When sourcing suppliers for your custom and self build, getting the right knowledge about products and services is vital to empower you to make the right decision for your project. All NaCSBA members sign up to its Code of Practice, meaning there’s a level of trust you can relying on when it comes to specifying. We asked Ali Riza, Technical Manager at H+H, manufacturer of Celcon Blocks, about aircrete – one of the most popular building blocks for a variety of builds.
He shares ten reasons why aircrete could be the ideal product for your home, from on-site practicalities and thermal performance to the comfort and safety of your finished project.
“Masonry has been the go-to building method in the UK for decades,†says Ali. “Robust, resilient and high-performing, masonry homes are a fantastic option for self-builders.
“Aircrete is a lightweight masonry building material made from cement, lime, water and Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA). It has long been a popular choice for its combination of strength, durability and thermal efficiency and the ease of use that comes with a lighter material.
“So, what benefits does aircrete bring self-builders and why should they choose it for their homes?â€
Should you choose to build your house with aircrete, you will get a solid house that meets every aspect of the building standards within the UK. Aircrete has excellent thermal insulation properties to help keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer, leading to lower energy bills and a more comfortable living space.
Celcon Blocks are also perfect to accompany energy saving technologies, like underfloor heating and air source heat pumps, that many self-builders are now factoring into their home’s design.
For self-builders, delays to construction can be particularly costly, so speeding up your build by using aircrete makes sense. A report by market research consultants, Emergen Research found that aircrete blocks help reduce construction time by about 20% versus other forms of dense masonry.
Aircrete offers fantastic acoustic insulation, reducing the transfer of sound from room-to-room and helping block out unwanted noises that might come from outside a home.
Unsightly and unhealthy, damp and mould are the last things you should see in a modern home. Aircrete is resistant to moisture and sulfates, and the effects of freeze/thaw cycles. It will not rot or warp and cannot be attacked by pests such as termites, insects, or vermin.
Compared to market alternatives, aircrete offers superior fire resistance. Celcon Blocks provide excellent fire protection and are classified as A1, non-combustible in accordance with BS EN 771-4. H+H aircrete block walls built using our 100mm blocks offer up to four hours fire resistance.
Unlike many other masonry blocks, Celcon Blocks can be cut on site with a hand saw. This makes it easy to achieve the detailing needed for elements like spandrels and gable ends. It also means site wastage can be kept to a minimum because special shapes and infill pieces can be easily cut.
Building walls with H+H aircrete can reduce heat loss in a home and achieve impressive airtightness. Aircrete walls can have extraordinarily low U-Values and are able to meet and even exceed Passivhaus requirements.
Aircrete is an extremely versatile building material. It can provide cost effective solutions for wall, floor and below ground construction, including aircrete foundations.
In fact, Part L of the building regulations recommends using aircrete foundation blocks where aircrete is being used in the construction of external walls. This is to ensure continuity of insulation levels within the building fabric.
H+H aircrete is manufactured using Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), a by-product from coal-powered fire stations. Celcon Blocks are made from up to 80% of this recycled material, while waste aircrete generated from the manufacturing process is recycled as an aggregate back into the process.
When you’re building your forever home, you want it to be built to last. H+H aircrete has a lifespan of over 100 years providing a resilient home for you and for generations to come.
For stockist of Celcon Blocks and to discover more about building with aircrete, visit lifetimehouse.co.uk.
NaCSBA member Allan Corfield Architects (ACC) recently celebrated reaching its 500th project over 15 years. A stalwart of the self build sector, the practice designs self build homes and extensions, and works to educate the public through its How to Self Build Successfully seminars*.
Based in Scotland ACC also operates out of the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon, fulfilling self build commissions across England and Scotland.
Many of these are replacement dwellings, offering the residents a modern home that suits their needs. Frequently this includes future proofing to enable residents to stay living in their home should their personal circumstances change.
The next seminar How to Build seminar is on Friday 23 June in Fife followed by Saturday 2 December at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon.
The seminars cost £40 per person, and provides a detailed overview of the self build process. This includes finding land, funding the project, the design process, structural considerations, low-energy solutions and consultations.
Velfac’s new website offers a host of features to empower you as you make decisions about the windows and doors on your project, including a visualiser.
When specifying windows and external doors it’s important to be aware of the choices on offer. Not only do these features set off your overall design, but there are material and energy-related decisions that you need to make.
Materials, design and the types of glass and hardware all need to be considered to ensure that not only does your choice look good but that it offers the thermal and acoustic performance and durability that you need.
VELFAC windows and doors have durable external aluminium facing paired with natural, internal timber, and the new inspiration area shares self builders’ experiences and photos of their own projects, showing the products on real projects.
There is also a 3D visualiser to help you refine your window design, as well as advice onthermal performance and daylight optimisation, a vital consideration in today’s energy crisis.
Get in touch today to request a quote, or visit stand 203 at the NSBRC to find out more
Window and door specialist Kloeber has expanded its aluminium entrance door range with the launch of UberFront (main pic: Madison UberFront door).
Your front door is the defining feature in your new home, the first thing that greets every new visitor, so making an impression is important for many self builders.
The new addition to Kloeber’s bespoke door range comes in a range of choices:
The UberFront is the perfect choice for a contemporary build, with flush door panels that come with a low-maintenance, thick-textured powder-coat finish and a multi-point locking system.
The robust doors come with an insulated core, advanced weather sealing and quad glazing (where relevant), which achieves a U-value of 0.8W/m2K. Prices start from £2,695+VAT.
Matt Higgs, Kloeber’s Managing Director said, “We are excited to launch UberFront, our top of the range, aluminium entrance door. We are a company that focuses on continual evaluation, research and development of our product range and we know that UberFront will appeal to those desiring a high performance, aluminium door with WOW factor.”
To experience the range of Kloeber’s windows and doors visit its showrooms in Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, West London and West Sussex or its stand at the NSBRC in Swindon.
New research from The Eco Experts finds that solar panels have moved from an eyesore to an asset in people’s perceptions. The research will be welcomed by self builders debating the merits of solar and their visual impact on potential future resale value.
NaCSBA knows that self builders stay in their projects for far longer than average home owners, but eventually move on, often due to personal circumstances, such as downsizing, or to embark on another self build project. So it is reassuring to know that eco-measures that individual’s invest in could well add curb appeal to a project when the time comes to sell.
The Eco Experts’ National Homes Energy Survey found that over two thirds of people (69%) in the UK would be ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to buy a property if it had a solar panel array. This figure is is up from 65% figure from 2022, possibly reflecting a changing mindset as a result of the ongoing energy crisis.
Undoubtedly, the energy crisis has many people reassessing green and micro-renewable technology, and considering the costs in terms of including them in their own project, both in terms of installation and payback.
The US online property portal Zillow reported that, in the USA, installing solar panels on your property could increase its value by around 4.1%. This fact could help self builders make the decision of whether or not to invest in such technology.
Self builders have traditionally been the pioneers for new products in these markets, with many of the leading suppliers working with owners of one-off projects that pave the way for uptake by the wider housing market.
Charlie Clissitt, Editor of theecoexperts.co.uk commented: “It’s magnificent to see solar panels swing from neighbourhood eyesore to a property desirable. The energy crisis has had a big part to play in this, but solar panels have also come a long way aesthetically.”
NaCSBA member Tapco Roofing Products has been supplying roofing materials for self builds and renovations for over 10 years, and in this time it has learnt a lot about helping its clients secure the right contractor for their project.
Here’s Tapco’s tips for selecting a contractor – which work just as well as a guide to securing a range of contractors for your build, and your starting point should always be trusted members of the National Custom and Self Build Association.
Before you hit the internet, there are a few local sources you should consider for finding contractors, and you should aim to talk to a few different ones to help you make your assessment.
Local community: Ask around with friends or local people in the neighbourhood, especially if they’ve recently completed a project that you feel looks good. Just make sure you’re sensible and safe if you’re knocking on doors.
Material suppliers: Roofing materials distributors like Tapco Roofing will know many good – and bad – contractors locally. In particular they’re usually happy to pass on tips about reliability and which are prompt payers, and many will have notice boards for local contractors.
Local officials: Strike up a relationship with a local building control officer in your area, as they will know which firms go above and beyond and comply with building regulations from the very start.
Online resources: As well as NaCSBA’s members, there are many trade sites for finding contractors, such as Checkatrade, MyBuilder etc that use reviews for work done. Ditto, Forums and Facebook groups, will often lead you to local people who have built who may be able to share their leads. But always do your research beyond this.
Essentially this is the research that will help you ensure your money is well spent. Try to choose a reputable firm, ideally with a few years in the business. Remember the company must be trading if you’re to rely on the warranty it gives you for its work, and a trusted, long-operating contractor will be a better bet than a start up.
Not all of them will have a website, but they may well be on social media such as Facebook, and this can indicate how professional they are. You should also check to see if they are registered on Companies House, which may have reports and any former bankruptcies.
Again, chatting to distributors and building regs officials will also help you make your decision. As well as references from clients, consider asking for a trade reference from the supplier where they buy their materials from.
Get a shortlist and then consider the following:
Communication can break down on any project, so try to maintain good terms with your contractor at all times. Be firm but fair and listen to what they have to say as difficulties often arise, such as material delays or increases.
NaCSBA members all sign up to its Code of Practice which can be a useful first level of arbitration if things do go wrong.
Politely encourage your contractor to tidy up the project daily as they leave, as this makes the process much easier on everyone. Remember that ladders and materials must be secured daily.
The National Self Build and Renovation Centre Show returns on Friday 12 to Saturday 13 May, bringing with it its usual offering of insight and inspiration for anyone planning a self build, custom build or other major home project.
A new offering for this show is the introduction of VIP tickets, which includes a range of benefits. Most useful is the ability to engage 1-2-1 as VIP ticket holders have preferential access. This includes the opportunity to pre-book consultation appointments with experts, as well as an exclusive Q&A with one of the NSBRC’s own specialists.
Tickets for the show are free, while the VIP tickets cost £40 per couple (or £25 per person) – book here for Friday and here for Saturday.
The VIP ticket includes:
• Guaranteed parking space in front car park
• Exclusive Q&A with an NSBRC experts
• Pre-booked consultation appointments with experts
• Free tea and coffee
• VIP LoungeÂ
• Complimentary buffet lunch (served between 12 and 1pm)
There’s plenty on at the show for whatever stage you’re at, whether you are trying to get an overview of the entire build process or drill-down detail.
Repeated on both days in the Build It Theatre is a six part overview of the stages of entire build process, including: Finance & Funding; Finding Land; Planning Permission; Design Principles; Building Control; and VAT Reclaim.
In addition Friday has Natural Environment Surgeries, including: bat conservation and ecological surveys; landscape design; wildlife-friendly borders; and, wildlife habitats, while Saturday has a focus on Energy and Cost Saving Technology, including: draught exclusion; performance assured insulation; water conditioning and sustainable window shading.
The Sustainability Theatre is also returning with over 20 talks, led by companies well-established in their fields, from MVHR to insulation. This will inform would-be self builders with practical measures and plans to enable them to create a sustainable and energy efficient build.
Glatthaar UK’s Starwalls are precast retaining walls that offer a great solution on a self build project. The precast concrete walls are clad with natural stone – eliminating the need for onsite cladding – and are positioned in-situ using concrete foundations, with the potential to reach up to three meters.
As well as offering a quick-to-erect boundary wall treatment, the factory-made walls are ideal for stabilising sloping sites, which are often a feature on self build plots as the perfect flat plot becomes harder to find.
Starwalls are the brainchild of prefabricated-basement specialist Glatthaar, who found that several of their clients wanted to use them on their site, where traditional labour-intensive landscaping elements threatened to slow the process down. Not only was this due to the time it took to do the work, but also in the struggle to find available trades to take on the job.
In addition, Glatthaar say that its Starwall product bridges the gap between the visual appeal of traditional stone-built walls with the structural strength that is normally delivered by reinforced concrete retaining walls, offering a blend of beauty and practicality.
As with everything on a build project, planning ahead is vital as the panels are manufactured in Germany and shipped to the UK, a lead time that needs factoring in. However, concrete foundations can be prepared in advance, allowing for speedy on site erection – and once cured, the walls can be backfilled to create the finished look.
Careful planning can strengthen the finished look of the home, with the materials of the build and its hard landscaping helping the new home to fit in its setting.
As well as retaining walls, the Starwall system can be used to create areas of drama and landscaping features such as screening walls for privacy.
Many people source land for their project that needs work to ensure the build is structurally safe. This may be due to uneven ground, a sloping site or other stability issues, such as back-filled land, and the landscaping costs associated with such work must be realistically factored in as part of the overall budget. Make sure you check with your architect and surveyor what is need upfront, so that no nasty surprises catch you out part way through.
On such sites, failure to create retaining walls as part of the self build risks movement during or after project completion, which can cause significant damage and may invalidate your warranty if the up-front works turn out to have been skimped on.
Equally, builds that factor in a basement also need careful planning in the management of any excavations, especially where lowered courtyards offer a source of light. This is where using a reputable company, like Glatthaar UK, can pay dividends, as they bring a wealth of experience to your project in relation to ensure that all works are robust and fit for purpose, as well as what works from a design perspective. Glatthaar also offers a range of pre-cast modular basements, ideal for work spaces or plant rooms, and can advise on costs and suitability on your project.
When it comes to planning your custom or self build, factoring in an interior designer can pay dividends, ensuring the interior of your home doesn’t become an afterthought that you regret.
Anyone working to create their dream home will spend a long term planning the build, and there’s a myriad of build and design decisions to be made, but interiors often get overlooked as budget constraints kick in. Too often with self builds you see a fantastic vision delivered by a builder or architect, but the interiors don’t reflect the design quality of the build.
Typical mistakes are a lack of planning around window treatments and lighting, as well as a failure to factor in SMART home tech into the design. Furniture from previous homes can look lost in the new setting, and colour, pattern and texture can seem intimidating in a pristine build.
But employing an interior design company can guarantee an incredibly bespoke and beautiful design for your property to give it the finish it deserves. Costs may be an issue, but if you factor them in from the start it won’t come as something to be sacrificed at the end when money is tight.
Budgeting for an interior designer also ensure that any SMART home features, such as Lutron lighting, Sonos speakers or different heating systems all work in conjunction with the completed design.
We spoke to professional interior designer and NaCSBA member Katie Malik Design Studio for the key considerations in working with a specialist.
Working with an interior design company ensures a sophisticated level of professionalism teamed with competent project management.
While designers and their client often bond over their big ideas for a blank space, an interior design professional will be able to:
A reputable interior design studio will have exceptional taste and be up to date with the latest in interior trends. This characteristic combined with their experience to create an incredible and exciting design for your property.
Whilst private clients may have designs in mind for creating interiors, working with a reputable interior design professional can ensure the design and execution of a breathtaking creation.
Employing an interior design professional can ensure that your project is managed to an impeccable standard and that the components of the design work in harmony to ensure optimum functionality of each space.
Using design software enables professionals to:
In addition, interior design companies also come with excellent lists of tradesmen and innovative design technology providers. The team will know who is the best in the business to deliver the ambitions of the project.
Katie says, “Katie Malik Studio has overcome a range of challenges when working with a diverse range of properties and the design plans of the owners. Thorough our knowledge of the industry, the latest trends and our close network of trusted tradesmen we work to bring a project to life.
Using an interior design studio does come with a cost attached, but it will be an investment in your home that will pay dividends for years to come as you enjoy living and working in a space tailored to your needs. It can be very easy to become overwhelmed with the prospect of interiors, but working with an interior designer brings creative and cohesive solutions that can save a lot of money, time and stress in getting it right the first time round.”
Credits: Design by Katie Malik Studio, images by Maciek Platek Food & Interior Photography.
Potton has transformed its Caxton showhome with a design makeover to mark its 30 years as the founding property in the Potton Self Build Show Centre in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
Many aspiring self builders in England have made the trip to see Potton’s well-know Show Centre where they can experience the five furnished show properties. The builds showcase a range of styles, from a contemporary passive house to traditional classics, such as its popular Georgian-style home.
If you can’t get to the show centre in person, check out the gallery for a preview of the redesign. Not only does this demonstrate how a traditional framed self-build can age gracefully, but it inspires visitors about how they can combine classic self build features with a fresh modern take.
Based on a dormer cottage, the Caxton has always been a popular design for Potton – inspiring many similar homes. Potton can recreate the homes at the show centre, or tailor them with infinite permutations to create the ideal home for your needs.
Potton chose Zoe Godbold from ic7design – a self builder herself – for the redesign, with the brief to make a space that suited modern living trends, that could work equally well for a growing family or couple looking to downsize.
Zoe’s clever use of colour blocking, paired with contemporary accent wallpapered walls, ensure the design was on point while maintaining the cottage-vibe that is essential to this much loved design. This helped keep the finished look both cosy and welcoming while packed with personality.
Zoe wanted to make the most of the exposed beams, an essential part of the look, using them to define three distinctive spaces in the kitchen/dining space by creating a snug area to relax in, a hub around the kitchen island, and the dining area for entertaining.
The designs are completed with a lighting scheme incorporating lamps, uplighters, downlights and dimmers to bring drama and warmth to the rooms.
Paint skirting, architraves and doors the same shade or colour as other woodwork, such as beams, to bring the design together. This can be picked up with furniture and fittings details, such as legs or shelves.
Limit wood tones to make designs pull together or use bold contrasting shades to emphasise a design feature.
Pick up colours from integral features – such as the Caxton’s fireplace – to pull room colour schemes together.
Choose a metal accent colour and repeat it across the house if planning a self build, such as the black wrought iron which is used on door furniture, lighting and bath fittings here.
Consider rooms that have more than one function, to make sure the house can adapt to a range of users. For example, incorporating quiet corners, spaces for work or hobbies or by using clever furniture, such as bookcase headboards, as these can make bedrooms work much harder.
Guest rooms offer a chance to create a really special space, with their own personality – don’t be afraid to be bold with your choices and create a space you might not choose for your own bedroom.
Paint colour can be a cost-effective way to inject personality and drama – try large test patches to get a sense of the colour before investing, as it will look different in different spaces.
Email to find out more about Zoe’s work.
