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.
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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
Planning permission and building regulations for garden rooms are different things. Here's when each applies, what's exempt, and what happens if you skip them.
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
Cavity wall insulation must be at least 150mm for full-fill new builds under Part L. Full-fill vs partial-fill, U-value targets, and what to check on site.
Flat Roof U-Values and Insulation: UK Building Regs Explained
Flat roof U-value must be 0.18 W/m²K for new builds and 0.25 W/m²K for renovations. Warm vs cold roof, PIR thickness, and condensation risk explained.
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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