FEATURE


The NSBRC features a zone dedicated entirely to the refurbishment and restoration of older houses


designed to help those working on any kind of renovation project – be it completely overhauling a house that’s seen better days or simply modernising a dated property.


The main attraction here, and one of the highlights of the whole centre, is the Renovation House, which is a recreation of an old and dilapidated property that transforms into a dream home. “With careful planning, renovating a house can be one of your best investments, or your motivation may be to turn an ancient wreck into a family home,” Harvey says. “In either case, a tour of the Renovation House is a must.”


The house – which is typical of a property built during the interwar period – features problems such as damp, damaged brick/stonework, leaky guttering, broken window frames and rotten timbers. “The house shows the four main stages you will need to follow,” Harvey explains. “Assessment and design, strip out/build down, renovation first fix and final finishes.” A 30-minute audio tour – with commentary provided via a hard hat with built in speakers – guides visitors through the renovation process, highlighting common problems, recommending solutions and explaining step-by-step how to refurbish such a property. “While not a complete blank canvas, major renovation projects will throw up similar choices to new builds and many of the options available in a new build can be applied,” says Harvey. The centre also offers midday guided tours of the house every Friday and Sunday with its resident technical expert.


TRADE VILLAGE


Here is where you’ll find the centre’s permanent exhibitors, divided into categories such as Professional Services & Associations, Foundations & Groundworks, and Roofing & Roofing Structures. Over 220 suppliers and


july/august 2017


manufacturers have stands in the centre, showcasing up-to-date products and technologies in the self-build market. The NSBRC is claimed to be the only place in the UK where customers have access to these products all year round. Many of the exhibitors’ products are also showcased in various exhibitions throughout the centre, allowing you to view them in-situ, as they would appear in your home, as well as on the stand. Visitors are also issued with scanners, allowing you to request further information from the specific exhibitors’ products that you’re interested in.


EVENTS


One of the NSBRC’s biggest selling points is the variety of events that take place within it through the year. These range from workshops and courses to exhibitions, covering everything budding self-builders need to know. The National Self Build & Renovation Show and The Big Green Home Show each take place over a three-day period. Along with the regular features of the centre, the shows include live demonstrations and seminars as well as the chance to network with and learn from fellow self-builders. “The shows are the ideal opportunity to discover how the concept of self-building works or simply to explore the options for injecting new life into your existing home,” explains Harvey.


Free workshops are also on offer on key topics that combined together cover everything you need to know, says the NSBRC. Four eco workshops are available, covering matters from sustainability-oriented design and planning to heat and energy. A design and build workshop also runs four times a year, teaching you how to take full control of your project, including the undertaking of all or part of the construction.


Held in association with RIBA, an Ask an Architect programme runs five times a year, offering a 25-minute consultation during which you can talk through any ideas or aspects you might need advice on. These sessions must be booked in advance.


In addition to the free workshops three in-depth, paid-for courses are run by the NSBRC for those who “want to be more involved in their project,” explains Harvey. The one-day project management course, costing £150, covers everything from budgeting and insurance to site management and health and safety. The heat and energy course (also a one-day session costing £150) aims to simplify what can be a


TESTIMONIALS


“Brilliant in every way. Drove down from North Wales and was there for about three hours. It’s a must do for people considering self-build as you will learn a lot. My wife and I both left there excited about a potential self- build!”


Wesley Jones, via Facebook


“BuildStore, the National Self Build & Renovation Centre and its various partners have been invaluable – I cannot fault their expertise and advice – they have really made this project much easier, and cheaper, for us!” Paul Vaughan, via BuildStore


“On the recommendation of a friend who knows our interest in starting out on renovation projects and hopefully, new build, my wife and I visited the NSBRC. From the outset, the welcome was warm and the information available was very impressive and extremely useful.”


Peter Cornthwaite, via BuildStore


“Whether you are a self-builder planning a whole house, or thinking of extending, NSBRC is worth a visit either with your architect or on your own to understand how bespoke you can be.”


Richard Bowman, via Facebook


“Blown away, this place really does have everything you need for new builds and extensions” Shane Reeve, via Facebook


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complex and confusing topic, explaining the basics and solutions available. The most comprehensive offering is the three-day self build course, which costs £375 and covers a total of 11 topics. These include design and specification, Building Regulations and eco legislation, providing an all-in-one introduction to the world of self-build. “All our courses are packed with useful hints and tips from the experts to help you save money and stay on budget,” Harvey says.


For more information on the centre visit www.nsbrc.co.uk


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