NEWS


selfbuilder +homemaker


JOINT PUBLISHER Anthony Parker


MANAGING EDITOR James Parker


ASSISTANT EDITOR Roseanne Field


EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Shelley Collyer


STUDIO MANAGER Mikey Pooley


PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Georgia Musson Kimberley Musson


SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVES Sheehan Edmonds Nathan Hunt


SALES EXECUTIVES Suzanne Easter Kim Friend


MANAGER Jane Spice


AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT


MANAGING DIRECTOR Simon Reed


PUBLISHED BY DIARY


Cointronic House, Station Road, Heathfield East Sussex, TN21 8DF


ADMINISTRATION 01435 863500


info@netmagmedia.co.uk www.sbhonline.co.uk


EDITORIAL FEATURES jparker@netmagmedia.co.uk


PRESS RELEASES editorial@netmagmedia.co.uk


CIRCULATION ENQUIRIES circulation@netmagmedia.eu


SUBSCRIPTION & ADVERTISING &


PROJECT MANAGEMENT COURSE 13 APRIL, SWINDON www.nsbrc.co.uk


KITCHEN & BATHROOM DESIGN MASTERCLASS 27 APRIL, ST NEOTS www.potton.co.uk/courses


INTRODUCTION TO SELF BUILD 4 MAY, SWINDON 10 MAY, ST NEOTS www.potton.co.uk/courses


GRAND DESIGNS LIVE 4- 12 MAY, LONDON


PLANNING | FINANCE | DESIGN | CONSTRUCTION | PRODUCTS | INTERIORS


selfbuilder +homemaker


The building


blocks of success What you need to know when block paving a driveway


The ups & downs


of garage doors An expert answers all self- builders’ key questions


www.granddesignslive.co.uk MAR/APR 2019


Clear routes to happiness


Glass balustrades – reasons to install, the practicalities of installing, and a great case study in Fife, Scotland


All Rights Reserved


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.


ADDING A BIT OF


BATHROOM DRAMA Bathroom interior design trends have taken a dark twist; our designer offers tips on how to create a really dramatic colour scheme


Cover image © IQ Glass See page 49


No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or stored in any information retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in Selfbuilder & Homemaker, the publisher can accept no responsibility for the claims or opinions made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Editorial contributors to this journal may have made a payment towards the reproduction costs of material used to illustrate their products. The manufacturer of the paper used within our publication is a Chain-of-Custody certified supplier operating within environmental systems certified to both ISO 14001 and EMAS in order to ensure sustainable production.


Printed in England 4 www.sbhonline.co.uk march/april 2019


HOW TO GET YOUR PROJECT MOVING 11 MAY, ST NEOTS


www.potton.co.uk/courses


THE SELF BUILD COURSE 11- 13 MAY, SWINDON www.nsbrc.co.uk


THE NATIONAL SELF BUILD & RENOVATION SHOW 17 - 19 MAY, SWINDON www.nsbrc.co.uk


GLASGOW HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING SHOW 1- 2 JUNE, GLASGOW glasgow.homebuildingshow.co.uk


EDITOR’S LETTER


Building your own home has to be one of the most satisfying, yet also the most daunting things you can take on. I’d imagine that for many new to the task, there is a further challenge in not wanting to ask any ‘stupid questions.’


However it might be a useful thing to remember that there ‘are no stupid questions’ – asking those in the know could be the only way to avoid falling into very costly traps. Whether that’s an expert in self-build at a regional Homebuilding & Renovating show, a representative at one of the major kit building firms, the local builders merchant, or a combination of all of them, it


could later prove invaluable that you ask whatever burning question you have, as soon as you can. Ideally meet face to face to get things clear, and take notes.


A range of assembled experts confirm, in our piece on page 8, that asking questions early on in a project is the way to happiness. For example, if you finalise design decisions before getting your finances straight, it might mean your list of mortgage options is severely limited. In the same way, making sure a project manager’s expectations are aligned with yours is essential, and the only way to ensure this is to talk to them. The same goes for the builder.


Last but not least, don’t assume you will be able to get the products you need, exactly when you need them. Give your supplier – as soon as you can – the dates you will need your materials; this info will enable them to help you as their customer. Don’t expect them to come to you with information.


JAMES PARKER


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52