astudio founder responds to Summer Statement green investment

Richard Hyams, former Norman Foster architect and founder of award-winning practice astudio, comments: “The government’s pledge of a £3bn green investment package to decarbonise public buildings and minimise emissions from homes in the UK is a welcome step, we must... View Article

LIGNA 2021 supports its exhibitors in these challenging times

LIGNA’s organisers, Deutsche Messe and the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers’ Association, are extending the show’s exhibitor early-bird discount period by two months. Early-bird discounts for the show (Hannover, Germany, 10–14 May 2020) now close on July 31, 2020. Christian Pfeiffer,... View Article

Get your cladding quality right

John Russell of Russwood explains why using a premium quality timber cladding, along with the right fixing system, is vital to ensure your cladding looks good for the long term The popularity of timber as a cladding material is on... View Article

Bamboo flooring: the sustainable alternative

Rob Wooldridge from Moso Bamboo Surfaces looks at the many merits of bamboo flooring – and provides some installation tips for self-builds Bamboo flooring may not be your first thought when considering what flooring to lay in your new build... View Article

The aluminium renaissance

Click here to listen. Steve Bromberg of Express Bi-Folding Doors looks at why he believes that more housebuilders than ever are ditching PVCu in favour of aluminium When it comes to the design of a residential or commercial property, the... View Article

Why timber needs to be in the frame

Malcolm Thomson of Scotframe explains why he believes timber frame is the ‘gold standard’ for modern construction and why we should all be thinking about fabric-first approaches Offsite timber frame construction allows homes to be built faster and to a... View Article

2019 Brick Award Winners

The night of Wednesday 13th November saw the crowning of the 2019 Brick Awards winners, a ceremony that for 43 years has celebrated the best use of brick in the built environment. Projects of the highest calibre are routinely entered... View Article

Fast and fabulous

The Jaffreys wanted a home that would look good, be energy efficient, was future-proofed and importantly, could be built quickly, and a timber kit was the answer When the Jaffrey family set about building their own home near the village... View Article

SIPs vs traditional construction

Ian Clay of SIPS@Clays offers a few points to consider when choosing the build method for your new home and why SIPs deliver the perfect solution compared with traditional brick and block construction With so many decisions to be made... View Article

ICF – sense and sustainability

Robin Miller of Beco Wallform gives his views on why insulating concrete formwork (ICF) is the ideal practical choice for self-builders concerned about sustainability and climate change There is growing recognition – now almost universal – that unless significant action... View Article

Natural stone, ethically sourced

Matt Rob of the Stone Federation discusses the rising trend of buyers searching for ethically sourced natural stone, and the systems that are in place to prove the authenticity of such products. In 2015, The Modern Slavery Act was created... View Article

A clear set of options

When looking to create a unique home, glass gives you a wide range of options, especially when it comes to balconies and even atriums, as Susan Sinden of glass processor ESG Group explains One of the most common themes we... View Article

Reclaimed retreat

A timber cabin in the woods, designed as a tranquil Cornish rural retreat, has been carefully crafted from reclaimed, natural and sustainable materials As a Cornish farmer, Bob Coad has always held strong opinions on ecology and the merits of... View Article

Acoustic Glass – A sound investment?

Tom Wright of George Barnsdale explains the difference between acoustic glass varieties, and provides examples of where increased investment is worth it. Increasingly, window manufacturers are being asked by developers and specifiers about the acoustic performance of windows and doors.... View Article

Timber types

How do you decide what style of house is for you? The materials you choose can heavily influence the space you create. Carpenter Oak talk through some of the timber choices open to self-builders who want to put wood at... View Article

A funnel of light

A central London office regeneration sees a melange of Art Deco and Art Moderne reinstated and illuminated from within through a glass funnel. Sébastien Reed reports The prow clock tower at No 1 New Oxford Street has long been a... View Article

No-compromise composite doors

Adrian Pavey of Nationwide Windows & Doors discusses the advantages of composite doors for new build developments. Specifiers and housebuilders have lots of choice when it comes to the different types of door materials on the market. Naturally however, product... View Article