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Build It is the UK’s no.1 self build, renovation & extension magazine. Head to www.self-build.co.uk for inspiring real-life projects & expert advice

Build It is packed full of inspiring case studies, build advice, cost and finance guidance, expert Q&As and planning tips. If you're planning to build your own home, renovate or convert an existing building, Build It magazine is essential reading!

14/07/2025

Wondering whether glazed bifold doors are right for your self build, renovation or house extension project? Glazing can make a huge impact on the spaces you create. With so many styles available, trying to work out your best option is no easy feat.

Bifold doors remain a popular choice for many self builders and home renovators due to their stylish appearance, practicality and the fact that they can offer clear openings of over 90%. They work on a concertina principle where the panels fold and stack against each other, offering easy access to the garden and extending your living space to your patio.

So, could they be the right solution? Over on Build It’s website, Scarlett Deamer takes a look at the ins and outs of bifolding doors, including costs. Click here now to read: https://ow.ly/G9hu50WmfpR

📷: This project in Richmond, by Grabex Windows (Grabex Windows Ltd features an entire wall of bifolds, spanning 9.2m across and 2.8m in height. It comes with a master door in the middle for easy access, flush threshold and two matching picture windows in the corner to maximise natural light

11/07/2025

If you have the space, chances are you’ve asked yourself ‘can I build a house in my garden?’ – and while it may seem like an obvious route to a bespoke home, the answer is not always black and white. Gardens can provide ideal self build plots, especially if the patch in question already belongs to you. This route to land avoids the tedious business of actually having to find and buy a site, and enables you to live in the comfort of your existing home while the works take place.

But even if you’re not so lucky as to own a plot big enough to provide a building site, the country is awash with gardens and many a good plot is carved out of them. So, what are the planning rules and restrictions surrounding this and what particular considerations apply? Over on our website, we’re taking a look at the 10 key factors that you need to note if you’re thinking about building a house in a garden. Click here now to read: https://ow.ly/XGrT50Wm8NP

📷: The owners of this self build in Gloucestershire developed their new home on land they already owned, working with Austin Design Works on the design and Studio CHY to complete the project. Photo: Adam Carter

10/07/2025

Polished concrete floors are a versatile flooring option that can add a sleek, contemporary feel to any renovation or self build project. Their smooth, seamless look and texture will add an industrial style to a home, enhancing both modern interiors and traditional, period schemes.

Polished concrete floors were originally found in factories for their low-maintenance and durable qualities but have become a popular solution for those looking to create a wow-factor interior. But how can you achieve a polished concrete floor in your home and what are the key considerations for a smooth installation? Over on Build It’s website, you can find our complete guide. Click here now to find out more: https://ow.ly/aqE850Wkh7n

📷: Oliver Leech Architects have transformed this Victorian house, set within a conservation area in Herne Hill. As part of the home’s extension and interior redesign, the architects specified polished concrete flooring from Steyson Concrete Flooring, which is carried from the kitchen-diner out to the patio for a seamless look that connects the indoor and outdoor spaces. Photo: Jim Stephenson

09/07/2025

Inspired by the homeowners’ love of art, design and architecture, this urban terraced home has been revamped with an eye-catching medley of textures, colours and patterns. Bradley Van Der Straeten Architects and Optimal Build, the team behind the works, took a fabric-first approach to the renovation, paying attention to the unique thermal properties of the period home. The loft extension has been finished with Valchromat cladding, a matt wood fibre material, with a fluted texture. Up and over glazing floods the space with daylight.

Looking for more loft conversion ideas? Often completed without the need for planning permission, loft conversions are a clever, cost-effective way to maximise your property’s space and value. Click here now to take a look at our pick of 27 smart and inspiring projects: https://ow.ly/xnQw50Wm8xY

📷: French + Tye

08/07/2025

Designing generous, open-plan living spaces is a hugely popular home improvement trend in the UK. Whether it’s a kitchen-diner transformation, a seamless living area, or a reimagined bedroom layout, knocking down walls can bring in more daylight, improve internal flow and make your home feel more spacious.

But before grabbing a sledgehammer, it’s essential to consider whether opening up your floorplan is truly the best option, and how to execute the project properly. Over on Build It’s website, renovation expert Kate Sandhu explores the key factors to keep in mind, from initial planning to practical considerations and design choices. Click here now to find out more: https://ow.ly/ub4U50WkfIB

📷: The owners of this Victorian terraced house thought that their property’s split levels were a negative aspect of the design. MW Architects, however, was confident in this feature’s potential to connect the kitchen, living and dining spaces, opening up the lower and ground floor zones to create a dramatic yet functional family home. The rear side return was filled at the garden level to create a spacious kitchen-dining area that opens to the patio area through steel heritage-style glazed doors. Photo: French + Tye (French+Tye)

07/07/2025

Cladding plays a crucial role in both the aesthetics and performance of a finished house. With a variety of characterful materials available in a range of shades, finishes and laying patterns, you’re certain to find an exterior solution that balances these factors with your project budget, location and other considerations. Designing this element alongside your structural plans is key for ensuring you can achieve great results, potentially using a combination of quality materials.

Are you wondering which house cladding material is best for a timber frame home? Over on our website, Erika Chaffey speaks to the experts and shares a collection of inspiring builds. Click here now to read: https://ow.ly/NeNE50Wkfjs

📷: Designed by 2020 Architects, this timber frame cottage is clad in budget-friendly, corrugated black metal panels.

04/07/2025

This kitchen extension to an Edwardian house, designed by Wellstudio Architecture, features a breathtaking up-and-over, inverted arched window that perfectly captures views of the sky. Inspired by the original building’s Arts & Crafts influences, the box extension’s curves mimic the rear bay window, striking a balance between old and new while blending traditional and modern elements seamlessly. The addition has been finished with yellow London stock bricks and lime mortar for a sensitive appearance, with bespoke detailing surrounding the curved windows to help accentuate their shape.

Are you looking for kitchen extension ideas and inspiration? A kitchen extension is the sought-after home addition for those wanting a social, light-filled and open cooking-entertaining hub. This space is quite often the heart of the home, and especially for those with small kitchens, extending may be the best route to tapping into the potential this zone has to offer. Click here now to see 41 amazing projects: https://ow.ly/GMoU50Wibg0

📷: Chris Snook

03/07/2025

Timber cladding has a characterful aesthetic and amazing design versatility, making it a highly favoured choice for finishing the external walls of self build, renovation and extension projects across the UK. On the practical side, wood is a robust, renewable resource that offers excellent longevity – hence its popularity in all walks of construction.

When it comes to exterior timber cladding, there’s a wealth of fantastic options available, from pre-aged softwoods through to modified timbers and handsome hardwood solutions like oak – as well as timber alternatives such as composite and fibre-cement. With so much choice, it can be challenging to weigh up the advantages, costs and key installation considerations to identify which exterior timber cladding option suits your project best.

So, what are the key considerations when choosing timber cladding? Over on our website, Rebecca Foster investigates the pros and cons of the various natural wood and replica exterior timber cladding systems on the market. Click here now to read: https://ow.ly/f2V350WgNg2

📷: Millboard’s Board and Batten composite cladding features a tongue-and-groove profile that only requires fixings through the tongue, ensuring an aesthetic that’s clean and sleek

02/07/2025

After retiring from their medical careers in London, Alex and Bev sought a forever home in Herefordshire to be closer to family. Unable to find a suitable property, they discovered Oakwrights’ custom build sites, and ended up choosing a corner plot at Church View. They opted for Oakwrights’ turnkey service to manage the build, and their single-storey, 202m² home was completed in just nine months, well ahead of schedule.

The house features two prominent oak gables, antique bricks and horizontal weatherboarding, complemented by a beautifully landscaped garden. Inside, the layout includes three ensuite bedrooms separated from the main living area, which boasts vaulted ceilings and an open-plan kitchen, dining and sunroom space. Oak posts subtly delineate these areas, maintaining an spacious yet intimate atmosphere.

Considering the turnkey route to a new home? A turnkey property package provides a hassle-free route to creating your perfect new home. Click the link here to see a roundup of stunning self build projects: https://ow.ly/EvGu50WiaL7

📷: Mark Watts

01/07/2025

If you’re considering adding an extension to your house, the first place to start is to figure out whether or not your project is likely to require formal planning permission or if it can be completed under permitted development. Like them or loathe them, the stipulations laid out nationally and in your area must be adhered to when building an extension. Local planning guidelines play an important role in what you’re able to achieve, so before setting your heart on a design, check out local policy to establish what’s possible in terms of size, design and materials.

So, what do you need to consider when applying for planning permission? Over on our website, we explain the different possible routes to gaining consent for your addition and share our tips on how to maximise your chances of a successful planning application. Click here now to read: https://ow.ly/sBZG50WgM6Q

📷: This new, striking kitchen extension, designed by Benjamin Wilkes architects, replaces an outdated rear addition, providing the home with extra living space and access to natural light. Combining the owner’s dual passions of music and cooking, this unique entertaining zone contains a warm open-plan kitchen and dining area, plus a bespoke music room directly adjacent. Photo: Chris Wharton

30/06/2025

WT Architecture replaced a dilapidated Victorian glass house with a timber structure that offers a secluded, clutter-free space for the homeowners to write in. Douglas fir timbers form the frame, which are attached to the original masonry walls with steel plates. Glazing echoes the original structure and offers the feeling of being surrounded by nature.

Looking for more ideas? Over on our website, you can check out an inspiring collection of timber outbuildings and find out what you need to know before installing one. Click here now to see: https://ow.ly/Qx1m50Wfl4Y

📷: Dapple Photography

27/06/2025

Build It’s August 2025 issue hits the newsstands this week. This month, our complete guide to self build covers everything you need to know to transform your dream home into a reality. Get inspired with some award-winning home ideas and discover the highs and lows of Build It’s real-life project. Inside this bumper issue, our team of experts offer invaluable advice on everything from cost and budget tips, design and planning, to how to project manage like a pro and save energy with an eco home. Explore the key decisions to factor into your build, including windows and doors, flooring and landscaping. Plus, check out our annual A-Z of the UK’s best self build suppliers – everything you need for project success!

Click here now to find out more about our August 2025 issue and subscribe to Build It magazine today: https://ow.ly/QpEr50WfiOx 📷: The Build It Education House

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