The art of render

Strong colours, silicone technology, textured effects and brick slip combinations – James Ormerod of Aliva UK sets out the ‘art of the possible’ with insulated render When looking for a cost-effective cladding option that can be applied quickly and easily,... View Article

2020 ended with fragile growth in confidence

In the latest set of results (December 2020), the RIBA Future Workload Index returned the highest balance score (+10) since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst 20% of practices expected a decreasing workload in the coming three months, 29% expected... View Article

What has Brexit done to house prices?

While a ‘deal has been done’, Brexit and its implications for the UK remain a hot topic. However, one area that seems to have remained impervious to any Brexit related decline is the UK housing market. Despite claims by the... View Article

Taylor Wimpey trading update

Taylor Wimpey is issuing the following update on trading ahead of its full year results for the year ended 31 December 2020, which will be announced on 2 March 2021. Overview Pete Redfern, Chief Executive, commented: “Our focus remains on... View Article

Lifelike surfaces with UNILIN Evola

The synchronised surface structures of the Evola surface collection from UNILIN Panels, deliver unparalleled realism, bringing an authentic look and feel. With the advantages of durability and easy maintenance for improved hygiene, HPL surfaces are a practical solution to the... View Article

Hot and sophisticated

Steve Birch of Vogue (UK) discusses how the market for radiators and towel warmers has become increasingly sophisticated, and how greater attention is being paid to the look as well as the functionality of heating solutions In a world where... View Article

The transition to greener housing

Climate change remains a huge global issue – and it’s one that the UK Government is planning on tackling. To do this, it’s important to focus on the energy used in our homes. With the heating of buildings creating as... View Article

Site Lines: Affordable homes-on-sea

Lee Davies of architects Conran and Partners explores how an East Sussex council’s initiative produced an exemplar partnership which employs an innovative design solution to tackle the local housing crisis Last year marked 100 years since the introduction of the... View Article

Property – what buyers are looking for in 2021

It’s no surprise that our relationship with our homes has changed over the last year. In 2020, many of us were at home more than we have ever been. The property market has changed too. With the stamp duty holiday... View Article

Overview of construction in the UK throughout 2020

This year, construction companies across the United Kingdom have experienced unanticipated growth. Although this industry is usually steadfast, the rates of growth have fluctuated greatly throughout the year. At the beginning of the pandemic, many companies halted projects because of... View Article

Create a spectacular kitchen with Königstone’s Smoky Light

Königstone, with an impressive reputation for high-quality surface materials and worktops, now supplies stunning semi-precious materials for spectacular kitchens. Königstone has access to beautiful materials from across the globe and these breath-taking surfaces will truly set the kitchen apart from... View Article

Know your VAT position

Andrew Jones the VATman is the leading specialist on the VAT431 scheme for reclaiming VAT on self-builds, covering both new builds and conversions. Selfbuilder + Homemaker asked him to explain more about the ins and outs of the scheme, and... View Article