Selfbuilder & Homemaker - JulyAugust 2022

PLANNING | FINANCE | DESIGN | CONSTRUCTION | PRODUCTS | INTERIORS selfbuilder +homemaker JUL/AUG2022 Søren’s Scandi Fashion House A dingy west London fashion showroom has been turned into a light delight A concrete plan for efficiency MMC isn’t just about offsite – ICF can be an efficient and quick way to achieve an airtight build Ideas & Inspiration: Home Offices Home working continues to be in vogue, so pick the best products for a productive space A timber transformation Animal lovers Jules and Nigel reinvented a tired old bungalow in Suffolk in a project which – unlike their donkeys’ names – was neither Chaos nor Shambles

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PUBLISHER FROM THE EDITOR... Anthony Parker In all the shenanigans around the Conservative Party’s attempt to elect its new leader (and by default, our new Prime Minister), one phrase keeps coming up. That of the party being MANAGING EDITOR a ‘broad church.’ This is of course a good line to use when being asked about the very big differences that exist among MPs when it comes to how to tackle the Cost of Living Crisis, James Parker alongside other massive challenges like addressing net zero 2050. However, away from the tax versus borrowing debates bedevilling Parliament, we too are ASSISTANT EDITOR proud of being a broad church here at Selfbuilder + Homemaker. By that I mean that we are fortunate to be able to bring you the widest possible array of content, ensuring you’ll Tom Boddy find something, or at least interesting, in every issue. For example in this issue, we look at a self-builder lucky enough to own a small EDITORIAL ASSISTANT fashion showroom near Hyde Park since the 1960s. This glamorous-sounding life has inspired Dane Søren Ellemann and his Laura Shadwell partner to turn the building into a home that combines cosiness with space and light in STAFF WRITER a brilliant way. At the other end of the spectrum, an equally Roseanne Field revealing piece from Graf UK explains how to get around the sewage implications of having CONTRIBUTORS to tackle sites that may previously have been off-limits. That’s truly a broad church! Nik Hunter JAMES PARKER Jess Unwin Heather Dixon DATES FOR YOUR DIARY... STUDIO MANAGER ECO WORKSHOP DESIGN LONDON 13 AUGUST, SWINDON 21 - 24 SEPTEMBER, LONDON Mikey Pooley WWW.NSBRC.CO.UK/WHATS-ON WWW.DESIGNLONDON.CO.UK PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS NSBRC GUIDE TO MANAGING NATIONAL SELF BUILD & MONEY RENOVATION SHOW Georgia Musson 15 SEPTEMBER, ONLINE 23 - 24 SEPTEMBER, SWINDON Kimberley Musson WWW.NSBRC.CO.UK/WHATS-ON WWW.NSBRC.CO.UK/WHATS-ON ACCOUNT MANAGER PLANNING | FINANCE | DESIGN | CONSTRUCTION | PRODUCTS | INTERIORS All Rights Reserved Sheehan Edmonds +selfbuilder Subscription costs just £18 for 6 issues, including post and packing. Phone 01435 863500 for details. Individual copies of the publication are available at £3.25 each inc p&p. SALES EXECUTIVES homemaker JUL/AUG2022 No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, Nathan Hunt Søren’s Scandi Steve Smith Fashion House electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or stored in any information retrieval system PR EXECUTIVES A dingy west London fashion showroom without the express prior written consent of the publisher. Although every effort is made to ensure the has been turned into a light delight Suzanne Easter Kim Friend A concrete plan for efficiency MANAGING DIRECTOR MMC isn’t just about offsite – ICF can be an efficient and quick way to achieve an airtight build Simon Reed Ideas & Inspiration: PUBLISHED BY Home Offices Cointronic House, Home working continues to be in vogue, so Station Road, eathfield pick the best products for a productive space East Sussex, TN21 8DF accuracy and reliability of material published in Selfbuilder & Homemaker, the publisher can accept no ADVERTISING & ADMINISTRATION responsibility for the claims or opinions made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Editorial 01435 863500 [email protected] www.sbhonline.co.uk EDITORIAL FEATURES [email protected] PRESS RELEASES [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION & CIRCULATION ENQUIRIES [email protected] A timber contributors to this journal may have made a payment towards the reproduction costs of material used to transformation illustrate their products. The manufacturer of the paper used within our publication is a Chain-of-Custody Animal lovers Jules and Nigel reinvented a tired old bungalow in Suffolk in a project which – unlike their donkeys’ names – was neither Chaos nor Shambles SBH07 Cover.indd 1 21/07/2022 10:16 certified supplier operating within environmental systems certified to oth S and S in order to ensure sustainable production. ON THE COVER... Printed in England © SAVILLS (PAGE 20) jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 3

20 62 50 REGULARS PRODUCT FEATURES 06 31 Ask the Expert: Connecting with the in c e be e outside Self-builders face increasing challenges when it comes to Considering bifold or sliding doors for your self-build or wastewater drainage options, says David Stagg from Graf UK renovation project? Matt Higgs from Kloeber answers some key questions to help ensure you choose the right glazed 41 doors for your home Coat of many colours 10 Home colour choices can say a lot about your personality. Lisa Home Styling: Mastering bedroom bliss Grosse from Cedral discusses how to use the ‘colour wheel’ to get the look you want for a new build home or a makeover Bedrooms should be a place to relax and rejuvenate. Interior designer Rob Lessmann from Design’d Living explains how 57 to create the perfect master bedroom ambience Take your stairs for a spin 14 Michael Edwards of Complete Stair Systems shares his expert de s ns i ti n e ffices advice on choosing a spiral staircase for either a new self-build or We round up some o the latest ideas or your home o fice refurbishment project 67 i ect 59 l ssified c nc ete ide f efficienc Chris Stride from the Insulating Concrete Formwork Association explains why this modern method of construction could provide the answers for your self-build

34 CONTENTS JUL/AUG 2022 44 PRODUCTS CASE STUDIES FINANCE & INSURANCE 13 SITE PREPARATION 16 20 61 Groundworks 33 Ranch dressing 26 STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS 40 ules amilton and igel Shore have success ully trans ormed a Su olk 42 ungalow, using a Te an ranch eel plus tim er cladding to help the home Floors 33 lend with its rural surroundings SIPs 42 Timber 34 BUILDING ENVELOPE The Trails all lead home Doors & Windows Calum and Gladys Trail looked at a variety o options or a sel uild, and Insulation they managed to find the answer under their noses, on their e isting site Rainwater Products in the north east o Scotland Roofing Cladding, alconies 44 HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES ires, ireplaces lues Raising the roof s nder oor eating When avid and Lisa Collins circumstances changed, a tired ungalow in Leeds o ered not only the chance to uild their dream INSULATION house, ut also gave them the per ect opportunity to move nearer to their daughter INTERIORS athrooms Wetrooms 50 itchens edroom urniture A labour of love in Lanarkshire loors loor Coverings Stairs alustrades When ames and Lorna amilton made their decision to sel uild, their new home had to meet not only the demands o their growing amily SAFETY, SECURITY & SMART HOMES ut also recognise Lorna s amily heritage Smart omes Technology 62 LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL SURFACES alconies Scandi fashion house aving Scandinavian inspired renovation o a ormer ashion showroom in a OFFSITE & MODULAR prime west London site has produced a light, elegant home with the CONSTRUCTION anish owners sense o style, and a ygge eel

ASK THE EXPERT Connecting with the panes fitting ehind each other with the on two, three or four tracks. outside This means you can’t fully open up the Considering bifold or sliding doors aperture, the maximum opening will be for your self-build or renovation around 70%. But when closed, the view project? Matt Higgs from Kloeber isn’t impaired by the frame lines. answers some of the key questions to help ensure you choose the right Aluminium is the popular choice for glazed doors for your home those preferring slimline frames and sleek, minimal styling but alu-clad It’s not surprising that bifold and slid- up to 95% of the aperture, so are perfect (aluminium exterior and timber interior) ing doors are one of the most desired for smaller openings. is also an option for sliding doors, if a features in any self-build or renova- warmer internal aesthetic and higher tion project. They create the wow-factor Most suppliers will offer a variety of performance is preferred. homeowners are looking for and are configurations, with inward or outward ideal for maximising natural light and opening options to suit the layout of WHAT PANEL SIZES CAN I HAVE? connecting your home with the outdoors. your home. And for those with children Choosing between the two comes down or pets, adding a single access door will Sliding door panel sizes start at around to personal preference and what will be useful. 500 mm and go up to a whopping 4200 work with your project, both practically mm however bear in mind that some and aesthetically. Popular material choices for bifold cheaper systems may have limited panel doors are timber or aluminium. size options, so you’ll need more panels WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF Engineered timber is strong, durable to span a wide opening. At the higher BIFOLD DOORS? with great insulating values and can be end o the market, you will find options painted or stained while aluminium with ultra-slim sightlines combined with Bifolds are ideal for welcoming the out- offers a contemporary, hard-wearing large panels on offer. side into your home. They are made up maintenance ree finish. of multiple, hinged panels that slide and WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED concertina together, stacking at one or at HOW DO I WORK OUT THE NUMBER WHEN INSTALLING LARGE both sides. They have the ability to open OF PANELS NEEDED? EXPANSES OF GLASS? The precision of The number of panels you will need is The precision of the aperture is very the aperture is dependent on the width of the aperture important, the right amount of toler- very important, and the width of the panels. Bifolds can ance is key to installing the frame level the right amount start with three panels at 2090 mm total and plumb. It’s also important to ensure of tolerance is frame width or, at the other end of the there’s the right strength in your lintel key to installing scale, you can get panel widths up to above the opening. Other things to the frame level 1500 mm. Speak to a reputable supplier consider are how the ooring, and inter- to review your plans and work out the nal and e ternal finishes interact with the best options available for your project. frame. Bifold or sliding doors with large expanses of glass will lose more heat, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF and could let in more heat than you’d SLIDING DOORS? like, especially on a south facing eleva- tion, so you need to consider the type of If an ‘unadulterated’ view is important, glass used. For example, a south then a sliding door could be the best acing home would enefit rom solar choice. Sliding doors work well with control glass and for a north facing larger apertures as they open up by home, low iron glass would help increase sliding the panels to one or both sides solar gain. HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT GLAZING FOR BIFOLD OR SLIDING DOORS? Try and attain the best U-values that are possible – glass will always let out more heat than a solid wall, so it’s always a good idea to consider triple glazing or a high performing double glazed unit. Different frame materials also have different thermal properties with timber usually being a good choice. It’s impor- tant to pay consideration to how the doors fold or slide, and how they seal up between panels. Thermal and weather testing reports should be available from reputable companies who are selling 6 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022





light is transferred from outside to inside. A G-value of 1, represents full trans- mittance of all solar radiation, while 0, represents no solar energy transmittance. Most G-values will range between 0.2 and 0.7, with solar control glazing having a G-value of less than 0.5. high performance sliding/folding doors. WHAT DRAINAGE AND WATER- drain away from the doors into a drain PROOFING CONSIDERATIONS under the e ternal oor. t s also est CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THERMAL SHOULD BE MADE? practice to have the e ternal oor ust VALUES ARE? slightly lower than the internal, to negate Always ask your supplier for weather any risk of water ingress. A reputable A U-value measures heat loss, so the low- testing reports. High quality doors will company should be able to provide er the U-value, the less heat lost. Doors always have extensive weather testing details of this and show you exactly how have to achieve a U-value of 1.6 or less and will be of a superior quality. How to achieve the desired effect. to comply with regulations for new builds much your house is exposed to weather Matt Higgs is managing director and 1.4 on extensions and alterations. can be a real factor here in determining of Kloeber your choice. If you’re in a very exposed The G-value, is also important, which is area then it’s advisable to go for a low the measure of how much solar heat and maintenance material with good Pascal (air permeability) ratings. With regards to the outside it’s always best to have a small gap between the paving or decking to allow for water to If an ‘unadulterated’ view is important to you, then a sliding door could be the best choice Cleverly automated automatically clever Smart home system LUXORliving LUXORliving is the simple smart home system from Theben, offering all-round home comfort, whilst avoi- ding unnecessary waste. Switching lights on and off. Dimming. Regulation heating and controlling blinds. That‘s what it‘s all about. KNX house and building automation 01.07.2020 13:46:10 With KNX, all building functions can be linked, program- www.sbhonline.co.uk 9 med, and controlled. Starting with heating, ventilation and room climate control, via lighting and shading, up to alarm, safety and information systems. All these functions can be controlled automatically via intelligent sensors, manually at the control units inside the rooms, or centrally via a visuali- sation - in the house, or mobile via smartphone or tablet. www.luxorliving.co.uk ADV_222x143_4c_LUXORliving_en_EN_2020_07.indd 1 jul/aug 2022

HOME STYLING MASTERING BEDROOM BLISS Bedrooms should be a place to relax and rejuvenate. Rob Lessmann from interior design studio Design’d Living explains how to create the perfect master bedroom ambience Creating zones for work, relaxation and entertainment is key We spend a lot of our time in a For example; will you get dressed in it or MINIMISE THE CLUTTER bedroom, so it is imperative to will you have a dressing room for this? Modern bedrooms generally include master the art of creating main Are there requirements for a space to do neutral wall tones, with clean lines being bedroom bliss, and for many, a contem- makeup and hair? Will you be reading key to the design, and that is really where porary design works well for creating a or working from the bedroom? Is the bespoke joinery comes in. Fitted head- place of calm and serenity. space large enough to create a lounging boards made in easy to clean materials, area too? Often having a space to put with bedside tables integrated, along CONSIDER THE SPACE your clothes when you get undressed with wardrobes that hide it all including For the many that plan on totally is neglected, so consider having a sofa, internal drawers all add up to create sim- renovating their main bedroom, it is armchair, or bench with inbuilt storage. plicity and a cohesive look. After all, this important to firstly define the space is to rest in, so by having minimal requirements of the space. Ask yourself Once you have the fundamentals, clutter on show, you can create a relaxing the following question. What is going to you can start to think about how to make environment. The space in a bedroom is be the three main uses of the bedroom? best use of the space to allow for a so important, and keeping it owing is tran uil ow throughout. 10 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022



key to making the best use of the space. house to get the lighting right. You want one place people compromise on, but lighting that serves a purpose; reading they often have the most demand in a BE CREATIVE lights, makeup lights, wardrobe lighting, bedroom, just think of charging ports, Master bedrooms today have very backlighting to highlight certain areas hair tools such as straighteners and minimal storage, so look for places or as well as soft lighting. Getting your hairdryers, as well as being the place void areas in the current space that you bedroom lighting right is key for ensuring for a hidden TV and music system. You can turn into clever bespoke storage quality sleep and also creating a relaxing can also go a step further with electrics solutions during a renovation. ambience. It is important to be able to and integrate your curtains. The great- Creating a oor to ceiling wall o dim lights in the bedroom, so introduce est luxury is to have black out curtains cabinetry focused on a plan to install a a dimmer switch or consider a smart bulb and blinds that close with the push of a TV or around a window is a really easy or wall mounted bedside lamps. button and most importantly keep the way to add storage to store everyday light out for a perfect night’s sleep. With items that you don’t want on show. Consider your bulbs too; warm bulbs smart electrics becoming more popular, are better in the bedroom than cooler planning for a central point to switch on CREATE ZONED AREAS LED lights, which emulate daylight and all your devices is imperative. We have all had to adapt to spending make it harder for the brain to produce more time in our homes over the last few melatonin. If your bedroom needs to be FLOORING years, therefore space in the master bed- multifunctional, consider brighter LED Flooring is also a key consideration room must be more multifunctional. Cre- lights in the ceiling and place them in when renovating the master bedroom. ating zones for work, relaxation and areas where you need light, for It is incredibly important to consider entertainment is key. Even if the space instance at a dressing table or in front of materials, especially in high tra fic areas, is small, a clever use of partitions or a mirror so you can see well while you or if there are going to be pets or lighting can clearly define areas to rela , get ready. children in the room. Looking at the work, and enjoy media; this is crucial for renovation holistically will allow you to homes in 2022. Make sure that all the lighting is able plan ooring which is livea le and to be switched on and off from a central workable throughout the space. LIGHTING point, ideally at the side of the bed and Lighting is vital in a master bedroom, it is by the door. Rob Lessmann is the founder of interior probably the most important room in the design studio Design’d Living ELECTRICS Similarly, sockets in bedrooms are the 12 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022



1 2 IDEAS & INSPIRATION: HOME 1. ic uildin s u ed ffice OFFICES comes with a set o C rench dou le doors, two side screen windows With many people now using a mix of home and and a casement window, Redwood o fice working since the pandemic, sel uilders are Cedar cladding and not orgetting the placing the design o home o fices right at an even uni ue curved roo . This outdoor o fice higher priority. ere are some o the latest ideas is sure to e a talking point within your garden landscape. ricing starts at , . www.warwickbuildings.co.uk 2. The new Minimal Lamp y Rose & Grey is designed y utch designer, Laurie Roi ackers, with the shape inspired y irds. The design o the lamp creates a timeless minimal aesthetic, and the shade can e ad usted to redirect the light. t is also availa le in eige and as a oor lamp. riced at . www.roseandgrey.co.uk 14 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

3 4 5 3. The Standford Industrial 2 Drawer 5. Step up your storage and style with 6 Filing Cabinet y Modish Living is a this dul e ffice es with reclaimed wood filing ca inet in a rustic storage y Shelved. Thanks to the www.sbhonline.co.uk 15 industrial style. The two drawers are set shelving s modular nature, you can on distressed lack metal legs, adding to assem le this unit to step to either the the industrial eel. The ca inet is per ect le t or right, meaning you don t have to or a stylish home o fice, and is priced worry a out the design only eing at . suita le or one area o your home. www.modishliving.co.uk rice . 4. The Boston Natural Solid Oak and www.shelved.co.uk Metal Desk y Oak Furnitureland includes a natural oak grain and knot pat 6. ult u nitu e s il ffice i ters which are set o y metal sleigh legs uses velvet upholstery and a sleek metal and accent strips. Three shallow drawers rame or a com orta le yet ro ust across and two deep ones on the right seating option when working rom home. give plenty o options or organising the The wooden armrests and modern home o fice in industrial style. silhouette create a Scandinavian eel to Currently priced at .. your home o fice. www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk rice . www.cultfurniture.com jul/aug 2022

APPOINTMENTS & NEWS SITE PREPARATION SPONSORED FEATURE Building Adhesives and ARDEX celebrate awards success Building Adhesives Ltd and ARDEX have celebrated award success at Chemistry, David sits on numerous management teams at Stoke-on-Trent this year’s Tile Association Awards. industry bodies including BSI B539 and averhill, while acing ma or raw Held at The Hilton Birmingham Technical Committee, CEN (European) materials shortages, COVID restrictions Metropole on Friday (24th June), this Standards TC 67 WG3 and the TTA and orce ma eures. year’s awards were themed “Stronger Technical Committee and has been Together”, and recognised the best of responsible for helping to formulate Despite these challenging conditions, the best in the tiling industry. many of the British Standards that tilers she has helped deliver record orders and contractors work to today. for customers as well as ensuring Success began with David Wilson, end-users are supported with technical ead o Standards and Specifications Success continued for Building and product enquiries now fed into the Adhesives and ARDEX with Stacey oint team. at ARDEX and Building Adhesives Livett, UK Head of Customer Service, Ltd being presented with the Lifetime being awarded “Employee of the Year”. Finally, ARDEX and Building Achievement Award for his more than Adhesives tasted success with “Highly 35 years’ service to the tiling industry. Stacey was recognised for successfully Commended” in the Best Domestic integrating customer service and order Category, or a ream ool ro ect in Chosen by the TTA Board, this award Staffordshire by Rob Faulkner and his recognises an individual who has made team from Abstract Pools. an outstanding contribution on the growth, promotion, technical or training very la our intensive pro ect, Ro areas o the wall and oor tile industry carried out all the rendering, screed during their career. works, and installed the hand-built steam room, formed-experience A respected and leading industry showers, massage room and high-end voice, avid first oined uilding changing room. Adhesives Ltd as an R&D Chemist. ardex.co.uk bal-adhesives.com A member of the Royal Society of SBH07_BAL_Appointments & News_HPAdv.indd 1 04/07/2022 11:01 16 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022



APPOINTMENTS & NEWS SPONSORED FEATURE UK Architects for eco house manufacturer Baufritz When clients start their self- house which is designed, manufactured modular element, some of which are build project by deciding on and shipped like a giant jigsaw puzzle automated using the factory’s robotic a prefabricated timber frame with detailed plans. Everything from tooling, others are completed by skilled house, the process is very similar to any taps to tiles is included. When an cra t people on the actory oor. self-build project. The key differences architect and client use a pre-fabricator are that the builder is already known, like Baufritz, their approach should As the house is manufactured using they are an integral part of the project be slightly different from other a certified uality control process, high from the very start, and the house building methods. elements are manufactured in a factory uality is guaranteed. The creation using Modern Manufacturing Methods A good analogy is with a car o each element ollows a predefined to create prefabricated modules. These configurator. irstly, you start with an series of manufacturing steps resulting modules are transported to the client idea about the kind of car you want, in a ully tested final product. uality site and erected, where all the pieces then you select all the elements that Control is crucial to ensure that any fit together per ectly to reveal the make up your car (engine, wheels, trim discrepancies are identified early in completed house. levels etc . nce you ve configured the process. It is a well-known fact that your car it’s then sent for manufacturing. any faults that must be corrected on Most experienced self-builders will Sometime later your car arrives adhering site or later in the build process, cost recognise the Baufritz Architectural to the configurations re uested, at the in terms o uality, time, and money. process. It starts with an initial feasibility price and date agreed. Baufritz has used study to understand the viability of this idea for their latest innovation - “My au ritz s rigorous uality anagement the project. Here cost implications are Smart Green Home”. This is a digital process ensures any aws are designed understood which means alternative platform to help clients develop their out early on to prevent this. Once the design approaches may be necessary. house. Individual elements are selected modules are completed, there is a They then create the outline proposal and brought together using supported high level o certainty that they will fit where Baufritz can work through the configurations. Room layouts, finishes together perfectly as the manufacturing client’s ideas. Once the design is chosen and the location of elements are process is exact to the millimetre. This and initial cost analysis completed, completed in a 3D rendered house. The is important because low energy houses the house price is agreed before the vision here is to allow clients to work must not have any air gaps or thermal plans are submitted to planning. This through their ideas before incurring ensures that there are no nasty surprises costs or making expensive changes to ridges. When everything fits together in terms of build costs, once planning their completed designs. perfectly it makes construction a much consent has been granted. This is where simpler and uicker process. most traditional build projects start The Design centre in Germany is to go wrong. As the project price is where a client can select the materials, Baufritz is continuously improving agreed, the client can proceed, with the finishes, fi tures, and fittings. This is its houses. Their latest innovation, the assurance that their overall budget will also where they can start to engage modular plant room, is a prefabricated not be exceeded. with the interior designers to finalise unit containing all the house’s their interior layout. The experience of technology elements. Namely heating Once planning has been granted Baufritz is invaluable to a selfbuilder. and electrical systems including Battery the client then starts engaging with Their research and development can and PV controller, home networking and the actory to finalise the details o optimise materials and space to get the entertainment system. It is also possible their project. most out of the design. Once the details to include washing and storage space. have been agreed the client will sign a Completed in the factory and delivered Baufritz has taken this method one final uild contract that considers any to site, the unit reduces the need for step further to include all the interior changes the client may wish to make highly skilled on-site specialists. elements, resulting in a completed during the sampling process. The best way to understand the The Baufritz Architect works with process is to book an appointment and the factory to create a set of handover meet with our team whose o fices drawings. These are determined are in Girton, Cambridge. y uilding Regulations and include 01223 235632 specific details such as wall thickness www.baufritz.co.uk and type, as well as structural loading information. The Factory then takes the Building Regulation rawings and uses these to generate a set of Level 1 manufacturing plans which define the modular elements to millimetre accuracy. The Computer-Generated Level 1 diagrams are used to manufacture each SBH07_Baufritz_FPAdv.indd 1 13/07/2022 11:25 18 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022



CASE STUDY RANCH DRESSING Animal lovers Jules Hamilton and Nigel Shore have extended and transformed a Suffolk bungalow, using traditional timber cladding and a ranch-style feel to help the home blend with its rural surroundings TEXT JESS UNWIN IMAGES NIGEL SHORE “Oh, you’re the wooden house with sizeable area that stops just shy of a new HIGH POINT the donkeys!” is the response Jules two-storey extension is now a fenced paddock Hamilton and Nigel Shore are grow- that’s the domain of the couple’s miniature “When they craned the ing used to when the topic of their Suffolk home Mediterranean donkeys, (who are named Chaos bath into the upstairs comes up in conversation with local people. and Shambles!). bedroom. Not much else had been done in the Jules laughs when she says: “We seem to be The paddock’s proximity is a deliberate and room at that stage but a bit famous now in the village – but we’ve had charming design quirk of this reimagined I got in the bath – fully lots of comments from people who’ve seen the property, designed with the animals in mind. clothed – and looked out house and like it, which is very kind.” Jules, who runs an animal welfare organisation at the view. At that mo- and also breeds dogs, explains: “The donkeys ment, I thought to myself: Nestled in a rural valley, the couple’s home are tame and they’re our pets – they come onto this is really going to be today looks nothing like the pink bungalow that the outdoor veranda with us and sometimes great.” could once be seen on their one-acre plot, which come into the house. So, we made sure that – Jules Hamilton is close to the village o Waldringfield and the they can get close to the house while still being River Deben. outside, and also that the living room window is For starters, at the front of the house, a 20 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

“It was important that internally we have living space that was ‘broken-plan’ rather than open plan” LOW POINT “Probably when our low enough for them to see us.” cladding is guaranteed for 10 years, and in terms builders had to quit the Jules says the donkeys regularly attract the of aesthetics, will silver as it ages. Jules says: site at the time of the “We have had people coming and asking for first pandemic lockdown. attention of people in passing cars, but the advice because they’ve seen what we’ve done, Covid was a complete house itself gets just as much interest: “People and are doing something similar themselves.” unknown at that point, have knocked on the door to tell us how much MAKING THE MOVE and we just didn't know they love it or even offer to buy it!” The couple’s self-build story would be very if they were coming different if they’d gone ahead with ambitions to back. That was when we At least some of that interest is because of extend their previous home, a semi-detached were grateful that we the couple’s decision to use wood to clad both house in Halstead, Essex. However, in 2015, they hadn't knocked down the the original bungalow and the extension. Jules sold up and paid £385,000 for the Suffolk plot, bungalow and still had says: “We’re in a very rural spot, and we wanted which Jules discovered almost by chance while somewhere to live! But it to use natural materials wherever possible.” A looking for property in the area for a relative. was still a really miserable popular alternative to wood cladding that they They moved into the existing three-bedroom couple of months of not could have selected is fi re cement cladding, bungalow straight away and then began the knowing whether we'd which has a finish that looks like wood, ut is a process of coming up with redevelopment plans made the biggest composite material made of cement, cellulose, mistake of our lives or if sand and synthetic fi res. dvocates claim it can and the finances to pay or it. it would all come out Jules reveals: “I always knew that I wanted right in the end.” e fitted in less time than wood, and needs to build a house from scratch, and I had been – Jules Hamilton less maintenance. gathering ideas like a magpie for years. We wanted to marry three design themes: a kind of Not everyone agrees with that, and Jules and igel, who work in the financial services sector, are definitely happy with their choice. ressure treated and planed, their Scandinavian Redwood jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 21

a Texas ranch feel, traditional timber cladding bungalow, construction work on the extension and Cotswold stone.” finally egan in ecem er . While they had een ortunate to find good uilders, She adds: “It was also important that inter- they were then unlucky in the timing of their nally we have living space that was ‘broken- self-build project, as March 2020 brought the plan’ rather than open plan. That’s because we first Covid lockdown. needed to be able to zone it a bit so that the ules says t was a it rightening at first space would work for just us two but also for when work stopped because none of us knew when we had family here to stay.” what would happen next, but eventually everything got going again in earnest. When A local architectural design company helped the cost of materials then went up, we realised bring the couple’s ideas and plans into focus we’d been fortunate once again, because our but also, crucially, persuaded them to reposi- builders had pre-ordered all the wood and tion the new-build extension at one end of plaster. In fact, we had to hide everything the ungalow so that it would fill the space because of all the theft that was going on at provided by demolishing an existing garage. building sites around the country.” Although a lot of time was spent chasing The couple secured the services of a various suppliers, construction of the extension recommended two-man building team, who didn t su er a serious delay, and was finished in also shared the task of project management: September 2020. Activity shifted in 2021 to “We were very lucky to get them because we significant landscaping, installing wooden were the last house they did before retiring,” decking and stone patio around the house and says Jules. “Not only were they skilled at the creating off-road parking space. A wooden tasks they took on, but they knew the right shepherd’s hut on wheels, supplied by Dutch roofers to get in, and they introduced us to company Tuin, was installed next to the house the most amazing electrician – they just had as igel s o fice, while a sta le lock has also a working lifetime of good contacts that we been built for the donkeys. Jules and Nigel’s preference for wood goes enefited rom. WORK BEGINS With the couple continuing to live onsite in the 22 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022



CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS eyond the cladding that so e ectively unifies takes up most of the extension downstairs, but ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS the old and new structures of their new-look also spills into a lounge area that is part of the home, which is now more than twice the footprint of the old bungalow. Beyond this, David Hart at ABDS footprint of the bungalow at 221 m2. All the through a connecting door, the rest of the architecturalbuildingdesign- doors and window frames are wood, and they services.co.uk commissioned a bespoke wooden stairway at a ungalow has een reconfigured to e cost of £4,000. self-contained with three bedrooms and BUILDER two bathrooms – perfect for visiting family Another wooden feature, and something that and friends. Tricker & Broughton was a must-have when the couple designed (now retired) their self-build, is the veranda at the front of Returning to the main living space, the the house. Jules explains: “Having a veranda – standout features include the ground-to-ceiling CLADDING which is the main Te an design in uence was double-sided log burner and the stylish kitchen important to us, because we’re outdoor with its white units and granite working surfaces. Huws Gray people, and we wanted a covered outdoor Delivering another of the design themes on the huwsgray.co.uk/shop space we could occupy all year round to take in couple’s wishlist, there’s also what looks like a the view.” The veranda is topped by the same Cotswold stone wall, but is in fact cleverly WINDOWS, DOORS AND Spanish slate that roofs the rest of the house disguised composite stone cladding that’s just STAIRS (BESPOKE) and which helps to visually unite the bungalow as striking as the real thing. Behind that wall is with extension. another mini extension that’s home to two NJS Joinery Ltd A ‘BROKEN-PLAN’ LAYOUT further spaces: a pantry with a walk-in larder njs-joinery.co.uk Inside, Jules and Nigel have the ‘broken-plan’ and a utility room. layout they were after. The main living space KITCHEN (AND UPSTAIRS Saving the most impressive space for last, CORK FLOORING) upstairs in the main extension is the couple’s open-plan master bedroom, complete with a Espresso Design London espressodesign.co.uk COTSWOLD-STYLE INTERIOR STONE WALL Higgins Cladding higginscladding.co.uk STUV DOUBLE SIDED INSERT LOG BURNER Opulence Stoves opulencestoves.co.uk MASTER BEDROOM BATHROOM SUITE Lusso Stone lussostone.com FLOORING (DOWNSTAIRS) RW Hall Flooring rwhall ooring.co.uk 24 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022



TOP SELF-BUILD TIPS FROM JULES & NIGEL • Everyone says it, but the enefits o eing onsite just can’t be over- estimated. You must do your homework on the details of what you want and make sure it gets done. On our build, for example, when we were putting up the timber framework, I noticed we were missing an aperture for a window. A quick check of the plans confirmed it. • Your relationship with the builder is so impor- tant. Ours was a con- tinuous dialogue with a healthy amount of give and take. A good builder will have ideas worth listening to – for example, it was our builder who suggested a timber frame for the extension would be quicker and more cost-effective than using brick. • We are grateful that we took time to decide what we wanted to do and find the right architectural professionals to work with. Inevitably there will be adjustments during the build, but you should be happy with what you’re going to do before you start. stone bath, ensuite toilet and shower, and the final cost was , over that udget. walk-in wardrobe. It’s topped off by a fantastic Jules says: “Going over budget was by choice countryside view through the French doors and – we just didn’t want to compromise too much a Juliet balcony. on materials and finishes. The result is a larger mortgage than planned, but we’re comfortable Besides industry-standard insulation, ‘green’ with that decision.” eatures at the property include under oor heating, which along with the rest of the The couple are delighted with their rein- house’s hot water is heated by an air source vented home, which has now been valued at heat pump. The pump cost £13,000 to install but a government grant means the couple will . m. ules says We like the e terior finish, eventually e re unded , o that outlay. and it caters to our outdoor lifestyle. Inside, Roof-mounted solar panels to generate the house delivers what we wanted with its very electricity for a new swimming pool are among clever layout. plans for the future. CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS She concludes: “When there’s just the two of Jules and Nigel borrowed £300,000 from Suf- us, we live very comfortably in the new-build folk Building Society for their self-build, but extension. When we have family and friends had to find additional unding elsewhere when here, we have the self-contained bedrooms where the old bungalow was – so as a property it works for two people, and it works for 10 people. We love it.” 26 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

FINANCE & INSURANCE jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 27

SITE PREPARATION STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS Waste Management Solutions At Total Waste Water Systems (UK) Ltd, their goal is to not only help you with your drainage needs but to make the process easy and problem-free for you. Total Waste Water Systems are a full-service design and supply company with a wide range of experience. They can help you whether it’s for a simple pump station or treatment plant to a multi-dwelling development or commercial building. With all aspects of supply and design, Total Waste work closely with a number of architects for design and uild pro ects. Their e cellent reputation and long list o satisfied clients attest to their superior craftsmanship, attention to detail, clear communication, honesty and integrity. 01335 342246 www.totalwastewatersystemsuk.co.uk West Fraser Rewards SBH07_Total Waste_PR.indd 1 West Fraser is offering customers the c1h3a/n07c/e2022 09:02 to win some amazing prizes. Customers spending as little as £25 on SterlingOSB Zero, CaberFloor P5, CaberDek, CaberShieldPlus or CaberWood MDF at participating builders’ merchants’* can gain entry to the monthly prize draw for a chance to win great prizes. The more you buy, the more chances to win! Participants just need to purchase products and upload a receipt at the West Fraser Rewards website between June and November. Among the top-branded prizes on offer are a Lay-Z-spa, a Karcher pressure washer and a Samsung TV. Each month will see a different selection of prizes and there’s even a chance to be entered into the November draw to win a brand-new Mercedes van! www.westfraserrewards.co.uk SBH07_West Fraser_Edit.indd 1 13/07/2022 09:04 28 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022





SITE PREPARATION Drain care or beware Self-builders face particular challenges when it comes to wastewater drainage options, says David Stagg from Graf UK While the self-build sector proved cross connections and poor ackfilling. Some are even prepared to visit sites more resilient than the wider These problems can increase the risk to analyse all aspects of the scheme new housebuilding market of displaced pipes causing blockages, so the most cost-effective long-term during Covid, new challenges are making poor drainage, ooding or oul water solution can be designed. This is the themselves felt. being accidentally discharged into time when specific site issues such as open watercourses, which is why it is so high-water tables/tidal waters can be Although there are signs the exodus important to get this process right. identified and accounted or. of people relocating from cities to the country during Covid is reversing, there Many of these issues come up Bear in mind that while an intelligent is still great demand for properties and frequently when self-building and can wastewater treatment system may have plots of land in the rural areas that have cause considerable inconvenience and more up-front costs, it is designed traditionally been the popular hunting expense so it’s essential to bear in mind specifically to minimise long term grounds for self-builders. a number of best practice tips when running costs. Those using the SBR designing a self-build drainage system. (Sequence Batch Reactor) process This has reduced the number and control e uent uality discharge quality of plots available to self-builders One of the most valuable tips is to while eing e ficient on energy to such a degree that many are now plan for the long term. The design of consumption. They can also having to consider land they may the drainage system should be future- automatically adapt to a system have dismissed before. This includes proofed – building in the correct capacity becoming under or over-charged, land with drainage challenges such as to meet foreseeable future demands so performance is kept to a high unstable ground, a high water table, and any peaks and troughs in demand, standard and energy e ficiency is not poor percolation in, for instance, and creating plenty of access points compromised. clay ground, the availability of a well- for maintenance and pumping out the percolated drainage field, or even sludge. Manufacturers can also advise on the suitable site layout as ideally a gravity fall latest legislation such as the update is recommended on pipework to avoid It’s also advisable to be proactive about to the General Binding Rules which is having to use a pump. This can be further drain care from day one. Self-builders a bid by the Environment Agency to complicated if the plot is in a protected moving into their newly completed reduce the level of sewage pollution area requiring a special discharge licence property have a rare opportunity to in the nation’s watercourses. Under the from the Environment Agency. make use of a drainage system that’s new rules, anyone with a septic tank completely new, without any wear or discharging into a watercourse must Wastewater management is a top blockages caused by the bad habits of replace it or upgrade the foul water priority for any property – but different previous tenants. And it is important solution. property types often have distinct to keep it that way as there is no worse drainage requirements, and new builds problem than a sewage problem! Another is Natural England’s can pose a num er o specific challenges “advice” to local authorities to halt the that need to be taken into account and Self-builders could consider arranging determination of planning applications handled carefully, particularly when it is a for the drainage groundwork to be unless the developments can prove they first time pro ect or the sel uilder. carried out by the ground workers at will be nutrient – nitrogen and phosphate the same time as, or straight after, the – neutral. High levels of these nutrients, Many of the issues that arise with foundations. Diggers will be onsite which come partly from wastewater self-build properties are a consequence and the same lorries that remove the treatment discharges, cause excessive of the fact they are more often than foundation spoil can take away the growth of green algae which smothers not built from scratch, with no previous excess from the drainage trenches. rare habitats and wildlife. residents to stress-test the drainage or David Stagg is technical product past history to establish how the new The groundwork element of a drainage manager at Graf UK pipes and plumbing will cope with the installation is the most expensive, as the realities of day-to-day use. equipment, be it a cesspool, septic tank or wastewater treatment plant, is typically rainage is one o the first elements a fraction of the cost, so it’s important to of a self-build, with much of the optimise this. A soakaway may also be subsequent construction sitting on top of required if the system is not connected it. Therefore, a mistake with the drainage for surface water run-off. may only become apparent once the build is complete and the owners have Manufacturers of wastewater treatment moved in, making these problems systems who offer an approved network di ficult to recti y. of fully trained installers (specialist contractors who install, commission, Common mistakes made during the service and maintain systems), as well as drainage installation process include extensive warranties in the event of an the selection of incorrect pipe sizes, issue, should e a sel uilder s first port wrong pipe gradients, erroneous of call. jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 31

SITE PREPARATION STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS Solution Fires bolsters management team Solution Fires, a new generation of highly e ficient, authentic and stylish electric fires has strengthened its management team with the appointment o ndy acey, as Sales anager. ndy oins the Solution ires team with over years e perience in the industry, holding senior roles with several ma or electric fire manu acturers throughout his career to date. With his e tensive knowledge o the sec tor, ndy will e responsi le or growing the Solution ires rand and its presence in the north o the country, y e panding its network o trusted retailers. Solution ires launched in in response to a growing demand or modern electric fires and media walls, and its range is sold e clu sively in the and reland with the help o its care ully selected retailers. sSBluHti_DnfIi_ePsRc_Lauyout 1 12/11/2021 09:59 Page 1 Convenient and paper-free _Filler.indd 1 Enjoy reading Selfbuilder + Homema2k5e/0r7/2022 08:59 but find it’s not always convenient to have the printed magazine? Or has your workplace turned paper-free? The digital issue offers you the same content, delivered straight to your inbox and accessible via smartphone, tablet and desktop computer. Be among the first to read all the latest features, comments, interviews, and more, before the print issue has even been delivered! What’s more, the digital issue includes interactive links to featured companies. Selfbuilder & Homemaker also offers monthly updates with the Editor’s Choice newsletter, sharing content curated by the editorial team and newsletter, offering news on products, services and events. subscribepage.com/sbh 32 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS BUILDING ENVELOPE Architect chooses Yeoman Rainguard for home renovation Spatial Design Architect, Sharron Dobrev, when renovating the Cast iron T Soil ipes in the same exterior of her late Victorian home, white colour to maintain aesthetics chose Yeoman Rainguard rainwater were also installed. systems for both functionality and design capabilities to achieve a Experience, skills and a desired finish. comprehensive range of products, Having started by completely gutting enabled Yeoman Rainguard to and refurbishing the home’s interior, accommodate all the specific attention was turned to the fading requirements for this older property grandeur of the property, which was renovation pro ect. originally uilt c. . The addition of an attractive bright is light weight with a powder coating, s o rev commented The white rendering brought vivacity back offering a traditional looking product installation team not only did a great fit to the house where Yeoman Rainguard’s with modern enefits, such as but were very tidy and considerate in gutters, pipes and soil pipe products robustness, long lifecycle, very low cleaning up a terwards. were chosen. maintenance and recycla ility. Colour matched in harmony with the would certainly use the product white wall finishes, Yeoman Rainguard GR guttering was espoke again and have already recommended L aluminium mm G manu actured in the G profile to them and the team to others. gutters and mm dia. downpipes were accommodate a radius required installed by the Yeoman Rainguard team over a ay. This, eing compati le to With over years in the industry to the ma ority o the house. the XL range, was able to feed into Yeoman Rainguard are specialists in A high functioning system, the XL the XL Aluminium run of guttering at providing the right rainwater systems either side. for renovation projects on historical, listed and heritage uildings. 0113 279 5854 www.rainguard.co.uk SBH07_Yeoman Rainguard_Building Envelope - Rainwater Products_HPAdv.indd 1 28/06/2022 08:59 jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 33

CASE STUDY THE TRAILS ALL LEAD HOME Calum and Gladys Trail looked at a lot of options for pursuing a self-build, and they managed to find the answer under their noses, on their e isting site in the north east of Scotland TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES NEIL GORDON 34 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

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Even when they moved into their ungalow FABRIC FIRST HIGH POINT built by Gladys’ parents in Inverurie, Having never designed a house before, the Trails erdeenshire over a decade ago, the weren t entirely sure what they wanted, ut this ter watching the chance to uild their own place was on her and meant they approached the pro ect with an open house take shape in our partner Calum’s minds. mind. They did however have some pre erences back garden for a year, in mind. We wanted an open plan living, kitch- the high point came the n act, one o the main reasons why they en, dining space, as well as lots o glass so the day we moved in. t is moved here, as well as the sentimental value house is ooded with light those were our main such a pleasure to live o keeping the uilding within the amily, was re uirements, assets Calum. onus would e in the house and it that the half-acre plot of land had potential for to have a music room or Calum, who is a guitar- delights us every day. another home to be built on it. Finally, after 13 ist, and an ensuite dressing room for Gladys. Walking into the open years living there, the Trails decided it was time plan living space is a to ulfil their dream. But before any of the designing started, continual pleasure.” without planning to do so, the pro ect ended aving oth grown up in nverurie, moving out up taking a a ric first approach. s a way o o the area was always going to e hard or the enhancing their sel uild knowledge, the couple couple. At one point they contemplated moving attended a variety of self-building events. At one to more rural parts, but quickly dismissed this o the e hi itions in Glasgow, the couple recog- idea Gladys was concerned that it wouldn t e nised some of the representatives on a stand. a good idea as they got older, e plains Calum. The company was Scot rame, one o the largest suppliers o tim er rame kits in the , and who n addition, their e isting home was in the happen to e ased in nverurie. We were very ideal location We had easy access to impressed by the quality of the materials and erdeen as well as having great shopping uild uality, and y the act that they were a acilities. Whatever the ne t step in their ourney local company!” was, it was going to e in nervurie. s well as discovering a kit home s a ility to lthough a sel uild was their ig am ition, achieve a high insulation rating, they say they they did consider some other options along the were also wowed y the cross sections they way. We had a look around some new uilds in saw, which showed how much insulation goes the area, but they all seemed to be very close into the walls. lso they were keen on how the together, says Calum, adding We were used standard kit designs could be adapted to meet to living in a large, open plot of land.” their re uirements. With the couple eing new to the whole kit uilding arena, having a company They also nearly went down the route o selling with strong credentials ust around the corner the land to a developer, but in the end, because was hugely appealing. of the location’s convenience and potential, they finally decided that they were going to uild in inding an architect was ne t on the list, and their own ack garden. We knew that we had Scotframe recommended architectural technician enough space or a new house in our garden, says Calum, uilding on it would e an artin Co an. e was the ideal choice, says opportunity that we couldn t a ord to miss. 36 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

LOW POINT Callum, as he lived directly across the road rom o o coordinating everything and making us e was very well placed to keep an eye on sure that the right people and materials were inding out that getting the uild. ollowing their rie , artin came on hand when needed. eith uncan, who a connection to services up with something that we oth liked. e was handled the uild, showed them around homes was going to e di ficult great to work with. that he had worked on, pointing out eatures and e pensive. PLANNING PROBLEMS and making suggestions a out what they could do. t really helped us to get an idea o how we taining planning permission was slightly wanted our home to look. more sticky than they had anticipated. The local ut when Covid hit in arch , all work authority were concerned the proposed design stopped resuming in Septem er. ortunately, overlooked the Trails old ungalow, and were ecause o the incredi le speed in which a Scotframe kit goes up, says Calum, by the time very firm a out not allowing that to happen. lockdown came around the home was already As this meant revising the original designs, it cost wind and watertight, meaning the structure time and money. wasn t a ected y having to sit in lim o. was heading to work in the morning when the kit To prevent any more hitches, before the turned up on the back of a lorry, and by the time second set o plans were su mitted the couple got ack at . pm the walls were up and the organised a site meeting with artin and the roo trusses were on planning o ficial to colla orate on the redesign. On top of Covid, connecting to the utilities was another un oreseen o stacle. We thought n the new plans the house was moved around it would e easy to connect to services as we y degrees and the edrooms were switched already had a house on site, ut it wasn t that to the ront, leaving us with a south acing living simple. In the end, they had to tunnel under space, overlooking the garden.” the road to get us connected.” As this involved Their case was ased on the act that the putting temporary tra fic lights in the street or house is ne t door to the regional o fice o er- a week, it was a significant cost which ended up deen Council, which may e closed at some time pushing them over their planned budget. in the uture, when the site could e given over Despite these challenges, Calum says the rest to housing. Calum e plained to the planning o - o the process was reasona ly smooth, and ficial that i the home was orientated in the direc- that the level o service that we got rom the tion the planners wanted, they could potentially uilders was e ceptional. The Trails moved into overlook the whole new development. e took the new home e actly one year a ter starting that on board, and after that meeting, the plan- onsite, on 5 November. ning department approved our new plans. BUILDING AROUND OBSTACLES DESIGN ELEMENTS After appointing local contractor Michael Duncan espite the three edroom ungalow eing uilders, who had worked with Scot rame e ore, the team broke ground on 5 November 2019. constructed using a tim er rame, the e terior The Trails assert that the uilders did a super jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 37

CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS HOUSE KIT, WINDOWS AND DOORS Scotframe www.scot rame.co.uk KITCHEN/BATHROOM/ SHOWER ROOMS Laings Direct (Inverurie) GRANITE FRONTAGE FOR PORCH Fyfe Glenrock (Old Meldrum) www. y e glenrock.com FURNITURE, FLOORING & FURNISHINGS Andersons of Inverurie HEATING, ELECTRICAL, SOLAR AND JOINERY Supplied by Michael Duncan Builders doesn t give this away. The house has een ren- solar thermal panels on the roof, the latter to dered in light roughcast, with lack tiling on the heat the hot water. The home is heated with un- roof. The porch housing the large dark front door der oor heating, ut as Calum e plains, ecause has been constructed from ‘black’ granite, o the high solar gain rom the windows, even in which is grey ut ecomes glossy and lack winter we hardly ever need to switch the heating when it rains. on.” The high levels of thermal insulation trap the heat, making it warm even in the depth o The layout of the home is slightly unusual; the winter. e adds ere in the north east o Scot- three edrooms are located at the ront where land winters can e very harsh, ut the moment you would usually e pect to find the living areas. the sun appears the house ecomes warm, and it Two o the edrooms are ensuites, and the stays warm. master bedroom features Gladys’ dressing room. THE RIGHT CHOICES Although the Trails faced some challenges on s you travel down the corridor leading rom their sel uild ourney, they are over the moon the front door the home opens out into with the final result. We love the whole look o an open plan living area with the dining and the house, in particular the open plan space, the kitchen spaces. amount o light that oods in. The aesthetic choice of using elements of pting to uild with a kit rame was definitely lack on the e terior, including the anthracite the right choice or the pro ect, e plains Calum. window rames, continues inside. The urniture, lighting, and athroom walls are finished in The standard o the kit was e ceptional, and it lack, a strong contrast with the rightness o is e actly the house we had hoped or. or the the walls as well as the oak ooring throughout pair, despite Covid, it simplified the construction the home. We knew that we wanted a clean, process and he would recommend anyone who contemporary look, says Calum, which is is thinking o it as an option, to go ahead with a echoed in the oors and streamlined kitchen. timber kit. A feature in the living space is a large, gable- height window with sel cleaning glass, due to With the importance o achieving a low energy the di ficulty o reaching its e tremities. home never eing so important, particularly now as gas and electric prices are rising, the selection ur new house is ar more e ficient, and that o a tim er rame was definitely the sustaina le makes a difference to fuel bills and our level of choice,” says Calum. comfort,” says Calum. It does include gas and electricity, ut there are two solar and two 38 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022



BUILDING ENVELOPE 40 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

BUILDING ENVELOPE Coat of many colours Home colour choices can say a lot about your personality. Lisa Grosse from Cedral discusses how to use the ‘colour wheel’ approach to get the look you want for a new build home or a makeover Colour is one of the most important another key factor was that it’s ‘trendy’, balanced effect when used together, elements in any design scheme and blue grey and sage green were seen perfect to create a restful, pleasing to set tone and mood. When as inviting. exterior. Their receding qualities are also choosing colours for your home, it WHAT’S THE COLOUR WHEEL AND HOW DOES a great way to give a smaller building makes sense to go for those that you are IT WORK? more ‘oomph’. A way to create a vibrant naturally drawn to. The colour wheel is one of the most home with strong visual appeal is to COLOURS THAT SUIT YOU tried and trusted design tools used by choose a colour such as red for the Blues and greens, the colours of nature, experts to help you update your facade. facade and then add accessories or signify harmony and stability and surveys Sir saac ewton created the first colour outdoor plants in contrasting colours. suggest that if you are drawn to these wheel, proving that light contains the Another is to use ‘pops’ of contrasting colours, you favour serenity and order. full spectrum of the rainbow. All colours colours for the trim. People who like blue are thought to be in the spectrum are created from the generally quite sensitive, while lovers three primary colours of blue, red and Tonal schemes combine several of green are considered to be open yellow, and the colour wheel shows the shades of one colour for a look that is and loyal. relationship between them. Cool colours easy on the eye. The different shades sit on the blue/green side of the wheel, work perfectly together as they are all On the other side of the scale, vibrant while warm reds and yellows sit opposite. from the same colour family. A tonal red denotes passion and excitement, The most important thing to remember is exterior in beautifully matched shades while purple is generally considered an that the position of colours on the wheel of greys, charcoals or pale blues for artistic and spiritual colour. White means shows how they will work together, and example, will create a very pleasing you are organised and logical while colours are grouped according to this visual effect. black suggests you value your privacy. philosophy. Those who like brown are said to be Other elements to consider when dependable and reliable and yellow is In the early 19th century, the German choosing your exterior colour include the colour of sunshine and happiness. artist and poet, Johann Wolfgang your home’s natural environment, the Goethe, took this one step further, local landscape, colours chosen by your White is a clean and sophisticated studying the impact of colour on human neighbours and how light affects the choice for any home exterior and works psychology. We now understand much colour throughout the day. Durability is well in every setting, but a sun-facing more about the subconscious and another key factor to think about when wall may be blinding at certain times physiological human responses to colour: making your colour choices, particularly of the day. Consider creating an accent for example, how green is the most when it comes to outdoor colours at the wall with a different coloured cladding restful colour to the eye and that blue will mercy of the environment. or creating a te tured finish with a lower the pulse rate. OPTIONS FOR FACADES AND COLOUR patterned colour scheme, mixing in The various options for a facade include additional colours to break up expanses Contrasting colours – such as blue and timber, stone, vinyl, external foam, metal, of large white walls. Here you could let orange, red and green or yellow and weather oard, fi re cement, concrete your personality shine – by choosing purple – sit on opposite sides of the and glass, and these offer a range of sophisticated shades of charcoal, red colour wheel and create a dramatic different colours. Fibre cement cladding or blue. effect when used together. Harmonious – for example, comes in a choice of colours – like blue and green and orange colours and wood stains with a choice Greys and blues are very contemporary and red – sit close to each other on o finishes including wood grain and and will appeal to lovers of nature, the colour wheel and create a tranquil, smoothness. The planks can be mounted creating a calming house to come vertically or horizontally to create home to. Or you could combine different effects when working with a complementary shades of these colours tonal colour scheme. A low-maintenance side by side to add interest and texture. acade in a material such as fi re cement will not need regular re-painting in the When we recently asked 2,000 way that wood will. homeowners about their dream exterior property colours, the top three choices With so much choice availa le, the first were white/coastal whitewash, red brick step is to decide on your colour scheme, and light grey. The primary reasons for and then to make use of the various white were that it looks smart, timeless tools, including digital ones, to find the and traditional. In the case of red brick, perfect look. these reasons were also significant ut Lisa Grosse is brand manager at Cedral being in keeping with the surroundings was shown to be important. For the grey, jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 41

BUILDING ENVELOPE HEATING VENTILATION & SERVICES Fireline FQ5 from Charlton & Jenrick A new addition to the Fireline 5kW line-up, the FQ5 features a modern door style making it perfect for contemporary interior spaces. Performance and environmental credentials are guaranteed with the tertiary air and airwash features. The optional log store and brushed stainless steel door handle are available to help you tailor your stove to your tastes and your environment. This stove ben- efits rom Charlton & Jenrick’s state-of-the-art fire o com ustion technology or codesign ready, R e empt heating as stand ard, and the clearSkies Level certification. esigned and engineered to e e tremely e ficient and environmentally riendly. To realise the ull potential and low emission from the stoves, they recommend using top quality fuel. 01952 200 444 www.charltonandjenrick.co.uk Holdsworth Windows joins the SWA SBH07_Charlton & Jenrick_Heating - Fires & FireHploacldess_wPoRr.tihndWd in1dows has joined the Ste1e5l/07/2022 09:15 Window Association (SWA). Holdsworth Windows offers customers the complete solution when it comes to steel windows and doors – site survey, design, manufacture, repairs, refurbishment, installation, and double glazing. As well as beautiful domestic and commercial projects, Holdsworth Windows prides itself on being able to work on any job - in their own words “no job is too large or small”! Conservation is also an integral part of the business, from removal right the way through to fitting the newly repaired or re ur ished windows and doors. Managing Director, Lee Grant, comments, “We’re excited to be members of the Steel Window Association and look forward to the year ahead!” www.steel-window-association.co.uk SBH07_SWA_Building Fabric - Doors & Windows_Edit.indd 1 05/07/2022 13:47 42 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

HEATING VENTILATION & SERVICES Low Carbon Home Systems Renewable Energy showroom is now open The only renewable energy showroom in Shropshire with a full range of renewable energy and eco friendly products. Call in for an informal chat and browse our products including working examples of heat pumps, underfloor heating and solar, or book your free one on one consultation where we can advise on all aspects of your project from below the ground to above the roof. Heat Pumps | Solar | Battery Storage | UFH Electric Car Chargers | LED Lighting | MVHR Electrical Plumbing & Renewable Installation Heating Energy Design | Quote | Install jul/aug 2022 The Rennet Works, 11 Market Street, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 0AN 01691 624336 | [email protected] www.sbhonline.co.uk 43

CASE STUDY RAISING THE ROOF When David and Lisa Collins’ circumstances changed, a tired 1960s bungalow in Leeds offered not only the chance to build their dream house, but also gave them the perfect opportunity to move nearer to their daughter TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES BEVAN COCKERILL When David Collins developed an eye really liked the location of the house and the HIGH POINT condition that left him unable to drive, area in general,” says David. “That it was very he and his wife Lisa knew they would close to a golf course was a bonus!” “Working with the have to move house. They had lived for 30 years THE MASTERPLAN architects to discover in a rural Nottinghamshire village and relied Lisa and David agreed to buy it with the aim of the most e ficient way o heavily on their own transport, so they needed extending and modernising it as soon as pos- gaining that space and to find somewhere closer to local amenities. t sible. They moved into the bungalow in Decem- realising that not only was was also the perfect opportunity to move nearer ber 2018 with the minimum of furniture – plus it possible, but it was also to their daughter in Leeds. “We were looking for 200 bags of leaf mulch for the garden (Lisa is over and above anything a new-build house on the outskirts of Leeds but a keen gardener) and six large bags of logs for we had hoped for!” soon discovered that it wouldn’t really work for the fire knowing they would have to move out us,” says David. “We like big rooms and open again when the building work started. spaces but the only way we could achieve this was to buy a six-bedroom property, which we There were plenty of things wrong with the didn’t want.” property – the thermostat had been incorrectly wired and the central heating did not work. Then Lisa came up with a “wild card,” a very There was a strange extension over the garage tired 1960s bungalow with a largely unworkable containing two small bedrooms and a WC, all layout and some quirky features – including attic with low, sloping ceilings that severely limited bedrooms David could barely stand up straight the headroom. An old-fashioned hot air ducted in, and an internal patio door dividing two living system occupied even more space, and there spaces on the ground oor. t needed a lot o was very little storage anywhere in the house. work, but we were not concerned about that. But the large garden, ideal location, and clear We renovated our last home and knew what we potential outweighed the negatives. wanted to achieve, and what to expect. We also 44 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

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nitially they were going to turn the first oor it to finally achieve the spacious rooms that we LOW POINT rooms into a large ensuite bedroom, until David wanted for our home.” pointed out that it didn’t fully solve the issue A NEW LAYOUT “Dealing with the hurdles of headroom. Then they tried to get permis- As well as creating more practical sized involved during the sion to build a two-storey extension, but their bedrooms and ensuites upstairs, they also planning process and plans were turned down by Leeds City Council rearranged the layout on the ground oor. The wondering whether we because the roof would have been too high in original L-shaped kitchen – which was far too had made a mistake in a conservation area and out of keeping with the small and in the middle of the house – was buying the property if original style of the bungalow. turned into a boot room and cloakroom so that we couldn’t achieve the Lisa could use the facilities straight from the space we wanted.” So Lisa wracked her brains and came up with garden without having to remove muddy boots. an ambitious idea that would solve all the The rest of the old kitchen, old living room and jul/aug 2022 problems in one go: to literally raise the roof. dining area were knocked into one large living space containing a spacious new kitchen and an t was ingenious, says avid. real game island overlooking the outdoor areas through changer.” Working closely with their architects bi-fold doors. “The old kitchen was small Richard Laycock and James Butterworth of and dated and didn’t even look out over the Studio J, they began to rethink the whole garden,” said Lisa. “We wanted the house and design. “We can’t praise the architects enough garden to work together and complement for the ideas and expertise they brought into each other.” the mix,” says Lisa. “You think you have a good idea, but they were able to take our ideas to a ground oor athroom was turned into a whole new level while understanding and deliv- utility/kitchenette next to an ensuite bedroom, ering what we wanted to achieve.” so that Lisa’s mum, who lives with them, could maintain her independence. The remaining two By raising a large portion of the roof they were able to stay within planning regulations edrooms on the ground oor were turned into and maintain the same footprint, while gain- a snug and a larger entrance hall – complete ing large amounts o living space. t was a with a feature staircase leading to the upper long process with lots of adjustments along the way,” says David, but adds that “it was worth 46 www.sbhonline.co.uk

oor with its three new ensuite edrooms and structure for the raised section of the bungalow. an open landing o fice area. “We were travelling every day from Hudders- field at this point to see how things were pro- With planning permission finally in place y gressing, says Lisa. t was very e citing to see August 2019, David and Lisa moved into his the speed at which the original bungalow was mother s home in uddersfield ahead o the partly demolished and the new structure started builders moving in at the beginning of October. to take shape.” The exterior walls and roof Within a very short time the building company were raised by one metre over the main part of had removed the roof over the main part of the the bungalow in what turned out to be a very bungalow (excluding the garage area), demol- straight orward process. t was really pretty ished internal walls, and reduced the bungalow simple,” says David. “The builders took the roof to a shell. They also removed a line of over- off and then built another metre of stonework grown trees to the front of the property to bring and blockwork on top of the exterior walls to more natural light onto the site and improve raise the height.” They didn’t have to do any the property’s kerb appeal, before covering digging to check or strengthen the foundations the front lawn with hardcore. “The builders, as the extra height was minimal and would not (Feathered Edge Joinery and Builders) were bril- cause undue stress to the existing footings. liant,” says David. “We live in a cul de sac and wanted to keep disruption to our neighbours n act, the hardest it was convincing the to a minimum, so we created space in the front planners that this was a good idea,” says David. garden for the skip and parked vehicles to avoid blocking the road. We hired a small shipping ortunately knew that a near y house had container which created a small onsite o fice or done a similar thing and they had employed the builders and storage for us.” a planning consultant, ndrew Windrass o Planning to get it through. We contacted him, nside, the original oors which were mainly and he used the fact that there was a local wood over concrete – were taken up and the precedent to make the case. t sailed through new steels craned into place to create the without a problem.” jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 47

CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS ARCHITECT Studio J www.studio-j.co.uk MAIN CONTRACTOR Feathered Edge Joinery and Building Ltd www.feathered-edge.com STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS arc engineers www.arc-engineers.co.uk KITCHEN Magnet Group www.magnet.co.uk WINDOWS AND DOORS 21st Century Window Suppliers 21stcenturywindows.co.uk With the roof raised, the internal walls were the new units in the utility were delivered and Cearview Bifolding Doors built to the new design. At this stage the couple installed while David and Lisa were on holiday Ltd (Front Door) considered introducing eco aspects, including and they returned to discover that they were the www.clearviewdoors.co.uk solar panels and an air source heat pump – but wrong colour t s not a ig issue ut it wasn t their budget wouldn’t stretch that far. How- what we asked for,” says Lisa. BESPOKE JOINERY ever, they haven t ruled it out in the uture. t s certainly something we might consider at a later One of the many bonuses of the revamp Sutcliffe Joinery date,” said David. “When you are working to a was the inclusion of extra storage space. “We www.sutcliffejoinery.co.uk budget you have to make decisions about what thought through everything in fine detail, to include and what not to include, and what says Lisa. “We have no loft because that space HYM Joinery you might be able to add further down the line.” was incorporated into the edrooms, so had www.hymjoinery.co.uk to think very carefully about where everything David and Lisa were fortunate to have builders would go. No space went unused.” FLOORING who were e i le, relia le and consistent. They A GARDEN TO LOVE were amazing. They worked through the winter From the outset, David and Lisa wanted the Direct Wood Flooring without a break, even when it was wet and freez- quarter-acre garden to become an integral part www.directwood ooring.co.uk ing cold. Things turned a corner when the roof of the overall renovation. Lisa – with her passion went on and they were able to make progress in for gardening – had clear ideas of the way she CARPETS better conditions.” wanted the garden to evolve, but she called on daughter Katy, an art teacher, for design ideas. SCS Within the six-month build the property had The first task was to take up an oversized area www.scs.co.uk first and second fi ings, it was plaster oarded of decking and turn it into a classically seg- and skimmed throughout and bifold doors and mented combination of well-designed growing BATHROOM FITTINGS new windows installed. Everywhere was highly areas, pathways, structural features and raised insulated with Kingspan, and water-based under- vegeta le eds. path etween a pleached Various including Harvey hedge leads to a wild ower area, greenhouse George oor heating was laid throughout oth oors. and potting shed. “One of our favourite features www.harveygeorge.com etween the two oors there is now a sandwich of the whole project is the Accoya cladding on construction of joists, insulation, boarding, a the exterior of the house, which weathers to a PLANNING second layer of insulation, heating pipes and beautiful grain and colour that links the house more boarding which slightly reduced the head and garden in a very organic way, says Lisa. t ID Planning height in the lower rooms but dramatically was another example of the architect’s ability to idplanning.co.uk increased the soundproofing. think out of the box and achieve more than we Only two things went wrong during the entire ever could within our scope and budget.” process, one eing a cork oor. was keen to include natural materials wherever possible,” Now the house is complete and David and says Lisa. ound a lovely cork oor which was Lisa have had time to en oy its enefits, laid over a screed and a waterproof membrane, they are delighted that they had the vision and ut e ore long it started to uckle. t was soak- conviction to uy the property in the first ing up water because the screed had failed so place. t was an unusual pro ect ut it ulfilled that had to be redone. One of the showers had everything we had hoped for, and more,” also been plumbed in the wrong way round but says Lisa. it was nothing that couldn t e fi ed. The new kitchen has been a triumph but 48 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022

HEATING VENTILATION & SERVICES INSULATION Blue Sky thinking transforms disused barn Blue Sky Barn is a fascinating conversion of a disused barn into a four-bedroom family home. Architects 31/44 have used form and materials to preserve the memory of the original agricultural structure in order to create a stunning new residential and leisure environment with enhanced levels o com ort and refinement. The house presents a uiet acade o corrugated metal walls and roo with vertical larch louvres. With such a large spacious interior, including a 15 m long swimming pool, the architects needed to find a solution or rever erating sound and acoustic dampening. s a result, Troldtekt’s wood wool panelling has been used throughout the living and pool areas to combat and so ten elevated noise levels. Troldtekt is a per ect choice or this kind o application. Conse uently, Troldtekt ine panels were specified or their sustaina le characteristics coupled with superior acoustics to provide a com orta le interior environment. Troldtekt s natural and inherently sustainable panels are available in a variety of different surfaces and colours and contribute positively to a uilding s R , G and L ratings. n addition to their high sound a sorption and tactile surface, they offer high durability and low-cost lifecycle performance. Available in various sizes and in our grades, rom e treme fine to coarse, the panels can e le t untreated or painted in virtually any R L colour. 01978 664255 Troldtekt.co.uk OSMBH0N7_TIrEoldtewkt_hInsoullaetion-h- Aocouusstice_DPsRo.inldud t1ion for Devon barn conversions 05/07/2022 14:10 The conversion of three stone-built agricultural buildings near the beautiful Devon town of Totnes is employing a full selection of renewable and low-energy technologies from the range of Exeter based manufacturer, OMNIE, to create a comfortable living environment for the new occupants. The hundred year old buildings at Ritson Farm are being renovated and turned into highly desirable rural retreats by The Dartmouth Building Company. Each of the luxury homes is to be heated by an LV air source heat pump, which will e connected via multi ranch mani olds to s Staple under oor heating system across the ground oors with the company s Low oard eing specified to warm the upper levels. Then to ma imise uel e ficiency and help guarantee a healthy indoor living environ ment, a constant supply o pre warmed and filtered resh air will e supplied via one o s Zehnder ComfoAir mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) units. As well as installing inter- nal wall insulation, the vaulted roo s to the early th century uildings have een fitted with mm of Celotex and a layer of TLS Gold Multifoil incorporating a breather membrane, while the double- glazed fenestration is manufactured from Accoya, with the treated timber guaranteeing a long life. The development illustrates OMNIE’s capabilities to design and deliver its ‘Whole-House” concept, with a nationwide specification and sales service a le to assist clients with any type o application. [email protected] www.omnie.co.uk SBH07_Omnie_Heating - Underlfoor_DPR.indd 1 15/07/2022 10:36 Manufactured in the UKWhole House Ventilation with Heat Recovery... • Virtually silent operation • Can promote conditions for • Low energy DC electric motors improved health • Range of control options • Acoustically insulated ducting • Easy to install for DIYer or • Filter reduces effects of professional alike respiratory allergies • Conforms to Building regulations • Reduces heating bills • Full installation service available ...for a fresher, healthier, home Rega’s unique WhisperFlow® technology ensures that even when operating at full ‘Boost’ mode (usually during the RegaVent systems are designed and built here in the UK, to our morning bathroom rush hour!) the system remains whisper quiet - unobtrusively and effectively venting stale, damp air, own stringent quality assured standards, you can be sure that replacing it with air that’s been gently warmed and filtered. your RegaVent system will give you the optimum balance of a Low energy DC fans, insulated ducting and a high efficiency heat exchanger also ensure that power usage and energy technical specification that’s exactly right for the UK climate, losses are kept to an absolute minimum. coupled with low energy consumption - for lower Send your plans for a heating bills! FREE ventilation design and a competitive quotation Rega Ventilation Limited wCalwl uswon.0re17g6a7v6e0n0t.4c9o9.uorkvisit 21/22 Eldon Way, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 8NH fax: 01767 600487 email: [email protected] jul/aug 2022 www.sbhonline.co.uk 49

CASE STUDY A LABOUR OF LOVE IN LANARKSHIRE When James and Lorna Hamilton made their decision to self-build, their new home had to meet not only the demands of their growing family but also recognise Lorna’s heritage, sitting on the family farmstead TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES DAPPLE PHOTOGRAPHY The couple were keen that their new home would echo the language of its past and complement the surrounding landscape James Hamilton originally hails from Inver- together. Lorna was able to move onto her HIGH POINT ness, where he and partner Lorna set up family farm and we now had a plot we could home when they got married. However, consider building on.” “I loved being able to go when his parents moved to The Channel Islands to the site every day and a few years ago the couple decided to move The couple were keen that their new home see the project develop. closer to Lorna’s family who live in Lanarkshire. would echo the language of its past and comple- And I loved reviewing the “It made sense to move but it also provided an ment the surrounding landscape. To do this they architects’ initial ideas opportunity to explore the idea of building our enlisted the help of architects, Iain Monteith and – it was really exciting own home,” James explains. Matt Loader at Loader Monteith in Glasgow. and fun; it really got the imagination going.” The couple moved in with Lorna’s parents “The client came to us in 2017,” Iain recalls. while they looked for a building plot in the area “They were quite particular about reusing the but nothing suitable came up. “In 2017, follow- site of a dilapidated steading/cottage, dating ing the passing of Lorna’s uncle, the family farm from the 1800s which was already on the farm. became available. Although tinged with sadness, The proposed site had keen connections out it was a good opportunity to bind everything into the landscape both physically and visually and they wanted to build a new family home for 50 www.sbhonline.co.uk jul/aug 2022