to our garden and field with its productive vegetable beds, chickens and willow for log fuel is really good and gave great pleasure in the summer when we had the sliding doors open.

In the winter the house is very cosy due to the super insulation, under floor heating and log burner.

“The favourite aspect of our self-build has to be the sun space. It’s great to have the light, sunshine, views, height and drama of the space.

Sustainable Living

The Welsh self-build looks onto the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park

Facts & Figures Location: Llanfoist near Abergavenny, Wales

Space: Net floor area of 155m2

Building cost: ÂŁ170,000

Renewable energy coverage: 100% heat and 90% of primary electricity

Renewable energy sources: ÂŁ10,700 Funding support: Ecology Building Society Awards: Shortlisted for the Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Architecture From planning to completion: 6 years

Heat from solar thermal: 2965kWh Heat from biomass log boiler stove: 2156kWh Electricity harvest from solar PV: 1753kWh

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Sustainable Living And it harvests energy!”

The only retrospective frustration for the Harris’ is that since designing the self-build six years ago, new technology and research has become available which may have changed some minor technical decisions.

However, the couple were keen to say that these are very minor and the living experience and energy monitoring prove the house to work extremely well just as it is.

“Perhaps we will do it again, but not until we retire and our needs change,” concludes Steven. “Selfbuilding allows you to be creative with your Architect and have a home that is far more than you can find from a normal house builder. I urge others to make the most of the opportunity to do something out of the ordinary that completely suits the individual. Be clear about what self-building involves at the outset and accept that it could dominate a good period of your life.

Plan for a house that suits you in the long-term rather than as you are when you start the process.”

www.crsharchitects.co.uk www.ecology.co.uk

Above: The woodburning stove keeps the self-build warm through the winter months Left: The first floor mezzanine looks through the glass facade onto the landscape

Below left: The open plan interior and glass fronting makes the most of natural light as it flows throughout the self-build Below: The two-storey new home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor

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RuralEyebrow Retreat Sub-brow

Great expectations Big ambitions to create the ultimate passive dream home took Chartered Building Surveyor Simon Kettle on a journey of fine research, renewable energy source breakthroughs and subsequently, his own architectural design company.

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st ise pa he be Optim stablish t ildings and e on for bu e sun's locati idering th ach e ns by co vement in mo season.

Rural Retreat

: ecret sign S e d e d Tra ssive

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imon wanted to create a stylish and individual family home that blended into rural surroundings and was efficient to run.

The important thing to him was that all the details of his new home should be chosen as a result of personal research rather than as a result of someone else’s choice or recommendation.

“As a Chartered Building Surveyor I have always been interested in the development of house design, construction and particularly energy efficiency,” explains Simon. “My main inspiration for the build was to explore the limits of energyefficient design through traditional building methods with a view to imminent regulation changes, proposed carbon neutral building and more modern methods of construction.”

Simon chose the large five-acre plot in South Cheshire because of its quiet location and space – which the family’s horses and car collection required much of! “The site was a complete contrast to our former home, which was an old Courthouse on a busy main road.” However, the proposed size became difficult to manage, as Simon continues: “My wife and I had some difficulty balancing the house and outbuilding facilities design, resulting in endless sketches, drawings and models, and ultimately several planning applications to downsize the property.”

Significant time was also spent plotting the exact movements of the sun on site, through all seasons, to optimise the passive solar design and establish the best location for outbuildings. This principle of utilising truly free energy with no middle man or machine is based on simple physics, with the added benefits of reduced running costs and no difficult or expensive maintenance. The only down side was that projects such as this always take longer than expected, in this case around four years! However, the project remained within budget and was completed with no unexpected costs thanks to the well-planned design.

In order to maintain the rural streetscene it was decided to adopt a traditional design for the frontage and add a contemporary feel, albeit in traditional materials, to the private rear elevation.

The traditional masonry construction was designed for super-insulation levels with dense, solid internal walls and tiled floors for thermal mass. The twostorey fully glazed oak frames allow good solar gain, sheltered with balconies to prevent overheating. However, this aspect required significant consideration to allow for the inevitable shrinkage of the oak within the masonry envelope. Concealed steelwork was added to facilitate the large

“My main inspiration for the build was to explore the limits of energy-efficient design through traditional building methods.”

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Rural Retreat

openings in the superstructure.

As the house is sited in an exposed position the external appearance was important and needed to reflect the traditional rural surroundings so Green Oak frames, clay roof tiles and Furness bricks were chosen together with local features such as Flemish brick bonding and dog tooth banding details.

“Internally, we felt it important that these features were continued and remained prominent throughout,” Simon explains. “A detailed examination of ‘renewable energy’ options revealed many disappointing features that suggested they may not be as economic to run as claimed and with the absence of documented case studies and proof of manufacturers claims, an alternative approach was taken based on simpler, more basic principles. Part of the original vision was always to use extensive glazing to bring external spaces and views into the property and this idea steered the design towards Passive means of energy efficiency rather than other so-called renewable energy sources.

Green credentials “The sun is the ultimate energy source and the established principles of thermal mass storage of heat and hot air rising promoted a passive solar gain and ventilation design along the lines of established Passive House principles and Passive Stack ventilation designs. Fortunately, I was in a good position to determine how best to achieve these aims and countless SAP calculations were completed to fine tune the balance of established technology and passive elements. These suggested that very little heat input was required due to the extensive solar gain and insulation levels, so a conventional LPG fired boiler was installed with underfloor heating on

the ground floor and radiators on the first floor with comprehensive whole system, weather compensating, dual zone controls and individual room stats on the ground floor for ultimate control.”

Although Simon initially intended to have minimal involvement in the actual build, the most complex elements of the design required him to take full project management and main contractor responsibilities. “I enjoyed completing many of the finer construction details myself,” he continues. “I decided to build without an NHBC Buildmark warranty

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Above: The home benefits from private views across the surrounding landscape through it's numerous windows Left: Timber cladding adds a rural edge to the property and complements its oak frame

RuralEyebrow Retreat Sub-brow

as their inspectors seemed unable to understand or cope with factors affecting Green Oak. Being a qualified Chartered Building Surveyor and Energy Assessor I had already produced a fully specified and detailed design and my more involved role in the build ultimately inspired me to set up my own design company, SAKdesign.”

Privacy and performance The Kettles' new home is called Hillcrest. Within a small group of houses on the outskirts of this South Cheshire villiage, the property is completely private.

On its approach, via narrow country lanes, the house is mostly obscured until you are adjacent to it. It enjoys an open aspect to the rear, looking over the horses’ paddocks. The house is accessed via a traditional oak

framed porch leading to the entrance hall atrium at the core of the house. This leads to a living room, openplan kitchen/ dining area, utility room and wet room. A galleried landing then leads to a large master bedroom – complete with en-suite and dressing room – three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. The final selection of outbuildings includes a triple garage with hay loft, two stables, a tack room and log cabin.

“In terms of materials selection, we looked primarily at quality, taking a long term view of performance and the suitability of each material for the surroundings,” explains Simon. “A good example was the selection of Furness Brick who provided a hardy brick in a blend appropriate to our location. We also gave serious consideration to sustainability issues and sourced much of the oak locally. We used a variety of Fakro roof

Right: The self-build's rear contrasts the traditional front with extensive modern glazing and balconies Top right: The new home has a traditional front to maintain the rural streetscene

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Rural Retreat windows to maximise natural lighting and encourage solar gain and opted for conservation style units to the front aspect in order to enhance the traditional cottage style. The ridge unit provided our passive ventilation control and has eight windows in combination, electrically operated with the support of an external rain sensor and the added benefit of self-cleaning glass.

“The lengthy design process and investigation of renewable energy sources not surprisingly revealed the simplest principles of energy efficiency to be the most important, i.e install as much insulation as possible to

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Above: Extensive glazing floods the home with natural light

Below: Neutral tones keep the interior fresh and ontrend

retain whatever heat is produced and take maximum advantage of passive features. Products such as heat pumps and whole house ventilation are too reliant on their use of electricity and it is an acknowledged fact that they are seldom designed or installed to achieve true efficiency. However, it is an established fact that development without a recognised renewable energy source severely restricts performance measured through a SAP rating or The Code for Sustainable Homes and it concerned me that a solely passive approach would not receive the recognition it perhaps deserved. This was confirmed by my discussions with The Energy Saving Trust who agreed with my findings but confirmed that heat pumps and the like are “the best technology we have”. I felt this was a rather blinkered approach and insufficient attention to passive solar and thermal mass design with passive heat distribution and ventilation.

It only encouraged my approach to maximise the efficiency of traditional building methods and the nomination of my development as a finalist in the ‘Best Technological Innovation’ and ‘Best Sustainable Development’ sections of the Local Authority Building Excellence Awards has ultimately reassured me that there is some merit in this theory.”

The passive ventilation aspects were understandably extremely challenging owing to an absence of established design information, standardised procedures or effective modelling to confirm its effectiveness. However, the principle that hot air rises cannot be disputed and every effort was made to

Rural Retreat

assist the free flow of air within the airtight property.

All rooms are linked from the central atrium (passive stack) where the automatic roof windows at ridge level allow complete exchange and input of fresh air for the whole house. Surprisingly, the design of the green oak frames encountered similar difficulties as there is little established process for calculating their engineering and loadbearing aspects particularly in relation to locally sourced timber. However, in both respects Simon was allowed significant dispensation from Building Regulations by working closely with the Local Authority Building Control Department to substantiate his theories.

Natural light and vista Although still a work in progress, the self-build blends well with the landscape and is often mistaken for an old cottage. “For me, that is the ultimate complement,” concludes Simon. “As many people enquire about the age of the property or how it was converted it has become apparent that we have succeeded in achieving our aims. In contrast to current fashions to super-size and stand out from the crowd the proportions of our house are adequate rather than oversized with simple, subtle and interesting features. However, the biggest compliment has been from my wife who described it as ‘the ultimate dream house’.

“My favourite aspects include the light and views from inside the property afforded by the extensive glazing and the warmth of winter sun. The light gives a feeling of natural space but even so, as a designer there are a few things I would have done differently. I would certainly make any future design and choice of features a little less complex, to avoid over expectation from contractors and manufacturers.

“My advice to future self-builders is to plan everything in detail before you start to avoid unnecessary costs and frustrations of last minute redesigns. It will not be as cost-effective to self-manage as you might think and the employment of appropriately experienced professionals is vital to the success of any project.

While there is a variety of choice for such ‘experts’ it is important to consider all aspects of the design at every stage and that is where the Chartered Building Surveyor excels, with experience of design, engineering, estimating, legislation and of course construction. But of course I would say that!

“Would we do the whole thing again? My wife says NO but we designers are never happy so it’s only a matter of time…”

www.sakdesign.co.uk Inspired by Simon's glazing choices? Make the most of natural light in your home – See page 53.

Right: The traditional oak frames look out onto the south Cheshire landscape Top right: Simon has every reason to celebrate the completion of his fantastic self-build!

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Heating

Heatec EV’s continuing commitment to development Heatec radiators has helped the development of many heritage renovation projects by minimising the damage to a building’s infrastructure. The Heatec range of cast iron radiators has been enhanced by the inclusion of three new models.

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eatec can trace its origins back more than 25 years to a group of designers and engineers who set about solving the then difficult problem of heating sensitive areas whilst ensuring that the young and the elderly were not put at risk. A control unit was developed and patented which gained wide acceptance with local councils responsible for care homes, colleges for student lodgings, the heating of public places and for areas requiring maintained environments such as National Trust buildings. Heatec have continued to complete an impressive array of projects, including The Scottish Parliament, Chartwell, St. Giles Cathedral and many more.

The Imperial Victorian range now includes heights of 430, 580, and 980mm as standard, as well as the

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original 680mm high model. Additionally, five, three and two column cast iron Victorian radiators are also available on request. The very popular Bohemia range has seen the new 990mm high radiator added to the standard range.

Now available for the first time is the new designer range of Bohemia Retro cast iron radiators at 640mm high with a traditionally patterned cast iron surface, suitable for traditional buildings as well as very modern designer homes. The development of refurbishment projects bringing new life to old warehouses and other traditional buildings covered by Class 1 and Class 2 preservation orders has been helped by the use of Heatec electric radiators by minimising the damage to infrastructure.

Heatec continues to develop as highlighted by its latest radiators, which now include chrome-plated radiators and towel rails, a new range of designer cast aluminium radiators and traditional European cast iron radiators. Other recent additions include the EV range of electric radiators and panel heaters – manufactured by its Spanish partner and available with both oil filled types and with dry elements. These radiators can be remotely controlled and offer an energy saving of up to 40%.

Heatec offer a wide range of central heating radiators, electric, wall mounted, vertical and designer radiators for both domestic and commercial specification. The company also supplies eco-friendly radiators that could help to save on heating bills.

Many Heatec radiators are also available for use in wet systems – both oil and gas fired – together with accessories. A conversion service is also offered for customer’s existing radiators (subject to quality – not second-hand).

sales@heatecev.com 0845 872 6667 www.heatecradiators.co.uk

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Heatec EV Specialist in supplying heritage properties and traditional homes Suppliers to The National Trust – Chartwell (home of Sir Winston Churchill), Fountains Abbey etc.

High quality cast iron – only from European manufacturers Room tempereature thermostatic controls or fixed-tempereature controls painted to blend with the radiators Electric outputs available from 550–3000 Watts (1877–10236 BTUs) Perfect for renovation and refurbishment of historical properties Modern & traditional designs with any RAL colour available

www.heatecev.com Heating Direct Ltd., 279, Eastbourne Ave., Gateshead, NE8 4NN Tel: 0845 8726667 Fax: 0845 8726668 Email: sales@heatecev.com

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The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show Preview

Expert advice and self-build inspiration The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show (27-30 March) returns to Birmingham’s NEC with a host of new features for 2014.

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visit to Britain’s biggest self-build and renovation event, The National Homebuilding and Renovating Show is a must for those building a new home from scratch or tackling a renovation project.

For 2014 the exhibition is re-energising itself with a host of new features including the Energy Saving Home and Sustainable Homes Show. Visitors will be inundated with niche products and over 500 specialist exhibitors that you won’t find on the high street.

Piers Taylor, award-winning RIBA architect and co-presenter of BBC2 series ‘The House that £100k Built’, will be making his debut appearance at the show this year by joining one of the country’s leading property experts, Michael Holmes, editor-in-chief of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, and Charlie Luxton, sustainable architectural designer and presenter of More4’s ‘Building the Dream’. Piers is joining the show to share his knowledge on striking the balance between high quality architecture and amazing value when building your own home, including the importance of investing time and money in design detail and recommendations on selecting the right designer.

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Reducing energy and making financial savings is increasingly at the forefront of Britons’ minds, and this year, the first ever interactive consumer Energy Saving Home is making its debut at the NEC. The Energy Saving Home is a walk-through experience offering insight into the latest technologies to help self-builders save money and take control of household energy consumption.

In addition, attendees can explore this year’s new Sustainable Homes Show where serious builders will gain a greater understanding of how to incorporate ecological materials such as organic insulation, sustainable wood flooring, solvent-free paints and rainwater harvesting systems into projects.

All the experts provide credible commentary and recommendations for every aspect of a project, ranging from design, finance, renewable energy, sustainability, restoration and legal issues. The team of specialist property experts to join Michael Holmes, Piers Taylor and Charlie Luxton this year also include: Jason Orme (editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine); Roger Hunt (award-winning writer and eco expert); David Snell (self-build and plot finding expert); Chris Reeves (chartered builder and lawyer); Hugo Tugman (architectural designer and Real Homes magazine design expert); and Bob Branscombe (chartered surveyor and builder).

Standard tickets are £12 if booked before 3pm on 26 March 2014 or £17 on the door. Children under 16 go free. Tickets also allow entry into the new Home Improvement Show, taking place in the same hall.

www.homebuildingshow.co.uk

Other events not to be missed: Build It Live 22-23 February, Bluewater, Kent

Ecobuild 4-6 March, ExCeL, London

Grand Designs London Live 3-11 May, ExCeL, London

James Latham is gearing up for the UK’s biggest self-build and renovating event to be held at the NEC this Spring (27-30th March 2014; stand D118) where visitors will be able to see a number of its cladding, decking and flooring products.

At the show, Lathams’ will feature four of its focus products for the homebuilding and renovation market.

Accoya is the world’s leading high technology long life wood offering a perfect solution for exterior cladding, siding and facades where aesthetics, less frequent maintenance, dimensional stability, durability and insulation value are key considerations.

Made from 95% recycled materials, Lifecycle by UPM ProFi, is a wood-plastic composite decking that has the luxurious look and feel of a real hardwood decking, but with minimum of maintenance and a 25-year manufacturers guarantee.

UPM ProFi Deck is a fresh and colourful decking solution that brings style to outdoor living and once created, designs

will continue to look great through the years requiring minimal maintenance. This is because, unlike wood and other composites, it is virtually free of lignin.

Evocative of old reclaimed floors found in classical French Chateaux, the 1757 range is naturally distressed and every board is hand finished, so that each one is completely unique.

Chis Sutton, James Latham’s Managing Director commented: “The homebuilding and renovating market is an important one for us and one for which we now have a really strong offering through our national network of 10 distribution sites.

Whether it’s for modifications to enhance an existing residential or commercial property or for a new-build project, we carry the latest and widest range of products

available to the UK market which combine innovative design and aesthetics with strong environmental and sustainable benefits.”

marketing@lathams.co.uk 0116 257 3415 www.lathamtimber.co.uk

The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show Preview

James Latham all set for Homebuilding & Renovating Show

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Bi-fold & sliding doors

The importance of a view Origin, the specialist manufacturer of bespoke aluminium folding sliding doors, has witnessed an 86% increase in bi-folding door sales over the last two years.

Neil Ginger, CEO at Origin, gives his perspective on the trend, as well as advice to homeowners considering folding sliding doors.

F Specifiers need not worry about the security risks of bifold doors as they are designed to resist techniques used by thieves

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olding sliding doors, or bi-folds, have graced stylish homes for years and are fast becoming the most popular self-build and renovation choice, giving an abundance of light and uninterrupted views. As the first flourishes of spring start to bring gardens and landscapes to life, creating beautiful and colourful views from our homes, self-builders may want to consider the importance of a view when designing the decor and layout of their new property.

A recent survey from Origin revealed that over half of homeowners feel their favourite room in the home is the one with the best view. In addition, 80% said a good view of the outdoors had a significant influence on their mood, while over a third of house buyers would purchase a new home based purely on the view. It’s therefore no wonder that the popularity of bi-folding doors has soared.

Many people are still unaware of the variety of bifold door options available. At one end is a three door alternative to patio doors and at the other end of the

Performance and efficiency Aluminium bi-fold doors are virtually maintenance free. Aluminium doesn’t expand or contract so the alignment of the doors will be maintained over the lifetime of the product, with no warping or need for adjustments. The durability and quality of aluminium means that doors made with this material are very long-lasting.

Measured in U Values, the regulations state that the maximum U Value for new builds or extensions is 2.0W/(m2K). Depending on the kind of glass, you can achieve U Values as low as 1.3W/(m2K) with triple glazed units. The main contributor to low U Values of aluminium folding sliding doors is the thermal break between the door frame, which helps to prevent the transfer of cold air from the outside face of the doors through to the living area inside.

Security Incorporating bi-fold doors makes a space – whatever the size – feel much bigger

The weakest point of the doors can be the lock system. Bi-fold doors with an eight point multipoint locking system and Kite marked Magnum security cylinders are proven to resist snapping, picking, drilling and bumping - just some of the techniques used by thieves. This will provide a high level of security without compromising the style.

Ease of use Bi-folding doors can be as low maintenance as you want them to be. With anti-glare and self-cleaning glass options, all you have to do is enjoy the views.

Aluminium is a strong material with lightweight properties resulting in light, easy to use bi-fold doors.

Always ensure your door arrangement has free-glide roller systems for effortless opening and closing, along with special safety features such as ‘finger safe’ gaskets, which provide safe cushioning to avoid little fingers being trapped.

Bi-fold doors, with high quality finishes and materials are a great addition to any project. Ticking the boxes for energy efficiency, easy to use, safe, secure and beautiful, they will enhance any style of property by removing the barriers between the home and the outside views.

Bi-fold & sliding doors

spectrum, there are eight leaf door sets, bay window configurations and even 90 degree corner sets with moving corner posts. Whether you’re after a modern, chic, heritage or quirky look, you can be sure that bi-fold doors will complement the room. The look of doors can also be completely tailored to your needs, with a wide choice of colour options, various wood finishes and door handles for a totally unique look.

www.origin-global.com

Glass is the primary element in bi-fold doors and security can be a major concern. Double and triple glazed glass is hard to break, but laminated glass is even tougher for that extra peace of mind.

Trad

Alumin e Secret : are vir ium bi-fold tually doors m free – ainten alu a expan minium do nce d or co esn’t the ali gnme ntract, so is main nt of doors tained .

Above: Neil Ginger is CEO of specialist manufacturer of bespoke aluminium folding sliding doors at Origin

Left: A recent survey proved that most homeowner's favourite room is that with the best view

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Eyebrow Flooring

: ecret ered S e d Tra y engine

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lit in cted a qua With rd constru xpands/ boa e floor e plete , th om layers acts as a c g it up r cont ce, makin re surfa 75% mo to . stable

manufacturers have responded by developing a new breed of designer products to fulfil customer demand.

But, rather than setting out to re-invent the wheel, the new wood floors use cutting-edge techniques to reinforce their natural look and to create a designer edge without compromising beauty.

New stained lacquers, oils and finishing treatments are being used to emphasise the grain and texture of a real wood floor – and traditional solvent-based varnishes have been replaced with eco-friendly treatments. Even floor joints are playing their part, as most manufacturers turn to glueless locking methods.

Multi-layered construction

Kährs Ash Gotland from the Nordic Naturals collection

The evolution of wooden flooring Quality wood floors not only provide a wealth of options in terms of style; they also score in terms of sound eco-choice and performance, as well as providing a raft of healthy living benefits. In this article, Harvey Booth, Country Manager at Kährs, looks at the eco-credentials of using wooden flooring.

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uring recent years, the wood floor has evolved. Once rarely seen outside of the contemporary or historic home environment, it is now widely specified. Both trade and consumer customers recognise its numerous benefits and, as products go, there are a lot.

This increase in popularity has seen the humble wooden floor transform from an almost structural component, to a key design element - and leading

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Beyond the myriad of product designs and finishes, the modern multi-layered or engineered construction has also played a huge part in the evolution of wood flooring. Unlike a solid wood floor, which is made from one solid piece of timber, a multi-layered construction comprises layers of timber, laid at right angles to each other. There are many advantages to this method. As sustainable hardwood is only used in the surface layer, five times the amount of flooring can be produced with the same hardwood yield, whilst fast growing pine or spruce is used in the core layers.

The construction also makes the floor more stable.

All wood species swell in a warm, humid environment and shrink in the cool and dry. In a solid construction, this natural movement can cause gaps to occur between boards or for flooring boards to become concave or convex. With a quality engineered board, which is constructed in layers, the floor expands and contracts as a complete surface, making it up to 75% more stable. Combined with a quality joint, this eliminates the risk of any gaps or problems associated with humidity from occurring – and makes it an ideal partner to underfloor heating. Floors can also be refurbished, the same as a solid product – for example, down to the joint – so they offer comparable benefits in terms of longevity too.

Eco-savvy designs In today’s competitive market, producers are also working in more imaginative ways to specifically fulfil the demands of eco-savvy customers. Kährs has also taken this one step further, by developing a worldfirst range of sustainable tropical floors. Produced as part of the first FSC and Fairtrade certified timber small-scale forestry project, in Chile’s Curacautin Valley, the new floors are made using a combination of sustainable native Rauli and Roble hardwood timber. The hardwood is used in the surface layer only, whilst FSC Mix certified wood is used for the core layers, combining eco and performance benefits once again. The new range supports not only the restoration of biodiversity in the forest, but also reduction of poverty and restoration of forest rights to the indigenous Mapuche and descendants of pioneer family foresters.

As well as offering sustainable species and certified

Flooring

products, eco-focused manufacturers are making huge strides behind the scenes, in terms of ensuring their whole production is more eco-friendly. For example, at Kährs plant in Sweden local timber sourcing cuts down on transportation and wood waste is converted to provide a variety of products - from biofuel energy to rich ash-based forest fertiliser.

A new breed of floor Today’s new breed of wooden flooring certainly has a lot to offer, in terms of design, performance and eco credentials. It’s a product that has been loved by builders for centuries. It has proved the versatility to evolve, whilst still retaining its original charm and benefits. It looks like the enduring popularity of wood is set to grow still further.

With more than 150 years in the business, Kährs is one of the oldest manufacturers of wood floors in the world. The company was born in 1857 in the town of Nybro, deep in the heart of a Swedish forest, exactly where it is still located today. The wood knowledge accumulated over the years has been passed down from generation to generation.

The company are constantly discussing new ideas of how to improve wood floors. All floors throughout Kährs Artisan Collection feature the multi-layered construction method discussed earlier, which uses sustainable oak down to the joint only, with a combination of fast-growing spruce, pine and poplar below.

www.kahrs.com

Above: Harvey Booth is Country Manager at Kährs (UK) Ltd Top: Beech Opaque by Kährs Left: Kährs Oak Sture from the Founders Collection

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Heating

The heat is on Few people are as interested in their heating systems as self-builders, who are determined to invest in the best and most energy-efficient products available.

The market is full of surprisingly contemporary radiators available in a wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes, as well as impressive green credentials.

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ne of the big questions – having decided whether to utilise a modern condensing boiler or renewable heating system – is how to share the heat efficiently around the property. The two most common options are underfloor heating and radiators.

Modern radiators are very different from those sold pre-2000. They may look similar in appearance, but on closer inspection are very different. Built to much higher standards and from better materials,

Top left: The Caliente radiator by Stelrad demonstrates the diversity of radiators now available Top right: Designer towel rails are a popular addition to self-builds, pictured here is Stelrad's Concord radiator Right: The Radical radiator

by Stelrad may look similar to older designs, but is dramatically different in efficiency

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the pressure for these products to meet a number of important modern standards have pushed manufacturers to create radiators that are as aesthetic as they are efficient.

The options are many, with the quality and value on the market becoming increasingly impressive.

Many premium and designer products are barely recognisable as radiators. From vertical to horizontal, in all varieties of colours, shapes and sizes, there is something to suit the spectrum of design preference.

As long as the radiator is sized properly, heating and cooling times are incredibly efficient.

A variety of energy-saving radiators are now available for the first time in the UK for self-build projects. For example, Radical radiators by Stelrad – a leading UK radiator manufactuer – have been independently shown to save 10.5% of the energy a standard radiator would use. The clever new technology circulates water in a very different way and heats the front panel first, saving energy. It is rare that the radiator needs to heat up to maximum temperature – less than 10% of the time in fact – so using intelligent Radical radiators makes a lot of sense, especially when it comes to your electricity bill!

They provide up to 50% more radiant heat and warm up 23% more quickly than a standard radiator.

The towel rail sector is just one of the diverse and highly competitive segments within the UK radiator market, with towel warmers of all shapes and sizes available for every possible type of installation.

The towel rail market is split between the basic products sold in huge numbers through DIY outlets – representing around 70% of the total market volume – and the more upmarket offerings, which is a segment that continues to grow.

However, despite the appeal and mass attraction in the UK of chrome plated towel warmers, all chrome plated towel rails are at a heat out-put disadvantage compared to those with painted finishes. This is because the plating process compromises the efficiency of the radiator. Plating is a difficult process to master and, as a result, plated rails can also be prone to corrosion from moisture ingress between the steel tube and the layer of plating.

www.stelrad.com

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Heating

i-build

Left: The self-build project has given the plot a fresh, contemporary face-lift Below: The family had extended their previous bungalow three times Bottom: Internorm tripleglazed composite windows in aluminium and timber have been used

Starting from scratch The Thomas family struggled to find a property on the market that suited them, so decided to knock their existing home down and start again!

t: Secre an

e Tradnocking dowanllow

k ty, When ng proper r utilities i o t f s i e ex liers im y of t f. Let supp t n e l s p f cut o lans a to be ow your p sible. s kn as po early

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T

he Thomas's had extended their bungalow three times over the 20 years that they had lived there, but felt it was time to move on.

They didn’t want to relocate far, but struggled to find somewhere suitable nearby. This led the family to do something quite radical… demolish their existing home and build a new one in its place!

“Our home was old and draughty and needed a fair bit of work done to it,” explains Lynn Thomas. “We knew the plot of land the house sat on was valuable so decided that a low energy self-build was the way forward!” The old property was valued at £350k – less than they thought – confirming any doubts in their mind that a custom build was the answer.

“We saw a video about low energy consumption homes and decided that ‘green’ was important to us,” continues Lynn. “We did a lot of to-ing and fro-ing

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with an architectural technician to come up with the final design.” The family decided on high levels of environmental comfort, incorporating solid concrete floors with masonry internal and external walls.

The family wanted to start work in June 2012, but faced a major problem with disconnecting gas and electricity from the original bungalow. They ended up having to wait for two months for the utilities to be cut off and moved even though they had already left the property. They also found it emotionally draining to watch the home in which they had lived for so many years be knocked down, especially considering how long they had to wait before it was done. The utility supplier compensated the family £250 as a result of the delays, but this compared poorly with their extended rental which totaled over £2000.

Ventilation complications The logistics of organising all the different trades was also a challenge as the couple decided to deal with the building control themselves. “My husband has a great deal of experience in energy saving products, so we were able to specify certain products ourselves,” continues Lynn. The H+H Celcon Blocks for the internal and external walls and foundations, the roof tiles underlay, external wall insulation, underfloor heating, woodburner, windows and doors, and more, were all specified by the couple.

After the connection of gas and electricity there was a lengthy warm-up process for the underfloor heating, taking the recommended ten days. Unfortunately, this caused substantial amounts of water vapour to be released, much of which condensed in

Above: The new gravel driveway has made space for an extra car Below: The external walls are 215mm thick Celcon Blocks joined with traditional mortar and a two coat gysum plaster finish

the loft. Although this was only a temporary problem, experience shows a need for care. Advice for other self-builders at this stage is to ventilate the property as much as possible and ensure there is a good air flow through the loft from the eaves, which can easily be blocked by poorly fitted loft insulation.

There were other costs that the family hadn’t originally budgeted for which began to add up.

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i-build

Building Control requested the foundation width and depth should be increased, but they hadn’t budgeted for landscaping costs or the decorating contractor that they decided to use. This, along with the extra £2000 in rent came to quite the unexpected figure.

“In hindsight we could have saved money by staying in the house until it was ready for demolition,” Lynn adds.

Solid sustainability The H+H aircrete used has strong sustainability credentials: not only does it provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation and contributes to air-tightness but, being manufactured from up to 80% recycled materials, it is sustainable both in manufacture and in use.

“Solid wall construction has been growing for several years in the UK market,” explains John Churchett at H+H. “As solid wall eliminates the requirement for cavity ties, cavity closures and cavity trays enabling a simpler build compared to cavity wall construction.

The versatility of this method of build enables various external finishes to be applied; external insulation can be changed to achieve the required thermal performance. The product’s good thermal mass helps in reducing temperature variations within the property allowing the home owner a more comfortable living environment.”

Above: Tiling has been used in bathrooms, en-suites, the kitchen and utility room and remain in-keeping with the self-build's fresh-looking interior design Left: The self-build makes use of natural sunlight with lots of windows

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“This was the first time I had built a house with external wall insulation, although I am very familiar with block-work building,” explains principle contractor, Chris Page. “The single skin went up very quickly and I am very pleased with the end result. I would love to build another house like it.”

The perfect fit The final house fits neatly into the plot, with the local community seeing it as an improvement on what was there. It faces east, which isn’t the conventional positioning for a passive house, however it does have a very low energy consumption.

It achieved a level B in the energy performance certificate because of the amount of insulation and has a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system which regulates the air temperature in the house.

The underfloor heating system also helps greatly with heating the house.

The new self-build boasts everything that the

i-build Right: A neutral interior palette reflects the self-build's fresh exterior Below: Screed floors have been used throughout with underfloor heating and an 18mm engineered wood finish in the living area Below right: The new home has four double bedrooms

same budgeting mistakes that they did. “Plan, plan and plan again before doing anything,” recommends Lynn. “Get all of your figures down on a spreadsheet at the start showing all outgoings and how much of the budget is left and maintain this throughout the entirety of the project. Every time you buy something log it on the spreadsheet. Also, make sure you organise anything concerning utilities well in advance, double check and even triple check just to make sure everyone involved is thinking the same!”

www.hhcelcon.co.uk Take a leaf out of the Thomas family's book with low-energy heating solutions – See page 46.

family wanted – large living spaces, four double bedrooms and a light, open plan feel – you might even forget you’re on the same plot where the prewar bungalow once stood. “The wow factor is the brightness of the house’s exterior as it’s now clearly visible from the road,” continues Lynn. “We recently had road works and most drivers pulled up in the queue opposite the house and spent a long time looking at it. My son also loves the front door that shuts like an airlock!

Low-energy success “My favourite thing about our new home is the comfort factor. It is so warm and homely, there are no cold spots at all. Looking back, the only thing I would change was opting for a wood burner. The underfloor heating ensures the house is so lovely and cosy that the log burner often makes it too hot!”

The Thomas’s have learnt a great deal from their self-build journey and advise others to not make the

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i-build Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

it an ideal material for such applications without compromising in any way on the desired aesthetics.”

Swish offers an expanded range of foiled fascias and soffits including Light Oak, Irish Oak, Mahogany, Rosewood and Black. These finishes are also available in windowboards and trims enabling the homeowner to complete a build perfectly.

Decorative effects

Be stylish without the maintenance

Architects are beginning to specify more imaginative colours and product combinations for modern as well as traditional properties of character. UPVC can be used in a variety of ways in order to achieve this.

In this instance Swish’s decorative roofline system consisting of concave and convex bargeboards and mouldings can be used to accomplish a variety of decorative effects which give needed character to some builds. The concave and convex bargeboards can be used either on their own or together to produce imaginative and ornate finishes and the moulded components can be used to enhance existing fascias by attaching them to a bargeboard to create an attractive facade.

Swish white profiles carry a 20-year comprehensive guarantee, while the coloured and foiled offer a 10-year guarantee. Additionally the Swish Rainwater System is manufactured from 84% recycled material saving 70% of the CO² that would be generated using virgin material – ideal for the homeowner who wishes to reduce their carbon footprint. This also comes complete with a 10-year guarantee.

The versatility of UPVC fascias and soffits and just how they can be utilised on self-builds and heritage renovations is often underestimated.

A Top: Swish offers an expanded range of foiled fascias and soffits Right: Swish UPVC cladding in light oak was able to match the timber perfectly

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lthough standard white PVC fascia remains a firm favourite with the larger house builders, it is not generally associated with properties of distinction, heritage or selfbuilds. Architects and specifiers have seemed reluctant to use PVC in the past, unaware of its flexibility. However, with such a large range of colours and options available they are able to fulfil their clients requirements using this high performance, low maintenance material.

One such example is an impressive self-build property in Hertfordshire. The homeowner was keen to use cladding that would give the appearance of timber as they had already decided on the installation of a heavy oak front door. Swish UPVC cladding in light oak was able to match the timber perfectly with the added advantage of requiring no maintenance and avoiding the inevitable cost that this incurs.

Architect Andrew Hayward at Design Team Consultants – who specified Swish Light Oak shiplap cladding for the Swiss chalet style property – explained: “Swish cladding had been used on multiple surfaces of the build, in relatively inaccessible areas.

The low maintenance properties of UPVC make

www.swishbp.co.uk 01827 317200 information@swishbp.co.uk

LEVATO MONO, a next generation paver system Pavers comprised of a 20mm single layer of load-bearing porcelain stoneware, with incredible technical and aesthetic features.

Self-levelling and height adjustable pedestals allow for rapid installation over uneven sub-surfaces and any waterproof membrane. l

Ideal for roof terraces, balconies and walkways

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Floating floor – installation over single ply membranes

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Eternal finish – massive over life savings

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Zero maintenance

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Completely non-porous; stain resistant

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Slip resistance; BS pendulum test up to +65 wet

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Lightweight – 45kgs per m2

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Timber & stone effects – 30+ finishes available

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High load bearing- static load up to 1 tonne per paver

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Fire and frost-proof

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Height adjustable pedestal support system

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Hidden services with easy access

t. 0845 2700 696 e. info@thedecktileco.co.uk

www.thedecktileco.co.uk The Roland Garros Stadium

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i-build Floors & Surfaces

Three new designs join Kährs’ Artisan Collection

Architectural porcelain paver system The Levato Mono paver system is the pinnacle of external raised flooring technology; providing lightweight, slip resistant and attractive raised flooring solutions, which combine technical properties with uncompromised aesthetics, making them the ideal choice for self-builds and renovations, as well as commercial and domestic use alike.

High load and impact resistance; extreme wear and scratch resistance; frost and fireproof; colour fast and extremely resistant to staining; resistance to mould and algae growth – these qualities ensure an extremely low-maintenance and trouble-free flooring solution.

Matching internal tiling options are also available allowing for seamless visual transition between internal and external spaces.

The collection is available in more than 40 colours and finishes in both ultra-realistic timber and stone pavers – which combine 3D printing and mould making technology – to reproduce identical copies of natural materials and with up to 30 prints available for each paver range. Once laid the eye is unable to discern any replicated pattern allowing for a completely natural-looking surface.

Recently specified for external dining areas at London Zoo as well as the new Portico Terrace at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, one of the Levato Mono sandstone effect paver ranges was considered so similar to natural sandstone material, that is was sanctioned for use on a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.

Used in conjunction with height adjustable fixed head or self-levelling pedestals or fixed height paver support pads, the Levato Mono system makes it possible to create perfectly level surfaces over uneven sub-surfaces. Ideal for installation over all waterproof membranes, its support system covers height ranges from 7-550mm and incorporates a patented self-levelling slope correction facility with the convenience of height adjustment after the pavers are installed.

www.thedecktileco.co.uk 0845 2700 696 info@thedecktileco.co.uk

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Kährs has introduced three new wood floor designs to its Artisan Collection.

Reflecting the collection’s rustic signature look, each design has an on-trend surface finish, which is complemented by the timber’s gnarled and knotty character. All floors are crafted in Sweden from sustainable European oak and feature Kährs multi-award winning eco-construction. New Kährs Oak Concrete has a grey-tinged natural oil finish, whilst Kährs Oak Saw Brown and Oak Saw White provide light and dark colour options; in a pale beige-white hue and rich conker tone. All three designs have a tactile handscraped and brushed surface and distinct bevelled edge.

www.kahrs.com sales@kahrs.com 023 9245 3045

Karndean Designflooring’s new AR app projects virtual flooring Karndean Designflooring has unveiled a brand new Augmented Reality (AR) app which allows users to view any Karndean floor in real time. Using cutting edge AR technology, the sophisticated app brings flooring ideas to life and for the first time, allows specifiers, contractors, architects and interior designers to view any Karndean floor in a commercial space during the specification process. The free app can be used to demonstrate which Karndean floors suit the style and shape of any space. With access to the full Karndean Designflooring catalogue via the app’s innovative Touch Selector, specifiers and designers can explore and test out any floor.

www.karndean.com info@karndean.co.uk 01386 820100

Keep wooden surfaces in top condition Polyx Oil from Osmo UK is a premium wood finish guaranteed to keep wooden surfaces in top condition.

Ideal for solid engineered or laminate wood floors, it is a high quality, water-repellent and tread-resistant wood finish based on natural ingredients. Available in matt, clear and satin-matt finishes, the Polyx Oil range offers the highest coverage of any oil on the market - a 2.5 litre can cover approximately 30m² with two coats. Polyx Oil is extremely easy to apply and virtually odourless due to its reduced solvent content. This is a key benefit for anyone suffering from asthma or other breathing problems. It also contains no biocides or preservatives.

www.osmouk.com info@osmouk.com 01296 481 220

Despite a weak British summer last year, an increasing number of landscaping tasks are being completed as home owners turn to enjoying what the outside of their property has to offer. Ruth Sperring, Commercial Sales Manager at Instarmac group plc, explains how the company’s new range of repair and maintenance products can assist builders this season, and beyond.

We have developed a range of easy to use, cost effective and reliable products which will allow builders to tackle a variety of landscaping tasks with greater ease and confidence than ever before.

i-build Floors & Surfaces

Fixing the British summer landscape

All items in the i-fix range come in easy to carry and store packaging which means the cost of wasted product is eliminated and they won’t take up valuable space in vans or sheds.

One of the first steps in improving a patio or drive for summer is repairing concrete that has become damaged due to wet and cold weather.

While most builders are more than up to the task, buying large quantities of materials to fix such small areas can prove problematic. The i-fix Speedy Concrete comes in a handy 10kg tub and simply needs to be mixed with water.

We’ve also developed a unique Speedy

Paving Grout, which acts as a high-strength flowable mortar for pointing customer’s slabs, and can be simply poured on the target area to reduce builders’ application time.

For long term solutions, our i-fix Paving Sealer improves the appearance of landscapes over time by preventing sand being washed away from joints or weed growth. Builders can easily pour the product directly onto the area from a watering can making it efficient and mess free.

www.i-fix.co.uk 01827 254 499 i-fix@instarmac.co.uk

a total solution for architectural glazing a total solution for architectural glazing

• atriums •• atriums facades •• facades canopies •• canopies partitions • partitions

• rooflights •• rooflights balustrade •• balustrade conservatories •• conservatories walk on floors • walk on floors

• shuffle glazing •• shuffle framed glazing glazing •• framed glazing structural glazing •• structural frameless glazing glazing • frameless glazing

Tel: Tel: 01842 01842 816080 816080 sales@glazinginnovations.co.uk sales@glazinginnovations.co.uk www.glazinginnovations.co.uk www.glazinginnovations.co.uk

45 IBU_90x122_2014-02-10.indd 1 IBU_90x122_2014-02-10.indd 1

10/02/2014 14:33:22 10/02/2014 14:33:22

i-build Floors & Surfaces HVAC/HVP

Pilots enjoy ‘soft landing’ with Stelrad Two pilots – husband and wife John and Christine Karman – are enjoying the experience of replacing the heating system in their beautiful Sussex home, incorporating the latest energy saving options including the award-winning Radical radiators from Stelrad.

RENSON helps create healthy spaces RENSON aims to create a healthy, comfortable and energy efficient indoor climate using natural ventilation and sun protection. The selfregulating flap ventilator Invisivent EVO AK is almost invisible from the outside and from the inside you only see the internal tip lever. It offers a maximum airflow of 15.9 l/s/m at 2 Pa and a sound reduction in open position up to 48 dB. The Fixscreen 150EVO is a truly wind-resistant and insect proof screen in every position. Besides the current Softline box design, a new sleek Square has been designed in response to the strong market demand.

www.rensonuk.net 01622 754123 info@rensonuk.net

Etherea heat pump provides top performance

The new serial feed radiators from Stelrad, a leading UK radiator manufacturer, offer a wide range of benefits over traditional parallel feed radiators including an independently assessed 10.5% energy saving. The range also has a much faster heat up and cool down, increased radiant heat output, and a major contribution to a condensing boiler as the lower return temperature of the circulating water to the boiler ensures the boiler really operates in condensing mode reducing energy use, energy bills and emissions from the heating system.

John is a self-confessed anorak when it comes to heating systems, having done his own research before contacting a professional to perform the system integration he required from the components he had selected. He had tracked down a Viessman Vitocrossal 300 condensing gas-fired boiler to power the system – before the boiler was actually available in the UK! In addition, a Viessman solar thermal system arrived and provides at least 50% of the hot water required during the year. There’s a Rehau underfloor heating installation downstairs and upstairs the heat is shared through the award-winning Stelrad Radical radiators that have been installed across the upper floor.

It’s a case of so far so good as far as the Karmans are concerned: “The system is working really well and we have had to have thermostats installed in every room to keep room temperatures down! Once the system is on it rarely needs to operate at more than 50% of its output capacity.”

www.stelrad.com 0844 543 6200 marketing@stelrad.com

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Panasonic is pleased to announce that its new Etherea QKE heat pump range achieves an impressive SCOP of 4.80 -> A++ and SEER of 7.60 -> A++. This class-leading highly energy-efficient system provides healthy air quality, comfort and reliability for homeowners. Etherea heat pumps offer outstanding seasonal efficiency to provide optimum heating and cooling all year round. Thanks to Panasonic’s innovative inverter system, the new QKE range delivers energy savings of up to 38%.

With original Panasonic Inverter technology and a high performance compressor, this heat pump provides top-class operating efficiency.

www.panasonic.com 01344 85 3182 matthew.hayes@eu.panasonic.com

Strike the perfect balance CVO Fire has extended its range of contemporary fireplaces by adding new Balanced Flue Gas Fires.

These energy efficient fireplaces have excellent SAP ratings and are room sealed.

Available in a wide range of sizes from 600-2000mm wide in five separate styles, front only, left side, right side, three-sided and tunnel (or see through). These glass fronted fireplace designs are energy saving with over 85% efficiency. CVO Fire has many award-winning fireplace designs available for different installation requirements – with and without a chimney including its 100% energy efficient “open flamed” flueless gas fires which require no chimney.

www.cvo.co.uk 01325 301020 sales@cvo.co.uk

i-build HVAC/HVP

Heat pump calculator shows running costs Mitsubishi Electric has launched a dedicated Ecodan selection tool to coincide with the Government’s announcement that heat pumps are now included in the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive.

The new Ecodan selection tool allows anyone to examine the viability of heat pumps for their building and shows both running cost comparisons against other technologies and payback periods, which take the RHI payments into account.

“We have built this tool to allow anyone to access the relevant information for their project, whether they are a homeowner, a consultant, a contractor or an individual business,” commented John Kellett, General Manager of the company’s Heating Division.

“There is a mass of information concerning RHI and we wanted to ensure that people considering their options can cut through all this so that they can access all of the information needed to allow them to find the best solution for their own individual situation.”

The Ecodan Selection Tool allows anyone with an interest in heat pumps to get an insight into what this technology could deliver to any building, whether it is a single domestic dwelling or a large commercial project.

Mitsubishi Electric is a market leader in heat pumps with the Ecodan range available in individual domestic units from 4kW right up to commercial systems that will deliver 688kW of heating. The system is already installed in thousands of homes across the UK and is now being specified for more and more commercial projects, such as schools and student accommodation.

www.heating.mitsubishielectric.co.uk 01707 282880 heating@meuk.mee.com

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i-nteriors Eyebrow Sub-brow

From derelict to dream home For her last ever project, serial renovator Suzanne Noble has transformed a dated hovel – that once belonged to a great public icon – into a luxury London dwelling.

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ith her children heading off to university, Suzanne Noble was on the look out for an unmodernised London property to gut and transform into the home of her dreams. When she came across a dilapidated South Hampsted maisonette on a property website she rang the agent immediately.

The flat previously had an illustrious owner, Yogi Mayer MBE. Having fled Nazi Berlin with his young family in 1939, he went on to lead the Primrose youth club, whose members were survivors of Nazi concentration camps. He mentored and encouraged

48 48

“the boys”, as they became known, to build new lives for themselves in Britain. His drive and enthusiasm to help others throughout his life made him a hugely appreciated member of the community in which he lived. However, after his death aged 99, having lived in the property for 50 years, the flat was left in a very sorry state, riddled with damp and very dated – exactly what Suzanne was looking for! Within a week of seeing the property it was hers.

Having renovated several times before, this was Suzanne’s fourth major project. “I guess you could say I’m a serial renovator,” begins Suzanne. “I love the

i-nteriors challenge of putting my own stamp on a property rather than buying a place that has been created according to someone else’s taste. I feel more comfortable in a home that I’ve renovated. I don’t think I have extreme tastes, but I like things the way I like them.”

Suzanne’s architect, Simon Miller, came up with four schemes for her new home. “After living in a large, family house for 20 years, I really wanted this –my last

Above: This is Suzanne's fourth renovation

Below: Suzanne worked with interior designer Kelly Fannon

project – to be my flat as opposed to a family home.

The design I picked is centered around my needs, with an open plan dressing room, huge bathtub at the end of my bed and a large open plan kitchen/living room that’s perfect for dinner parties. I picked it because it was the most selfish design! As a single woman with a couple of boys that come and go from university, it just made the most sense.”

After waiting three months for planning permission to be finalised, Suzanne’s project could begin, with a project length of six months, however, the ever-reliable British weather had alternative plans.

“The weather was so cold that the builders had to stop work on the extension because the ground was too frozen!” continues Suzanne. “As a lower storey maisonette, I was also worried about disturbing the tenants that lived upstairs, especially as the steel work required was pretty major. Thankfully the builders managed to get the massive steel beams in without creating any major disturbance.” The project only ran over by three months, although as a result Suzanne ended up moving four times in nine months – “not advisable!”.

Professional guidance Suzanne left most of the material and product specification to Simon as, having worked with her on a previous renovation, he knew her tastes well.

“I worked with Simon Miller when I brought an abandoned electroplating factory that I wanted to convert into an office for my PR agency. It was a very big job and his first commercial project.

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i-nteriors Eyebrow Sub-brow Above: Glass balustrades open up the small central London interior Above right: Distressed kitchen cabinets add to the renovation's neutral palette

Below: The unmodernised maisonette was completely gutted, but original accents remain visible, such as the red structural beams

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I pretty much left him to get on with it and the result was spectacular! So when I saw the flat I knew I wanted to use Simon again.”

She also worked with interior designer Kelly Fannon who was instrumental in the lighting plan and colour scheme. “I met Kelly when I advertised on a message board,” she explains. “It wasn’t the usual approach, but it worked and we got on very well.”

The end result is an inspirational renovation that has almost doubled the property’s value. The home now boasts three double bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open plan dressing room, large living space and dedicated laundry room; it really is the gloriously selfish design that Suzanne had wished for. The team have utilised every square metre of this small slice of London and transformed it into a £1.2mil home.

“I did end up going £20k over budget due to aesthetics,” admits Suzanne. “I chose a more expensive porcelain floor for the ground level, added

extra windows and doors, additional kitchen units, as well as a more expensive worktop and splash back.

But looking back there’s nothing I would have done differently!”

The flat features a large open plan kitchen and sitting room with units designed by Schüller. The space embodies soft, neutral tones with colourful statements. The structural steel frame remains exposed and painted a vibrant red, which is a contrast to the chalky distressed wooden kitchen cupboards and grey stained doors. This theme of neutral colours with eye-catching features runs throughout the renovation in a feminine palette of pale pastels and warm statement hues.

Sunlight and serenity “We like the expressed red structure on the Upper Ground Floor, it is unapologetic but respects the traces of the original building,” explains Suzanne’s architect

i-nteriors

Simon Miller. “We also like the glass sliding door at the top of the staircase that allows borrowed light from the side of the house and the peak window by the glass door. The general material palette works wonderfully with both the natural and artificial lighting.”

As the upper ground floor benefits from direct east and west sunlight, the way light flows through the old London maisonette was integral to the product specification. Suzanne’s want for a sensorial prominence in her new luxury pad is achieved through the indulgent elements of the interior design, from the ability to walk barefoot on porcelain thanks to the underfloor heating, to gazing upon the beautiful freestanding bath from the comfort of her bed.

Personal paradise “I love the open plan kitchen and living room,” beams Suzanne. “I work from home and it’s a very relaxing peaceful space. There is a Sonos stereo throughout the room and I adore turning it on first thing in the

morning and listening to jazz vocals all day long – bliss! My boys say that the kitchen reminds them of Shoreditch House, where I occasionally go and I like the eclectic, traditional mixed with modern feel of their clubs.”

“I think this is my last renovation,” concludes Suzanne. “I don’t see myself moving again as the property is everything I hoped it would be, and more!

The boys each have a decent sized bedroom and their mum has a wonderful living space.”

www.simonmillerarchitects.com www.kellyfannon.com For kitchen inspiration and a taste of Suzanne's individual style – See page 55.

“I think this is my last renovation... I don’t see myself moving again as the property is everything I hoped it would be, and more!”

Left: The open plan living space is perfect for hosting dinner parties!

Above: Feminine statements create the "selfish" space that Suzanne desired

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i-nteriors

Now for removing the existing door and frame.

Start with the beading so the glass can be removed easily and safely.

Doors & Windows

When removing the frame cut at an angle this makes it much easier. It can then be prised away from the wall after removing any retaining screws.

Check the wall surround to make sure that all screws and retaining plugs and bolts have been removed.

Clean the area thoroughly, ensuring that no old sealant and plaster remains. This will ensure a clean, flush fit.

Smooth finish Depending on the lock option, the retaining screw for the cylinder and the cylinder itself will need to be removed before fixing the new handle and cylinder, and beginning the installation. This is only applicable to a thumb turned cylinder.

The right fit At the heart of a good quality door installation are some basic principles – organisation, accuracy and cleanliness. Adrian Sunter of Safedoors gives some handy tips on how to get started and achieve a high standard of finish.

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efore starting an installation it is essential to have all of the necessary tools and equipment to hand, including packers in various sizes (and colours if not previously selected) and also ensuring that the correct sealant is available in a complementary colour if preferred.

Another staple requirement is a clean dust sheet for protecting carpets. It’s also handy to have a hoover with a small brush or nozzle and an extending hose close by, as well as clean cloths and/or sponges for wiping down before applying the sealant once the installation is complete.

Once all the tools are in place and the new door has been checked over, the lock has been tested and any ancillary parts have been removed e.g. removing the keys from the frame where they have been secured during transit, it’s time to prepare the space.

Installation checklist Before taking out the old door and frame measure the height and width of the new door to ensure a correct fit.

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Offer the door and frame up to the space made available to check the size and fit. This is a minimum two person lift.

Once in place check that the door is square before going any further.

Once happy with the fit begin drilling the holes through the frame and into the wall. Safedoors recommends four fixings per side (upright) and one in the head of the frame (top).

Check again to make sure that the door is square. If not, then use packers to achieve the right fit.

Once the door has been squared off, check that the gap between the door leaf and frame is even before tightening retaining frame screws into the wall.

Before applying the sealant, wipe down the frame to ensure that there is no residue, dust or debris that could interfere with the finish. Cleaning after the sealant has been applied will ruin the smooth surface of the sealant!

Coloured sealant is widely available so be sure to select either a complementary colour to the door and frame or one that would match the building material of your property.

To accompany this guide Safedoors has produced a short ‘how to’ video, which can be viewed on the company’s website.

www.safedoors.co.uk 01684 595200 sales@safedoors.co.uk Left: It is essential to have all of the necessary tools and equipment to hand before starting your installation Above: Before applying the sealant, wipe down the frame to ensure that there is no residue

www.lomaxwood.co.uk 020 8616 2187 enquiries@lomaxwood.co.uk

WER A+ rating for Reynaers Concept System windows Successfully achieving the new, top energy efficiency rating, Reynaers Concept System windows scored a Window Energy Rating (WER) A+ from the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC). “Putting our systems through the BFRC rating programme clearly identifies the capabilities of our Concept System windows, in keeping with our aim to supply innovative, marketleading aluminium system solutions,” says John McComb, Director Technical Services, Reynaers Aluminium. A thermally improved threechamber system, Reynaers CS 77 HI utilises industry-leading technology along with multiple chambers in order to achieve its high insulation levels.

www.reynaers.co.uk 0121 421 1999 reynaersltd@reynaers.com

Arboreta launches new website Leading bespoke, oakframe building design team Arboreta has launched a new website, www.arboreta-oak. com, which showcases its handcrafted garden rooms, conservatories, orangeries, annexes and extensions. The updated website reflects the high quality behind Arboreta’s distinctive, oak-frame designs and the new layout allows you to navigate with ease and discover everything you need to know about the services Arboreta provides and the expert craftsmanship. The new website allows you to interact with the company more easily and it is now possible to speak one-to-one with an expert at Arboreta online with the new ‘Live Chat’ function where someone is available to answer any queries you may have.

www.arboreta-oak.com 0800 288 8333 info@arboreta-oak.com

Brio, a specialist in door hardware solutions, is helping Input Joinery of Andover create its prestigious hardwood bi-folding door installations, including a highly specialist curved bi-folding door project.

Mark Fisher, Managing Director at Input Joinery explains: “The most recent project we have undertaken came via architect Chris Tizzard who had specified a set of curved bi-folding hardwood doors on a large private house.

This was a very specialised commission so we took time to discuss the best way forward with Brio and they worked with us closely to manufacture and supply the necessary hardware.”

i-nteriors

Lomax + Wood is the first manufacturer to pass the post in achieving a U-value of 1.1 W/m²K for the Kensington & Chelsea timber sliding sash window. This applies to both traditional weights and pulleys, and spring balance forms of operation. The Kensington & Chelsea flush and stormproof casements achieve a U-value measurement of 1.2 W/m²K, while Kensington & Chelsea French doors perform with a highly satisfactory 1.4 W/m²K. The company’s announcement comes in advance of the 2013 changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, relating to energy efficiency of buildings, which come into effect in April 2014.

Brio throws a curve

Doors & Windows

U-value for Lomax + Wood’s timber sliding sash windows

www.briouk.com 0191 229 1224 sales@briouk.com

Profile 22 offers the next generation of fully reversible designs A new highly energy efficient, easy-to-clean, fully reversible window is now available from leading profile manufacturer Profile 22. Ideal for both highand medium-rise applications, the new window has a rotational 180 degree pivot action allowing residents to safely clean the outer window panes from inside their home.

It has been designed with a five chamber system and can incorporate argon filled triple glazing which enhances thermal performance. The product achieves a U-value of 0.8 and an A+ rating under the Window Energy Ratings scheme. The fully reversible window also has the ability to incorporate triple seals maximising thermal performance.

www. profile22.co.uk 01952 290910 mail@profile22.co.uk

Traditional Apeerance with a high-tech twist Traditional good looks go hand in hand with high-tech locking thanks to a new finger-pull doorplate exclusive to Apeer Doors. Designed to work with the Winkhaus AV2 Heritage multi-point locking system, the new Apeer escutcheon plate with finger hook further enhances the lock’s sympathetic reproduction as a period classic. Says UK Sales Manager for Apeer, Pete Shears: “The locking mechanism offers leading edge technology within a design that echoes the classic rimlatch lock. What we have done is develop a bespoke accessory that works with the lock for those who want the convenience of a finger pull for easier closing.”

www.apeer.co.uk 028 2563 2200 sales@apeer.co.uk

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i-nteriors

A clear element of self-builds

Stairs & Balustrades

Glass balustrades can maximise a property’s potential and are increasingly specified for both interior and exterior use in residential and commercial properties.

The innovative use of glass can revitalise hallways and entrance halls, opening up interiors and adding value and style, whilst the addition of glass balustrades to the exterior of a property gives a contemporary finish without obscuring either the building itself or the views from its windows. Glass is frequently an integral part of the design in new build projects but works equally well when refurbishing heritage buildings, adding contemporary style and modern functionality without detracting from the original architecture.

www.ionglass.co.uk 0845 658 9988 info@ionglass.co.uk

Staircases take centre stage

Floating Staircases in Central London Canal Architectural has created a grand entrance for a Central London penthouse with two floating cantilever staircases leading the way to stunning views.

With a brief to produce high end, contemporary access for the multi-storey penthouse, Canal used its knowledge and engineering expertise to transform the initial design ideas into two feature staircases incorporating glass balustrade throughout the apartment.

Canal started the project at its state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Nottingham fabricating the hidden metalwork structure; the secret behind the staircase’s success. Once transported to the apartment, Canal had its own on-site installation team fitting the metalwork into place creating the first fix of the staircases. The beautiful solid timber box treads, matching the existing penthouse flooring, had bespoke LED rope lighting fitted under each tread beaming a soft light onto the one below. Once sleeved over and fitted, the Canal team fixed the low iron glass balustrade panels onto each staircase and around the first and second floor openings that were supplied by ‘Glass & Stainless Ltd’. The overall look was complemented with the stainless steel handrail, which topped the glass balustrade throughout the property.

Canal Architectural provides the full service from concept to completion for both residential and commercial environments in the UK and abroad. Canal is exhibiting at Ecobuild this year in March at stand S657.

www.canal.eu.com 0115 986 6321 canal@canalengineering.co.uk

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In the past domestic staircases were built within the confines of a hall or entrance lobby and even grand staircases within stately homes were situated in areas where people tended not to linger. Today however, the staircase is no longer kept out of sight, as the trend towards open plan living has promoted its importance.

Being visible from key areas of the property, a feature staircase adds desirability and wow factor as well as integral functionality. BISCA specialises in bespoke staircases, balustrades, canopies and architectural features that represent imagination, timeless style and quality materials.

www.bisca.co.uk 01439 771702 staircase@bisca.co.uk

A revival for bespoke timber handrails Offering a one-stop-shop service, Precision Timber Handrails is renowned for designing and manufacturing high quality, bespoke handrails for homeowners. “The demand for wood in interiors has seen a massive revival in recent years,” explains Jenna Denson, head of Precision Timber rails. “We’ve noticed that popular materials for staircases, like metal and glass, are now being combined with wood for features such as handrails and balustrades, to create a stunning contrast that is both contemporary, and exudes quality. In particular we are seeing a real demand for bespoke woodwork for both residential and commercial projects and we expect this trend to grow into 2014.”

www.pthandrails.co.uk 01782 646222 pth@clivedurose.co.uk

www.hansgrohe.co.uk 01372 465655 enquiries@hansgrohe.co.uk

Mereway introduces a new kitchen concept

As the demand for floorlevel showers in bathroom renovations continues to grow, wedi once again leads the way in offering first class proven, reliable and practical system solutions that will continue to perform over time. Providing a total installation height of only 70mm, wedi Fundo Plano Linea is an extension to the successful wedi Fundo range of floor-level showers. In many renovation projects design and installation options are restricted to running all drainage and water services ‘surface mounted’ above the existing finished floor level. Such cases can present problems in the consequential excessive increase in height to internal floor levels.

www.wedi.co.uk 0161 864 2336 sales@wedi.co.uk

Ellis Furniture launches Reflection Gloss Maize

Mereway Kitchens is celebrating the very essence of being British with an impressive launch of its new English Revival modern classic collection; a range which features unique iconic furniture pieces, distinctive colour palettes and the very finest in quality British craftsmanship. Modern Classic is a new sensation that Mereway is driving to market in the form of a new contemporary slab door in-frame range which offers a real bespoke look. Driven by British consumer taste, Mereway’s new Modern Classic look presents a fresh, exciting new style with an exciting modern twist to in-frame kitchen design.

Continuing this season’s launch of new bathroom products, leading manufacturer Ellis Furniture has launched Reflection Gloss Maize with the new centre wave worktop. Featuring a 22mm lacquered handle-less door, Reflection is available across the entire fitted and modular cabinet offer. Shown here with reduced depth modular units and a glass centre wave worktop, the effect is simple, stylish and contemporary. The new Alpha basin and the new Indigo basin mixer tap perfectly complement the striking worktop and reduced depth modular furniture. The new panoramic mirror measuring 1650mm by 575mm provides a stunning backdrop to this beautiful bathroom from Ellis Furniture.

www.merewaykitchens.co.uk 0800 028 4466 info@merewaykitchens.co.uk

www.ellisfurniture.co.uk 01484 514212 sales@ellisfurniture.co.uk

Granite Transformations launches Porcelain Collection Granite Transformations, the home makeover specialist that deals exclusively through its own network of showrooms, has announced the debut of its new porcelain work surface collection.

Porcelain properties include outstanding hardness, strength and durability, as well as high resistance to chemical attack and thermal shock.

There are three new work surface colours in the Porcelain Collection: Terra Chiara (1606) and Terra di Siena (1607), each with varying flecks of gold, brown, black and white, and the finely grained Sierra Nevada (1624), which is lighter and more neutral in colour, like a ‘snowy range’.

www.granitetransformations.co.uk 0800 044 5393 enquiries@granitetransformations.co.uk

i-nteriors

As part of the innovative Select programme from Hansgrohe, the new ShowerSelect concealed thermostat sets make selecting and turning the different functions on and off both intuitive and pleasing. There are no complex electronics, just a mechanical control that is also easy to install. The sets are available in five different functional versions, ranging from a thermostat with a simple On/Off function through to a combination featuring a ShowerSelect shut-off valve for up to three different functions. The square basic shape measuring 157mm suits tiling layouts of any size.

These polished chrome thermostat sets provide a universal operating control for many handheld and overhead showers, as well as bath fillers.

Low profile linear shower system innovation

Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms

Control at the push of a button

Enjoy a steam free mirror at all times The property market appears to be tentatively on the move, and one item is proving to be of great interest to those building or refurbishing hotels, houses and apartments. To add value and enhance functionality, a demista heated mirror pad is a worthwhile investment.

This pad is easy to install, and will ensure a steam free mirror at all times, no matter how steamed up the bathroom. The heated mirror pads are available in a variety of sizes, and for particularly large surfaces can be used in multiples.

Running costs are minimal and once wired in to the lighting system, will gently warm the mirror when the bathroom is in use.

www.demista.co.uk 01932 866600 sales@demista.co.uk

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Eyebrow i-scape Sub-brow

A personal panorama Following countless challenges with their new log home, Russell and Janice Quinlan waited two years before turning its bare surroundings into a vision of serenity. ecret:d S e d a Tr olate

is ans gh an Althou evitably me ure n in ke s locatio l views, ma ating u e if r t c beau udget for you b cess roads. ac

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W

hen the Quinlans inherited a substantial sum they wanted to invest in something useful. Having lived in Woodhead of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, for 31 years they were concerned that the village was starting to become overdeveloped. So, the combination of the two became the catalyst for embarking on a self-build journey.

Because Woodhead had been their home for so long they were keen to stay in the area and were delighted to discover an incredible rural site just a few miles from their home. “We wanted somewhere a bit different and a house that would complement it,� explains Russell. The plot was home to a traditional stone cottage that sat on the crest of a hill surrounded by amazing views over the Grampian Mountains. The

i-scape plot appears completely isolated from the rest of civilisation, sitting alone amidst the stunning Scottish vista.

Inspired by a log home that they saw on Grand Designs, they looked for a design that would fit their budget and went to see an example. As a structural engineer by trade, Russell felt the log house designs looked strong, so they decided to go ahead with a Finnish package build, configuring the rooms to suit their needs at the design stage.

However, the project was not as straightforward as they had hoped as they faced a number of problems, firstly due to the rural location of the site. The plot had no amenities: no power, water, telephone or sewage – not even road access! “Being off the grid with no usable access road was an issue,” continues Russell.

Left: The finished self-build garden complements the surrounding Scottish vista Top right: The derelict cottage that previously sat on the plot dated back to the Victorian era Lower right: There was no usable access to the isolated plot, which meant a pricey start to the project

“The first job was to reopen the original track down to the main road. Once this was done and cored it was suitable enough to take the delivery of the two 40ft trucks that came to deliver the house.” This meant a pricey start to their self-build before any of the materials had even arrived!

Costly complications The second problem they faced was with the log house supplier. “Because the supplier didn’t provide enough on-site guidance during the build we ended up with massive draught problems,” explains Russell.

“It turned out that the supplier was basically a cowboy only interested in the sale and not the build. Luckily we came up with a scheme with our builder, Andy Gracey, to cure the draughts. We had

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i-scape Above: User access needed to be freed from overgrown plant life before any of the building materials could be delivered

such an issue finding reliable tradesmen. Eventually Andy brought in tradesmen who he knew were good, I didn’t have that original knowledge and as a result had to sack some of the original tradesmen as they didn’t finish jobs.”

The first floor master bedroom with external terrace

Trustworthy tradesmen

Below: Janice worked hard landscaping the garden without any professional help

Although Russell did most of the actual project managing, Andy really did most of the ‘on-site’ management. “We kind of found Andy by accident” comments Russell, “but he was brilliant at bringing in the trades needed to make sure the build continued.

He always checked with us on any decisions and without his input it would have been extremely difficult. If you can’t afford to spend your own time or pay for a project manager, make sure the main trade are happy to take on-site control and keep in

“The important thing to remember is to thoroughly research the supplier of the house and make sure the example you view is unbiased.”

regular communication.”

Despite all the complications, a year and a half later the couple moved into their new home, called Long Rig, in the summer of 2010. The log house is everything they had hoped it would be. The lower floor is defined by a double height glass front area extending up to a mezzanine floor which has office space, a lounge area and a bedroom with en suite.

The ground floor boasts an open plan living space along with a kitchen, bedroom, utility room and family bathroom. All exterior and interior finishes are Scandinavian Pine for that real log home feel.

“The property fits in with the surrounding landscape extremely well and it’s evolving as the timber ages,” continues Russell. The open-feeling house benefits from the fantastic views but Russell and Janice take comfort in knowing that Woodhead is only a few miles away. “We love the feel of being isolated with the knowledge that our nearest neighbour is only half a mile away.”

Patient planning Despite moving into their home three years ago, the couple left their garden bare for several years, exhausted from all the problems they had faced with their self-build. “Financially it wasn’t something we could afford to do straight away. Hiring diggers, buying red granite chips, the plants and the big granite block we wanted to mark the house entrance all cost money and so we waited until funds allowed us to make it what it deserved to be.”

58 58

Eyebrow i-scape Sub-brow After the build, the garden was left with two massive mounds of earth that needed to be redistributed around the site. Because they weren’t in any particular hurry, they had the flexibility to landscape leisurely, completing little bits here and there. The garden became an evolving space that has literally grown as more has been added to it over the last few years, finally completing their project last summer.

Above: The couple waited for two years before filling their garden with plants

Below: The log home features a stunning glass front which takes advantage of the surrounding view

We wanted to use the stone as a reminder of what used to be there. This looks great around the house and we are now constructing a small wall around the garden with the remaining sandstone.”

The self-build is situated in a beautiful location to compliment, however, the Aberdeenshire landscape can be incredibly windy and cold, so this greatly affected their plant specification. The Quinlans

Independent instinct Janice has worked hard landscaping their self-build’s exterior, working completely independently without the help of a professional. As a result the garden is beautifully personal with modest accents that complement the grandeur of the new home. They have opted for no grass, but instead filled the space with lots of plants that blend with the landscape: bushes and small trees – such as laburnum and silver birch – with red granite chip footpaths and a surrounding beech hedge. The couple merely followed their instinct and went with what felt right.

“We built a decking area at the front of the house and a separate deck in the middle of the garden to house half-whiskey barrel planters which were sourced locally,” continues Russell. “Balustrades separate the garden from the surrounding landscape, with planters running alongside for plants to grow over the timber for a truly rustic feel. The landscaping includes lots of the sandstone and flint rock that were taken from the plot’s original cottage.

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Pro-Landscaper Mag 118(h)x186(w).indd 1

16/07/2013 14:17

If you think steel rainwater systems are too expensive? Think again.

Rainline steel gutters and downpipes from Lindab are comparable in price to a mid-range plastic system but unlike plastic, Rainline offers the ultimate in rainwater control: •

HARDWEARING AND ROBUST – WILL NOT FADE, LEAK OR CRACK

• LIFETIME PERFORMANCE • AVAILABLE IN 10 COLOURS PLUS NATURAL COPPER • FULLY GUARANTEED • LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT • QUICK & EASY TO INSTALL Lindab Ltd., Building Products Division Shenstone Trading Estate, Halesowen

Put Rainline to the test - for an information pack contact Lindab today.

West Midlands B63 3XB Telephone: +44 121 585 2780

RAINLINE | WHY FIT ANYTHING ELSE?

Facsimile: +44 121 585 2782 Email: buildingproducts.sales@lindab.co.uk

www.lindab.co.uk

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i-scape

wanted a garden that made use of the beautiful Scottish vista at the same time as paying homage to what was previously there, and that it certainly does.

Open day triumph

Above: Unobtrusive fences separate the garden from the neighbouring fields

The Green Homes Network suggested that Russell and Janice should hold an open day so that other aspiring self-builders can be inspired by what the Quinlans have created. “The responses have been very good. A lot of local people love the property and the open day welcomed over 80 visitors!

“The important thing to remember is to thoroughly research the supplier of the house and make sure the example you view is unbiased,” advises Russell.

“Unfortunately the property we looked at was the supplier’s own house.

My advice to those looking to create their selfbuild’s garden is to remember that it’s really down to personal choice! The work done to convert an exterior building site to what we now have was substantial and not everyone would like it, but we think it fits in really well. Despite all the problems we had our new home is everything that had we hoped it would be – it’s brilliant!”

www.russquinlan.co.uk

Below: Lots of bushes and small trees have been used instead of grass

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i-scape Drainage & Landscaping

Spreader promises to save materials, storage space and money The heavy-duty EarthWay EVN-SPRED Flex-Select spreader is highly adaptable and can be either pushed by hand or towed by a vehicle and used for more than one purpose throughout the year. The feature of interchangeable trays enables the spreader to be used in all seasons. The high output tray is designed to apply large granular materials such as rock salt and grit and sand; an exclusive vertical oscillating six agitator system improves the flow of these difficult-to-spread materials. The low output tray accurately applies small gauge materials such as fine grass seed, chemicals and other very low volume products. The same oscillating agitator system – which improves the flow of lumpy salt – ensures that fine materials flow evenly.

www.dmmp.co.uk 0845 643 9776 info@dmmp.co.uk

Eco-steel rainwater system

Yeoman Rainguard has added attractive rain cups and chains to its range of rainwater systems. Manufactured from copper, one of the few metals that is fully sustainable, the rain cups and chains prove to be an environmentally friendly, naturally durable, decorative addition to a project. Yeoman Rainguard copper rain chains and cups are available in a wide range of designs and profiles making it the perfect finishing touch on any house, conservatory or garden building.

www. rainguard.co.uk 0113 279 5854 sallyann@rainguard.co.uk

Reliable solutions in the pipeline

Self-builders are choosing Lindab’s eco-steel based Rainline instead of plastic rainwater systems because Rainline offers minimal movement and UV stability.

Whilst not cracking, fading or leaking, it is resistant to corrosion and virtually maintenance free. Comparable in price to a mid-range plastic system, Rainline simply clicks together for a perfect watertight fit – no special tools are required. Either discreetly complementing the overall colour scheme of the house, or boldly creating accents of colour, Rainline is available in natural copper as well as in 10 high build polyester colours – the finish of which is guaranteed for 15 years.

Yeoman Rainguard, a leading provider of quality rainwater systems, has responded to customer demand by adding the TX Cast Iron Soil Pipes to its range. Low maintenance and cost effective, Yeoman Rainguard TX Cast Iron Soil Pipes can save substantially on labour and installation time due to the push socket jointing system which eliminates the need for special jointing tools or equipment. Designed to complement Yeoman Rainguard Cast Iron and Aluminium XL rainwater systems, the TX range is a perfect choice for new build, conservation and listed building projects. Yeoman Rainguard can also supply rainwater systems in Aluminium, GRP, Cast Iron, Copper, Zinc and Stainless Steel.

www. lindab.co.uk 0121 585 2780 buildingproducts.sales@lindab.co.uk

www. rainguard.co.uk 0113 279 5854 sallyann@rainguard.co.uk

Magnum spreader is ready to work hard

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Attractive rain cups and chains from Yeoman Rainguard

Permeable paving at the head

DMMP Limited has announced a new Magnum spreader which has joined the Leicestershire company’s stable of winter tools and machinery. The new spreader is simple to use, maintain and store so will have a positive impact on the way many organisations deal with ice and snow. The Magnum Poly Insert Spreader sits neatly on the back of a three-quarter or one ton pick-up and deals with the issue of spreading salt when ice and snow is expected. The spreader’s unique design has been created to allow easy access and maintenance.

A new case study from the trade association Interpave discusses how masterplanning, urban design, hard landscape and external surfaces have been integrated with sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) – featuring concrete block permeable paving – on a major, phased development in Oxfordshire. Great Western Park is being developed over nine phases on 160 Ha of essentially green-field land to the immediate west of Didcot. Once complete, it will eventually provide 3000 new homes and related facilities. The use of concrete block permeable paving is an essential component at the head of an intergrated SuDS management train throughout this major new development.

www.dmmp.co.uk 0845 643 9776 info@dmmp.co.uk

www.paving.org.uk 0116 232 5170 info@paving.org.uk

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