The Build Blog
Practical guides, cost breakdowns, and expert tips for UK homeowners planning a construction project.
Complete Guides
UK Building Regulations: Key Measurements Every Homeowner Should Know
The essential building regulation numbers every UK homeowner needs - foundation depth, insulation thickness, DPC height, headroom, U-values, and more in plain English.
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How to Check Your Builder's Work: The Homeowner's Quality Guide
Don't wait until snagging to spot problems. Check foundations, brickwork, roofing, electrics, and plumbing as they happen. Plain English checklists for every stage.
Read guideBathroom Electrical Zones Explained: Zone 0, 1 and 2 (UK)
Bathroom Electrical Zones Explained: Zone 0, 1 and 2 (UK)
UK bathroom electrical zones decoded: Zone 1 to 2.25m, Zone 2 to 0.6m beyond, IPX4 ratings, 30mA RCD, and Part P. What can go where, and how to check your bathroom quote.
Decking Rules UK: The 300mm, 600mm and 50% Limits Explained
Decking Rules UK: The 300mm, 600mm and 50% Limits Explained
UK decking is permitted development if it sits no more than 300mm above ground and covers under 50% of the garden. Decks above 600mm need guarding. Here is what your quote must cover.
Fire Escape Window Regulations UK: Minimum Egress Window Sizes
Fire Escape Window Regulations UK: Minimum Egress Window Sizes
UK egress windows need a clear openable area of at least 0.33m², a minimum 450mm opening, and a cill no higher than 1,100mm. See where they are required and how to check your quote.
Does the Future Homes Standard Apply to Extensions?
Does the Future Homes Standard Apply to Extensions?
The Future Homes Standard applies to new homes from 2027, not to extensions. Your extension stays on current Part L. Here is what actually changes for homeowners and your quote.
Garage Conversion Building Regulations: The 2026 Approval Checklist
Garage Conversion Building Regulations: The 2026 Approval Checklist
A garage conversion almost always needs building regulations approval, even when planning permission is not required. Here are the parts that apply and what your quote must cover.
Is There Really a Gas Boiler Ban? What 2027 Means for You
Is There Really a Gas Boiler Ban? What 2027 Means for You
There is no ban on replacing your gas boiler. The 2027 rules stop fossil-fuel heating in new homes only. Here is what the gas boiler ban headlines actually mean for existing homes.
Heat Pump Planning Rules: The 1-Metre Boundary Rule Is Gone
Heat Pump Planning Rules: The 1-Metre Boundary Rule Is Gone
The 1-metre boundary rule for heat pumps was scrapped in 2025. New limits cover unit size, the number of units, and a 37 dB(A) noise test. Here is what you can fit without permission.
Loft Insulation Depth: Why 270mm Is the UK Building Regs Benchmark
Loft Insulation Depth: Why 270mm Is the UK Building Regs Benchmark
UK building regs expect roughly 270mm of mineral wool loft insulation for a 0.16 U-value. Here is what the depth means, what your quote should specify, and how to check it.
Minimum Ceiling Height UK: What the Rules Actually Require
Minimum Ceiling Height UK: What the Rules Actually Require
There is no general minimum ceiling height in UK building regs for habitable rooms, but space standards expect 2.3m and stairs need 2m headroom. Here is what actually applies.
Staircase Building Regulations UK: Part K Dimensions Explained
Staircase Building Regulations UK: Part K Dimensions Explained
UK staircase regs (Part K): rise 150-220mm, going at least 220mm, max pitch 42 degrees, 2m headroom. See the dimensions a compliant stair must hit and how to check your quote.
Party Wall Agreements: What UK Homeowners Need to Know (2026)
Everything about party wall agreements for UK extensions and loft conversions. When you need one, surveyor costs, timeline, and how to serve notice to your neighbour.
Do I Need Building Regulations for a Garden Room? The 2026 Rules Explained
Garden rooms over 30m2 floor area need full Building Regs approval. Sleeping rooms need it regardless of size. What you must submit and when.
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist: What to Inspect After Winter
A spring maintenance checklist for UK homeowners. Catch winter damage to roofs, gutters, walls, and drainage before small problems get expensive.
Building Control vs Approved Inspectors: Which Route to Choose
You can use your local council's building control or a private approved inspector. Here's how they compare on cost, speed, and what to watch out for.
Party Wall Agreement: Costs, Process & Quote Implications
A party wall agreement costs £700-£2,000+ per neighbour and takes 2-3 months. Here's when you need one and how it affects your building project.
How Thick Should Cavity Wall Insulation Be? UK Building Regs Explained
Full-fill new builds need 150mm minimum under Part L 2026. How partial-fill compares, U-value targets, and what to reject on a builder's spec.
Flat Roof U-Values and Insulation: UK Building Regs Explained
New flat roofs need 0.18 W/m²K; renovations 0.25 W/m²K. PIR board thickness, warm vs cold roof differences, and what fails Building Control.
How to Check Brickwork Quality: A Homeowner's Guide
Learn how to inspect brickwork quality yourself. Mortar joints, wall ties, cavity insulation, DPC, and weep holes explained with building regulations references.
How to Check DPC and Damp Proofing: What Every Homeowner Should Inspect
Plain English guide to checking DPC and damp proofing on your building project. Covers DPC height, DPM continuity, cavity trays, radon barriers, and common bridging problems.
How to Check Your Electrician's Work: A Homeowner's Guide
How to check electrical work quality yourself. Part P certification, consumer units, RCD protection, cable routes, and smoke alarms with building regulations explained.
How to Check Foundation Work: A Homeowner's Inspection Guide
A plain English guide to inspecting foundation work on your building project. Covers trench depth, concrete spec, soil conditions, and building control stages.
How to Check Plastering Quality: What Good Work Looks Like
How to inspect plastering quality yourself. Flatness tolerances, skim thickness, hollow spots, cracking, and corner beads explained with practical checks.
How to Check Plumbing and Drainage Work Quality
How to inspect plumbing and drainage work yourself. Pipe gradients, drain bedding, unvented cylinders, discharge pipes, and water efficiency with building regulations.
How to Check Roofing Work: What Every Homeowner Should Inspect
How to inspect roofing work quality yourself. Tile alignment, lead flashings, ventilation, insulation, and guttering checks with building regulations explained.
How to Check Structural Steelwork: A Homeowner's Guide to Beams and Supports
Plain English guide to inspecting structural steel beams and supports on your building project. Covers beam specs, bearing lengths, padstones, fire protection, and lintels.
How to Check Window and Door Installation Quality
How to inspect window and door installation yourself. FENSA certificates, trickle vents, U-values, fire doors, and draught seals with building regulations explained.
Loft Conversion Headroom and Staircase Rules: UK Building Regs
Loft conversions need 2.2m headroom over 50% of floor area, 750mm stair width, and 0.33m² escape window. Full Part K and Part B requirements explained.
Minimum Foundation Depth UK: What Building Regulations Require
UK minimum foundation depth is 450mm, but most foundations go to 900mm-2.5m depending on soil type and tree proximity. Full Approved Document A guide.
What Should a DPC Look Like? Spotting Damp Proof Course Problems
A DPC is a black polythene strip at least 150mm above ground level. Learn how to spot bridged, missing, or failing damp proof courses on your property.
5 Things Every Homeowner Should Check Before Hiring a Builder
A practical checklist for vetting builders in the UK - from insurance and references to spotting red flags in quotes. Don't sign until you've checked these five.
Planning Permission in 2026: What You Actually Need to Know
Most single-storey extensions don't need planning permission. Check the permitted development rules for extensions, lofts, porches, and outbuildings. Plain English, updated March 2026.
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