IN THIS ISSUE TIMBER FRAME
HOMES: 15-PAGE SPECIAL
FEBRUARY 2014 £4.25 www.selfbuildhomesmag.com
Prairie House
CONTEMPORARY REFURB FOR A TRADITIONAL HOME
Intelligent
BUILDING
CONTROLS TO TRANSFORM YOUR HOME
TIMBER THE BUILDING MATERIAL OF CHOICE
PLANNING GUIDE
Essential Advice To Your Application DESIGNING A HEALTHY HEATED HOME
STAIRCASES TO TOTALLY TRANSFORM YOUR HOME
YOUR EXPERT GUIDE TO BUILDING A SCAFFOLD BOARD BENCH
Kitchens that make you go
mmmm...
Abingdon Furniture Gallery has been established with one philosophy: to provide home interiors and kitchens that offer cutting edge design with lasting quality.
A3 Generic_DPS_2013_V2.indd 1
Our kitchens and interiors are showcased in a spectacular 10,000 sq ft showroom set over two floors, allowing you to gain inspiration and ideas on how to make your home interior simply stunning.
Visit our website or our showroom in Abingdon and discover a few things that will make you go mmmm... 01235 558000 sales@afgk.co.uk afgltd.eu
Visit our showroom with ample parking at: Abingdon Furniture Gallery Unit 3 Eyston Way Abingdon OX14 1TR
25/10/2013 11:41
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
ITS TIME TO SPECIFY INTELLI HEAT ELECTRIC HEATING Affordable alternative to storage heaters, oil, lpg Fully compliant with the energy efficiency requirements of the latest Building Regulations Part L Heat available on demand where & when you need it No expensive service or yearly maintenance
Smart Energy (Compatible with NEEDO radiators) This cool looking wireless management centre with touch screen controls represents the ultimate in style. Not only does it enable the full, day-by-day, 7 day timing and temperature programming of each radiator or zone, it also provides individual real time data on energy consumption and running costs, which enables substantial energy savings.
INTELLI HEAT, advanced electric heating systems. Featured on Brand New Series 60 Minute Makeover ITV1 www.intelligentheat.co.uk www.needo.eu 01842 338089
here’s something of a renaissance for electric heating taking place across the UK with many architects, specifiers and builders now seriously considering electric central heating as an option for new build properties and even more so in refurbishment projects where the installation time and costs, as well as on-going running costs can be lower than those associated with traditional wet heating systems. The majority of intelli heat business comes from customers looking to replace outdated storage heating systems because of their well-known drawbacks including the fact that they produce very dry air, are often bulky and unattractive, producing warmth in the morning and afternoon but fizzle out into the early evening. There is a distinct lack of control and programming ability and having to try and predict the next day’s weather is a nightmare even for the professionals! So while it may be seen as a big plus to be able to take advantage of lower rates of electricity overnight, this ‘benefit’ is heavily outweighed by not having the flexibility to efficiently heat the home when the occupants really need it.As long as the electrical supply is unrestricted, any existing wiring can be utilised making the installation very simple and incredibly cost-effective. Intelli Heat offer three ranges of electric central heating to cover all of your customer’s needs. All our electric radiators are designed to be thermoefficient and incorporate advanced technology to ensure a highly energy-efficient performance, thus ensuring a low consumption of energy. They provide comfortable, flexible and fully controllable heating throughout the home or business exactly where and when it is needed. No plumbing is required, and they are quick and inexpensive to install. In many older building refurbishments and conversions of buildings to residential usage, not having to install complex pipework can make a huge saving to the project costs. NEEDO electric radiators are proving that
T
beauty is far more than just skin deep. These beautiful designer ranges with their revolutionary new technology the radiators heat up twice as fast as competitor’s systems and offer up to 30% energy savings when compared with storage heaters and regular electric panel heaters. With the user having the power of total seven day programming control over the temperature and timing settings of each individual radiator or zone, and the benefit of being able to access both real time and historical energy consumption and running costs data, minimal running costs can be realistically achieved making the cost of heating your home with a NEEDO system easily comparable with a traditional wet system - but without the upheaval, installation and maintenance costs associated with wet systems. The secret behind NEEDO’s superior energy efficient performance is an innovative two-phase heat transfer process that not only delivers a much more rapid rise in temperature, but also facilitates heat recovery of energy already produced thereby substantially lowering running costs. This unique process is called the Advanced Condensing System (ACS). Each radiator contains a small amount of eco-friendly, highly thermo-efficient fluid. During operation this fluid evaporates at high speed immediately releasing its energy through the condensing process to the inside of the radiator’s case and the heat generated is completely and quickly transferred from the radiator to the environment. As a result, the ACS technology reduces the time it takes to reach the required temperature by up to 50% compared with other electric radiators. Furthermore, this process ensures an extremely uniform radiator temperature profile resulting in a highly efficient heat transfer process to produce comfortable, natural ambient warmth. At last, thanks to IntelliHeat, the design, energy efficiency and flexibility failings of electric central heating may well become a thing of the past.
FIRST WORDS
Welcome Welcome to the February issue of Self Build Homes. With the New Year well under way and spring just around the corner, it seems the perfect time to be planning for the seasons ahead. Whichever stage you are at, whether you are submitting a planning application, designing a timber frame home or simply just tidying up the garden in preparation for the summer, we have something for everyone. With a focus on timber, this issue we show you some truly innovative timber frame self-builds, bespoke handcrafted staircases from the specialists at Bisca and how to maximise on appearance and durability with a great range of decking options from Trex. We also have some great self-build projects to share with you, from redesigning a traditional ranch-style home into a modern living space, to the demolishing of Thornhill farm to build a spectacular, eco-friendly dwelling. Speaking of which, if you are considering of reducing your energy bills with the idea of becoming more energy efficient, Wandsworth Group show us the huge benefits to be had with their integrated control system to enable you to be more smart with your usage. As always, we hope you enjoy the issue and we wish you a prosperous year of planning ahead for your ideal self-build project. Roz Ware Editor, Self Build Homes Magazine
Publisher: Colin Woolley Publishing email: info@selfbuildhomesmag.com Production Manager: David Cady Production email: production@cplmedia.co.uk PUBLISHED BY Success Publishing Limited, Crown House, John Roberts Business Park, Pean Hill, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3BJ Tel: 01227 378390 Fax: 01227 784079
ADVERTISING Sales Director: Rachael Nikolaj Email: rachael@selfbuildhomesmag.co.uk Sales Manager: Simon White Email: simon@selfbuildhomesmag.com
EDITORIAL Editor: Roz Ware Email: editorial@selfbuildhomesmag.com
Website: www.selfbuildhomesmag.com Magazine Subscriptions: 0844 545 8180
Art Director: Ian Denby-Jones Email: design@cplmedia.co.uk
Customer Care Line: 01227 378390 One year subscription price UK £30, Europe £52, ROW £95. UK offers a saving of £9.99.
Contributors: Stommel, Baufritz, Timber Frame Association, Welsh Oak Company, LABC, Target Timber Systems, Stoves Online, Dremel
Distributed by: COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE Tel: 08195 433800
Although every effort is made to ensure that the content of features in Self Build Homes is accurate and correct, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. No guarantees can be made upon the safe return of any unsolicited copy or photographic images. The publisher reserves the right to alter or amend any submitted material that is printed in Self Build Homes. All material in Self Build Homes is the copyright of the publisher and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the publisher. © Success Publishing Limited
February 2014 I Self Build Homes
5
CONTENTS
February 2014
38
86 18 70 DESIGN
FEATURES
HOMES
12 Planning Guide
26 The Future of Sustainability
18 Natural Beauty
Everything you need to know about planning your self-build project but were afraid to ask
Timber frame is increasingly becoming the building material of choice
Transform a traditional home into a contemporary living space
70 Your Guide to Planning
34 Designing your Dream Home
62 Sea View
Key aspects to consider when developing your future project
Do justice to spectacular sea views from the comfort of your home
38 Built for Low Cost Living
66 Revival of Natural Stone
How the demolishing of Thornhill Farm led to a seamless building of a timber frame house
Indigenous natural stone products provide the perfect finish
42 Welsh Oak Frame
74 Smart Home
Understanding your self-build project
An integrated KNX building control system
Our insightful guide could help to increase your chances of getting your application approved
78 All in the Detail Staircase specialists Bisca show how a bespoke service can transform your home by optimising available space 6
www.selfbuildhomesmag.com
www.selfbuildhomesmag.com
78 74 62
REGULARS
EXPERT ADVICE
5 Welcome
16 Self build site insurance
In this months issue, we bring you a 15 page Timber frame special
Here’s our guide to the basics of self-build insurance
8 In the news
52 Wood Pellet Heating
All the latest industry news affecting selfbuilders and those they work with
A sustainable fuel and the enjoyment of a real fire
90 DIY
86 The Eco Friendly Garden
Step-by-step guide on how to build a wallmounted bookshelf
Have peace of mind this winter with low maintenance and ecological decking
96 Questions & Answers
90 The Scaffold Board Bench
Finding the right land parcel
Not as Hard as it Looks
34
February 2014 I Self Build Homes
7
NEWS
February 2014
Tarmac Building Products advises a plaster rethink for flood risk areas
Local authorities and landlords have been advised that traditional gypsum plasters offer virtually no protection for properties at risk from flooding. The advice, in advance of the traditional flood-risk season in the UK, is designed to educate private landlords and housing associations about the suitability of gypsum
plasters for properties where flood damage may arise. Duncan Haywood, responsible for Tarmac Building Products’ Limelite range of renovating plasters, says the problem with traditional gypsum plasters stems from their moisture absorbent properties. “Traditional gypsum plasters easily absorb and retain
moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and substrate. They are also not vapour permeable, which makes them unsuitable for older properties, particularly those prone to flood risk.” He continued: “In damp conditions gypsum is prone to complete failure which can be very costly to replace and involves hacking
RURAL HOMEOWNERS URGED TO MAKE FIRE Homes in rural areas wait on average three minutes longer for the fire brigade to arrive* NFU Mutual paid out £31 million for house fire claims in 2012, the average claim for a house fire was £20,500 NFU Mutual, the UK’s leading rural insurer is urging homeowners in the countryside to make fire safety a priority after it revealed that it had paid out over £31 million in claims for domestic house fires in 2012. Topping the list of claims with identified causes were fires
8
caused by electrical appliances such as toasters, dishwashers, cookers and electric blankets, which accounted for 29% of domestic fire claims. This was closely followed by claims for fire damage to carpets and chimney fires, which accounted for 26% and 24% of claims respectively. With winter beginning to make its icy grip felt, the insurer is concerned that appliances such as tumble driers, portable heaters and electric blankets will be in regular use and it is urging homeowners to check that their
www.selfbuildhomesmag.com
appliances do not pose a fire risk. It is also advising homeowners to have their chimneys swept and to use a fire guard to prevent hot embers causing damage to carpets and soft furnishings. According to a recent report by the Department for Communities and Local Government, homeowners in predominantly rural areas will have to wait on average three minutes longer for the fire brigade to arrive than their urban counterparts. Commenting on the problems faced by rural homeowners,
Nicki Whittaker, a Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual said: “Living in the countryside brings its own risks and rewards. Given the remote nature of some rural properties and problems with water access in isolated areas, it is especially important that people living in the countryside are vigilant regarding fire safety. “It is also vitally important to ensure that the emergency services are able to locate your property, so ensure that foliage and hedges have been cut back at the entrance to your home
www.selfbuildhomesmag.com
off the original plaster, treating the walls with an injected Damp Proof Course and waiting for the wall to dry. All of this can take months before re-plastering can start.” Mr Haywood says the problems with gypsum are particularly acute with properties prone to flood risk. “Gypsum plasters offer almost no resistance to flood damage. Floodwater degrades gypsum plasters and causes delamination, with up to one metre above floor level being the worst affected area.” His advice to landlords and housing associations is to use modern renovating plaster. “Modern renovating plaster, equipped with a waterproofing agent and salt inhibitor, is much more suited to older properties that have a flood risk. “This type of plaster effectively controls dampness passing through walls and provides a barrier against salt transfer. Being ‘breathable’ means that the plaster allows balanced moisture movement through the construction fabric and allows the substrate to dry naturally. In effect, renovating plaster is capable of withstanding recurring water ingress which can, in turn, reduce on-going repair costs, salting and mould growth.” In addition, Mr Haywood says the proprietary solutions can drastically cut repair times. “Due to the specifically formulated binder the drying time is faster than with gypsum based plasters. This enables earlier decoration with no more long waits for the wall to dry before plastering can begin.” For more information on renovating plasters, please visit
Mitsubishi electric awarded ‘best home energy solution’ Mitsubishi Electric’s fourth generation of Ecodan air source heat pumps have been recognised as ‘Best Home Energy Solution’ at the National Home Improvement Council Awards. The judges praised the system for providing: “a sustainable way of reducing the burden of energy costs for tenants and those struggling in these tough economic conditions.” Baroness Verma, representing the Department of Energy and Climate Change and David Carver, Chairman of NHIC were on hand to present the award. “We were delighted to receive this recognition as we have worked hard to make
Ecodan suitable for both new buildings and old,” explained Martin Fahey, Sustainable Solutions Manager who collected the Award. “It was particularly encouraging that the judges acknowledged how the technology can help hard pressed households reduce their energy bills.” Ecodan units have now been installed in thousands of homes right across the UK and the system remains the only air source heat pump to receive the prestigious Quiet of the Noise Abatement Society. The system is available as a monobloc or split system, in sizes from 4kW to 14kW to provide complete flexibility in terms of both installation and operation.
www.limeliteplaster.co.uk For more details on Tarmac Building Products, please visit
www.tarmacbuildingproducts.co.uk
SAFETY A PRIORITY and that your property’s name is clearly displayed.” Most fires in rural properties can be prevented by taking some basic and common-sense precautions.
SMOKE ALARMS Fit a smoke alarm - you’re more than twice as likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a smoke alarm that works. Check the battery in your smoke alarm on a regular basis - 18 people die each year because the battery in their smoke alarm is flat or missing.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it. Certain appliances, such as washing machines, should have a single plug socket to themselves. Be on the look-out for signs of dangerous or loose wiring such as scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow or circuitbreakers that trip for no obvious reasons, or flickering lights. Check and replace any old cables and leads, especially if they are hidden from view, behind
furniture or under carpets or mats. Unplug appliances when you’re not using them or when you go to bed. Unplug electric blankets before you get into bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use. Don’t buy second-hand electric blankets and check regularly for wear and tear.
CHIMNEYS Regularly have the chimney swept - at least once a year before you start to use it. Keep chimneys and flues clean
and well maintained. Make sure embers are properly put out before you go to bed. Always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks from hot embers. When burning wood only burn seasoned wood.
ASK THE PROFESSIONALS The Fire and Rescue Service will visit your home, completely free of charge, and will advise you on any aspect of fire safety within your home and help you devise an escape plan, if you do not already have one.
February 2014 I Self Build Homes
9