Converting Your Garage
Converting a garage is a relatively inexpensive way to create more space for your family. Our guide gives you the basics you need to begin.
Home Maintenance & DIY
Written by experienced and enthusiastic experts, our array of well-researched and informative features has been created to inspire and advise you to help you make your home a better place to be.
Installing Electrics Outside the Home
Running electrics outside gives you lots of flexibility for using outbuildings and the garden but it's a complex job that will probably need an electrician.
Heating And Cooling Systems
There are quite a few alternatives to gas and electric heating and the choice is getting larger as ecological issues and climate change come to the forefront of our lives.
Tips & Advice on Adding Conservatories
A conservatory can be a delightful addition to a home and it’s one of the simplest building projects you can do.
Adding A Porch
A porch can be a very worthwhile and useful addition to a house although there are some rules to follow to make sure it doesn’t turn out to be the street’s carbuncle.
Labour Costs
Labour costs are a big proportion of the cost of a renovation project but there are ways you can control those costs and make sure you pay a fair price for good quality work.
Re-arranging Interior Walls
Modern living needs different living spaces to those that period houses offer, so it’s worth considering a rearrangement of internal walls to give you what you need.
Central Heating And Boilers
There’s a bewildering selection of boilers these days and almost as many different heating systems to select from. We guide you through the maze.
The Dream Phase-What You Want To Happen
Get this bit right and the rest will all follow – we show you how to get your ducks in a row and tackle the start of a renovation process step by step
Keeping On Top Of The Project When Renovating A House
As your renovation progress it’s vital to stay abreast of it and be ready to adapt if and when things go wrong.
Restoring Woods and Tiles
This article looks at how to restore woods and tiles to their former glory
Door And Windows
Doors and windows play a large part in defining the style and feel of your house, form the outside at least, and any renovation project should play close attention to them.
Remaining Sympathetic To The Building's Era
Treating the original look and feel of a renovation project with care is likely to reap dividends in the current market, that’s what buyers want to see.
Planning And Patience Whilst Renovating
Planning is boring, everyone knows that, but unless you want to throw money down a bottomless pit, it’s an essential factor for success.
Get Professional Renovation Help
Professionals are important to the success of any renovation project but how can you decide where you should use a specialist and where is it safe and sensible to do the work yourself?
Adding Sockets And Lights
Subtle and pleasant changes in the atmosphere of your home can be achieved with creative lighting and sometimes all you need to do is change a few lights and sockets.
External Walls And Foundations
If there isn’t enough care and consideration put into foundations and walls then there may not be much point in carrying on with your build.
Home Entertainment and Remote Control
Wiring up your home used to mean lights and sockets, but as computers, television radio and music all begin to converge in a blur the modern home needs to be wired for sound and vision.
Internal Walls And Ceilings
Repairing walls and ceilings is one area where it’s worth spending time on preparation to achieve the best results when decorating later
Pavements And Driveways
One golden rule about property sales is that first impressions count for a great deal, so it makes sense to invest in driveways and pavements.
Getting a Renovation Grant
If you are very lucky and very determined, you might well be able to get some kind of grant to help you in your renovation. Don’t count on it though!
Getting Labour In For The Dirty Work
You might think that doing as much of your home renovation work yourself will save money, but often it doesn't. So choose wisely which tasks you are going to take on.
Is it the Right Time to Find a Renovation Project?
Renovating in a recession? Perhaps it's not the complete madness that it would first seem; the game has changed but there's still money to be made for the nimble.
Plumbing a Bathroom Into an Upstairs Extension
If your renovation project includes a two-storey extension then putting a bathroom in it might give you a good return and it's usually not as difficult as people think.
Pointing and Brickwork Care
Redoing the pointing on the external walls of a property that is in poor condition is essential to prevent water soaking into the walls and breaking them down.
Recording The Present Condition of Your Renovation Project
Keeping a record of the condition of your renovation project before you start isn’t just to give you something to look back on, it serves a number of other crucial purposes.
Renovating Listed Buildings
Renovators often shy away from listed buildings and it’s true that you are taking on more work and stress. But as long as you understand and follow the rules the rewards can be spectacular.
Stairs And Landing Areas
Stairs and landings can be very tricky places to renovate so here are some tips on how to do it, and how to do it safely.
The Importance of Having a Contingency Fund When Renovating
We hear about contingency funds on renovation and developing TV programmes all the time, but what exactly are they and how do you decide how much to put in?
Advice and Considerations When Roofing
Roofs often need attention on renovation projects until they need it, many of us don’t give them a second thought. We give you the lowdown on the highs of renovation.
