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Contemporary Living

Prefabricated TIMBER

SETTING A NEW BENCH MARK FOR TIMBER

FRAME HOUSING

FRAME HOMES: CHALLENGING PRECONCEPTIONS

AFFORDABLE HOUSINGBackyard building:easy access to extra space

EXPERT GUIDE: REPLACE YOUR WOOD STOVE AND SAVE MONEY

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IN THIS ISSUE

BATHROOM & KITCHENTRENDSSPECIAL

CLASSIC FEATURES MODERN APPROACH

TRADITIONALBESPOKE BRITISH KITCHENS

MEETING DEMANDS OF MODERN LIVING

MARCH 2014 £4.25

If you’re planning a self-build or renovation you need to be sure that your project is in safe hands.

Altitude Aluminium works with Schuco and Reynaers systems and offer a complete, no worry service from design through to installation of Aluminium Windows, Doors, Sliding and Folding systems, Curtain Walling, Balustrades and Balconies.

Altitude Aluminium is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and BS OHSAS 18001 accredited.

Get in touch with us to discuss your project further.

Call us today on0800 2888 066

or email your plans toquote@altitudealuminium.co.uk

Visit our websitewww.altitudealuminium.co.uk

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FIRST WORDS

WelcomeWelcome to the March edition of Self Build Homes, we hope you enjoy our kitchen and bathroom special, showcasing both modern and traditional solutions to suit all tastes. This issue concentrates on what to consider when designing your ideal home. We look at how contemporary living impacts your surrounding space and how to effectively reflect lifestyle choices in the way you use your home.

As the new year remains fresh on everyone’s minds, planning is still at the forefront for self-building and home renovation. Whether you are building, extending or renovating, we have some food for thought on all aspects. Providing advice and inspiration, we speak to the Structural Timber Association for their first part of a three part feature on planning a timber built home as well as how to arrange the perfect bathroom layout and kitchen trends for 2014.

As always, we feature some exciting self-build projects, a particular favourite being featured on Channel 4; Hive Haus show us an innovative way of modern living where modular self-built pods create an affordable external space. Be sure to turn to page 12 for that.

Should you have any questions that you would like our experts to answer, then do not hesitate to contact our team on editorial@selfbuildhomesmag.com.

See you next month!

Roz WareEditor, Self Build Homes Magazine

Although every effort is made to ensure that the content of features in Self Build Homes is accurate and correct, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. No guarantees can be made upon the safe return of any unsolicited copy or photographic images. The publisher reserves the right to alter or amend any submitted material that is

printed in Self Build Homes. All material in Self Build Homes is the copyright of the publisher and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the publisher. © Success Publishing Limited

PUBLISHED BYSuccess Publishing Limited,Crown House, John Roberts Business Park, Pean Hill, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3BJTel: 01227 378390 Fax: 01227 784079

Publisher: Colin WoolleyPublishing email: info@selfbuildhomesmag.comProduction Manager: David CadyProduction email: production@cplmedia.co.uk

ADVERTISINGSales Director: Rachael NikolajEmail: rachael@selfbuildhomesmag.co.ukSales Manager: Simon WhiteEmail: simon@selfbuildhomesmag.com

EDITORIALEditor: Roz Ware Email: editorial@selfbuildhomesmag.com

Art Director: Ian Denby-JonesEmail: design@cplmedia.co.uk

Contributors: Stommel, Baufritz, Timber Frame Association, Welsh Oak Company, LABC, Target Timber Systems

Website: www.selfbuildhomesmag.comMagazine Subscriptions: 0844 545 8180

Customer Care Line: 01227 378390One year subscription price UK £30, Europe £52, ROW £95. UK offers a saving of £9.99.

Distributed by: COMAG, Tavistock Road,West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QETel: 08195 433800

March 2014 I Self Build Homes

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CONTENTS March 2014

12 The Modular Living SpaceHive Haus demonstrate the future of affordable housing with simple self-build pods for exterior spaces

46 Welsh Oak FrameHow combining traditional features with modern techniques can simply transform a space into your dream home

106 Huf HausHuf Haus release the new home design modum: that sets a new bench mark for timber frame housing

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94

DESIGN FEATURES HOMES62 Kitchen TrendsPlan for the year ahead with our guide to kitchen design trends for 2014

66 Classically BritishClassic British furniture handcrafted for today’s lifestyle by bespoke designer Teddy Edwards

76 Planning the Perfect BathroomIn the midst of designing a new bathroom? Consider some essential advice before you take the plunge

16 Designed Around YouBespoke timber frame specialists Baufritz design the perfect home for a growing family

34 Challenging ConceptionsThere is conflict between being ecologically effective and creating an environment that is pleasing on the eye within your home

54 Don’t Make Do. MendContemporary glazing specialists, Trombe, design an award winning space

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March 2014 www.selfbuildhomesmag.com

5 WelcomeThinking about how lifestyles impact the design of your self-build home

8 In the NewsAll the latest industry news

74 Questions and AnswersAll your Kitchen queries answered by the Kitchen & Bathroom Association

90 Expert adviceHow replacing your old wood stove could save you money

REGULARS

12

106

BUILDING A HEALTHY HOME

PRODUCTS

24 Planning A Timber Built HomeIn the first of a three part feature, the Structural Timber Association explain how to plan a house built in timber

30 Stommel Timber HomesTimber Frame specialists Stommel, explain the term ‘Prefabricated’ has a new definition

82 BMA New Water LabelDomestic appliances are to feature a new label aimed at informing the customer of actual water useage

70 Lakeland: New Kitchen GadgetsTake a look at our top gadgets from the new collection at Lakeland

80 The Ultimate Bathroom SolutionTired of condensation on the bathroom mirror? Go steam free with Demista

88 Low Energy Underfloor HeatingWarmup demonstrate the benefits of installing a bespoke underfloor heating system 70

66March 2013 I Self Build Homes

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NEWS

wooden-framed, turf-covered property using scavenged and second-hand materials.

Mr Dale – with the help of his father-in-law, a builder – first constructed the building’s timber frame. The roof, which came next, has a layer of straw bales for insulation and is covered with sheets of plastic to make it waterproof. Finally it is covered with a layer of earth, which ensures the house blends perfectly into its surroundings.

Simon’s interest in self-sustainability and an ecological awareness led him to build his own

Man Builds Fairy Tale Eco-Home For £3,000

WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH LITTLE TRUST IN TRADES MEN AND HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANIES?

Fed up with paying large mortgage repayments, Simon Dale and his wife Jasmin Saville decided to build their own eco wooden home in the middle of a Welsh hillside.

Taking just four months to build their ‘hobbit-like’ dwelling, astonishingly the build only cost £3000 as they used the most basic of tools including a chisel, hammer and chainsaw, paying nothing for the land as the owner wanted the area to be maintained.

The couple camped out with their children Cosmo, seven, and Elsie, six, to create the

When we contemplate using valuable family financial resourses in order to improve our homes, it is often our fears, anxieties and perceptions of risk that make us more cautious and less trusting.

Taking double glazing as a typical example of a ‘high involvement’ home improvement purchase the risks we perceive

include the financial risk, and the negative feelings associated with post purchase.

A survey of Which? members back in 2012 for example showed that only 7% of those surveyed said they trusted double glazing firms, that 40% said good advice for double glazing was hard to come by, and most of

those surveyed said they’d used small independent companies.

The result of this is likely to be an extended or more pronounced ‘information search’ stage in our buying cycle and wanting to stick to what we know. For double glazing companies it means a greater focus and spend on communicating information

designed to improve trust and re-assurance. This typically takes the form of the use of testimonials and recommendations in promotional content and information about how long the company has been established, whether it’s a family run firm and its links to the local area.

Dave Pearson of Swindon

home, stating that ‘It’s fun. Living your own life, in your own way is rewarding. Following our dreams keeps our souls alive…our supplies are dwindling and our planet is in ecological catastrophe. Being your own have-a-go architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass-produced box designed for maximum profit and convenience of the construction industry.’

Images supplied by simondale.net

March 2014

9

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March 2014 I Self Build Homes

WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH LITTLE TRUST IN TRADES MEN AND HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANIES?

New Homes Save Buyers Up To £800 A Year On Energy Bills (Bedfordshire)

New Grout Shield Restores Grotty Grout around Bathroom TilesThe New Grout Shield Restoration System™ is a revolutionary new way to clean and restore old grout, making any tiled area look brand new again. Grout Shield recolours and seals grout so that it is no longer porous and therefore protects it from future stains, mould and mildew, making it extremely easy to clean and maintain.

Currently, if your tiled wall or floor is stained you can either achieve some level of short term fix with a bleach-based cleaner, or spend a lot of time, money and effort...re-grouting! Either way the grout remains porous and will continue to attract stains. Grout Shield offers a new and better alternative - clean, restored and sealed grout, that looks great, stays clean, protects from mould and, what’s more, is easy to do.

Grout Shield Colour Seal is an acrylic resin containing a special sealant, which chemically bonds with existing grout to form a professional, durable and superior finish. It is easy to apply, significantly cheaper than re-grouting and offers on-going, sealed-in protection for up to 10 years. It comes in four colours (white, off white, beige and grey) so you can restore your original colour or change it.

Grout Shield can be used on indoor tiled surfaces, either man-made or natural stone and on both horizontal and vertical surfaces. It works with any grout making it ideal for bathrooms, showers, toilets, kitchens and hallways.

Available from Lakeland, QVC, Wilkinson and on-line at

www.groutshield.co.uk

David Wilson Homes in the South Midlands has calculated that its new homes are up to 50% more efficient compared to similar Victorian properties. The average energy bill is around £800 on a brand new 3 bedroom home compared to more than £1,600 for a similar Victorian home, even with modern day improvements.

“The cut in energy bills is coming from energy-efficient central heating, double glazing and high levels of insulation, together with top quality build techniques”, said Jackie Day, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands.

November’s saw five out of the six main energy companies raise their prices by an average of eight per cent.

The improved performance of David Wilson Homes has been made possible by:• Better energy efficient boilers – the latest technology to provide heating and hot water • High performance double glazing • More insulation – floors, walls and lofts are highly insulated to minimise heat loss

And with David Wilson Homes’ exclusive 5 Year Warranty on fixtures and fittings, in addition to the NHBC 10 year structural warranty, you can enjoy your new energy efficient home with total peace of mind.

David Wilson Homes South Midlands is currently building a selection of energy efficient new homes at a range of developments across Bedfordshire.

More details avialable at David Wilsonwww.dwh.co.uk.

based Window and Door Company DA Windows comments:

“New windows and doors are an infrequent purchase and they can cost quite a lot so I can understand why people are very careful in their information gathering and selection process. Obviously people want to find a

company that they can trust to do a good job, provide a good service, and provide good value for money.”

Dave explains why he thinks people tend to prefer a local company.

“A local company has to make sure that it has a good reputation in the area. It only

does that by providing a good service and generating good word of mouth. People trust what their friends and family tell them. People also feel that if they have a problem or a question in the future they can easily go back to that local company. Seeing the vans in the local area, being able to see

examples of the work nearby before they buy, and hearing recommendations from people they know are all very powerful re-assuring and trust building factors. It’s so often the case that we buy from people we know, particularly where we perceive a high amount of risk”.

www.doubleglazingswindon.co.uk

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NEWS

It is well documented that more wealthy overseas buyers are investing in residential property in London as the market is seen as a safe haven for their cash.

So it was interesting to see reports at the weekend that almost a whole street

Project managers and business planners from across the country are set to meet at London, Olympia on 12 – 13 March 2014. They will be visiting Project Challenge Spring Show, which takes place at Olympia 2.

This event is a ‘must attend’ for anyone interested in the latest technology and services to support effective project management. Leading suppliers will showcase the best products, services, software, training and consulting. Additionally, 40 free seminar presentations will run throughout both days of the show,

delivered from open zones within the exhibition hall.

“This year we are already seeing certain industry sectors really focusing on getting their projects on track. Particularly industries such as construction, IT and the public sector.” Says event director Richard White

He continues “Project Challenge is the perfect destination for anyone involved in managing projects, however big or small. It’s your chance to get new ideas, update your skills and knowledge and road test the latest systems. We’re lining up some top quality

The Green Deal has been given a lukewarm verdict, scoring just two out of fi ve in a one-year anniversary “report card” from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which says the Government must try harder to broaden the appeal of its fl agship energy-effi ciency policy.

Brian Berry, FMB Chief Executive, said: “It’s clear that the Green Deal simply has not achieved the desired results in its fi rst full year, with the majority of SME installers and home owners failing to engage, and the fi nancial package underpinning the scheme proving unattractive to most consumers. Our report card shows that the main problem the Green Deal faces is that consumers are not interested

because of the limited appeal of the fi nancial incentives currently being offered. This in turn means that most small local builders are reluctant to spend their time and money becoming certifi ed Green Deal installers, when the potential customer base is really still in its infancy.”

Berry continued: “As a fi nancial package, the Green Deal just doesn’t stack up. There are many attractive high street alternatives out there, with loans and credit cards generally available at more competitive rates to fund both the lower and higher value types of eligible energy-effi ciency project. Other government incentives such as the recently announced reduction in stamp duty for those taking up the Green Deal are also

not inclusive. The pot of money is too small and, worse still, this incentive will only apply to people who are buying or selling their home.”

Berry concluded: “The Government needs to accept that the Green Deal’s fi rst year has been underwhelming at best. The single most effective measure to kick-start demand would be to reduce the rate of VAT from 20% to 5% on all domestic repair and maintenance work, including energy-effi ciency improvements. This would be a real incentive to home owners across the board to think about getting a professional tradesperson in to quote on a variety of repair and maintenance projects.”

THE GREEN DEAL BUILDERS SAY ‘MUST TRY HARDER’

Luxury homes in London that nobody wants to live in

The UK’s biggest project management event returns to London

in one of London’s wealthiest areas has luxury properties lying empty because their foreign owners have left them or been unable to afford their upkeep.

Extraordinary is the word that comes to mind regarding the situation in The Bishops Avenue in leafy Hampstead

in North West London which is often referred to as Billionaires Row. It is estimated that at least 16 palatial homes are currently unoccupied with some rotting and decaying as they have not been lived in for years.

Indeed, according to residents only three homes in the road are actually lived in all the time as many are owned by rich foreigners who live abroad most of the time. One property has been repossessed and a group of 10 houses have been empty since the 1990s after being bought by members of the Saudi royal family who never used them. They have now been bought by a property development company and are being renovated.

But the sheer sky high prices for properties like these in desirable locations in London means that many of these homes will again be bought by wealthy overseas buyers. Homes in the street are currently on the market for £30 million, £65 million, £40 million and £34 million.

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use basic thermodynamic principles to convert latent heat contained within the air we breathe into heat energy that can be used to provide heating and hot water. This ‘ambient heat’ is replenished by the sun making our heat pumps both effective and environmentally friendly.

How they work There are two basic types of air source heat pump – ‘air to air’ and ‘air to water’. Grant Aerona heat pumps use an air to water system which utilises heat energy captured from the air in ‘wet’ heating system radiators or underfloor heating. The process uses the same vapour/compression cycle that extracts heat in a domestic fridge. A refrigerant with a low boiling point is exposed to external air temperatures in an evaporator. The liquid boils off to a gas and absorbs the latent heat energy of the air. This gas is then compressed increasing the heat content in the refrigerant, before passing through a heat exchanger where it condenses back to a liquid state while transferring the heat to the water of the heating system. The liquid refrigerant is then re-circulated through the evaporator and the cycle is repeated. Fit for the future Grant has two ranges of single phase heat pumps with outputs up to 21.5kW – the Aerona and the Aerona HE. With the recent fluctuations

in price and supply of fossil fuels, Grant air source heat pumps offer both an environmentally and economically sustainable alternative. Home heating in the UK accounts for approximately 30% of CO2 emissions and the heat source used by Grant Aerona heat pumps is entirely renewable which helps reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere and, in so doing, lowers the carbon footprint of the household.

The full Grant Range is available from ABGO

£2750inc VAT

Air Source Heat Pumps

Starting from

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DESIGN CONCEPT

garden room that could be easily expanded to suit the needs of the individual without the need (in most cases) for planning permission. HIVEHAUS has been designed to be affordable, sustainable, fl exible, easily expanded and portable as well as most importantly, extremely economical to run.

Its sleek contemporary design may be its fi rst striking feature but underneath its crisp stylish exterior are an array of cutting edge features which make HIVEHAUS truly unique

Inspired by nature, HIVEHAUS is an innovative new concept in modular living space, heavily infl uenced by Modernism using unconventional building techniques. Making a special appearance on ‘George Clark’s Amazing Spaces’, HIVEHAUS are set to change the future of affordable housing where no planning permission is required.

Designed to be compact but comfortable HIVEHAUS was originally conceived by builder Barry Jackson as a highly versatile

and innovative.A lightweight steel frame system sits on

adjustable zinc coated steel base jacks, each jack has 500 mm of adjustment allowing for easy erection on uneven terrain and sits on minimal foundation pads reducing environmental impact and the cost of ground levelling and traditional poured concrete foundations. Floor and ceiling panels are constructed from 100mm insulated sectional timber frames which are bolted together

� e Future of Affordable Housing

NO NEED FOR PLANNING PERMISSION, AN ARCHITECT, OR EVEN A BUILDER, BUILD YOUR OWN HIVEHAUS TO CREATE YOUR OWN BESPOKE SPACE ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET.