Self-Build & Home Improvement Seminars

10.45
Self-build explained: a beginner’s guide to building your own home
Discover how you can build your own individually designed home and save up to 30% compared to buying. Learn how to find land, raise finance, find a designer, and what it takes to be a successful self-builder..
Jason Orme, Editor, Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine

11.30
Property hunting: how to find the best self-build plots and renovation opportunities
Plotfinding expert David Snell explains how to copy the techniques of professional landfinders to help you identify the best building plots and renovation opportunities, plus how to assess their development potential..
David Snell, Contributing Editor, Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine, and author

12.15
Planning permission: how to find your way through the planning maze
An introduction to the planning process. Discover the tactics that will maximise your chances of a successful application. Learn how the system really works, who makes the decisions, how to influence them, when to compromise, when to appeal and more.
Sally Tagg, Planning Expert, Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine

13.00
Budgeting: how to build a four bedroom house for under £150,000
Discover how to keep a lid on build costs. Learn how to work out your project budget and the cost implications of location, build quality and specification. Plus, an introduction to self-build mortgages.
Mark Brinkley, Author and Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine Building Expert

13.45
The most common self-build and renovation mistakes and how to avoid them!
Forewarned is forearmed! Learn how to keep your project firmly on the rails by avoiding the most common mistakes and disputes when buying property, dealing with neighbours, builders and suppliers, plus a guide on to how best to resolve difficulties if they do arise.
Chris Reeves, Solicitor, Member of the Chartered Institute of Building, and Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine Legal Expert

14.30
Project management: how to complete your project on time and on budget
How to manage your project yourself as a contractor using individual tradesmen, saving on project costs. Discover the pros and cons and potential cost savings versus using a builder, and what is really required.
David Snell, Author and Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine Contributing Editor

15.15
Modern construction methods: discover the fastest and most energy-efficient way to build
Which system is best for you — from timber frame, blockwork, structural insulated panels, oak frame or insulated concrete formwork. This seminar covers factors such as design, energy efficiency, build speed and costs.
Mark Brinkley, Author and Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine Building Expert

16.00
How to find a reliable builder and compare quotes on a like-for-like basis
Learn how to find the right builder for your project and how to avoid the cowboys. Discover how to obtain and compare quotes to ensure you get the best value, which legal contract to use, and how to manage the relationship to ensure your project is a success.
Chris Reeves, Solicitor, Member of the Chartered Institute of Building, and Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine Legal Expert

10.45
Permitted Development: how to improve your home without the need for planning permission
An introduction to Permitted Development rights, including when, where and how they can be used by homeowners, together with how to make the most of them — the extensions, improvements and alterations you can make without needing planning approval.
Sally Tagg, Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine Planning Expert

11.30
Oil, gas, electricity, wood…or nothing at all? How to heat your home: a guide to choosing right system for your home
Learn how to establish which heating system is best for your home based on your priorities and budget, whether it’s finding the lowest installation cost or the cheapest ongoing running cost.
Mark Brinkley, Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine Building Expert

12.15
The 10 Golden Rules of Renovation
The dos and don’ts of renovating and extending a period home. Discover why it’s vital to use appropriate materials and techniques when renovating and extending a traditional property. Learn how to deal with the common problems when restoring, extending and improving a period home.
Roger Hunt, Period Living Renovation Expert and co-author of Old House Handbook

13.00
Top ten tips for a successful extension, or loft conversion
Whether you are planning a loft or garage conversion, side, rear or front extension and/or remodelling, if you are looking for design inspiration don’t miss this session. Learn the key principles for getting the design right, securing planning permission and making the most of light — and plenty more besides.
Michael Holmes, Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine Editor-in-Chief

13.45
Home Entertainment & Leisure: The essential toys for the 21st century intelligent home
The essential toys for the 21st century intelligent home
From 3D home cinema and multi-room hi-fi, to automated lighting, climate control, security systems and more, discover the latest in intelligent home technology.
CEDIA Custom Installer

14.30
Landscape and garden design: How to create your perfect outdoor space
If you are looking to improve your existing garden or to create a new one from scratch this expert seminar will help you understand the key principles of successful design from landscaping to garden features through to planting, with plenty of real life case studies and inspirational design ideas.
David Robinson, Up The Garden Path

15.15
Inspirational design ideas for kitchens and bathrooms
How to create your dream kitchen and bathroom by extending and remodelling. How to find the best layout to suit your space. Avoiding the common mistakes, plus great examples of successful projects and how to replicate them.
Michael Holmes, Editor-in-Chief, Real Homes Magazine

16.00
Renovation: how to solve damp and improve energy efficiency in an old house
Discover the best ways to solve damp and other common defects in an old traditional solid walled house and how to improve energy efficiency to reduce heating bills, without compromising the building’s character.
Roger Hunt, Period Living Renovation Expert and co-author of Old House Handbook

10.45
Want to build an ‘eco home’ but wonder where to start?
How to get started on the road to building a sustainable home. This session will look at site issues, design, insulation as well as choosing materials, construction methods heating systems and incorporating renewables
Geoff Stow, AECB the sustainable building Associatione

11.30
Choosing an eco home construction method
Is masonry construction viable for the eco-builder? Is timber frame better than SIPs. This session provides the insight to help you choose the right system for your project. It considers how construction method affects insulation and air tightness, energy efficiency and CO2. Plus a look at alternative construction methods from straw bale to hemp.
Tim Pullen, Homebuilding & Renovating Eco Expert

12.15
Choosing wood as your primary heat source
From wood burning stoves to fully automated wood pellet boilers, this session looks at wood in all its forms as a primary or supplementary heat source, including system integration and running costs.
Tobi Kelner, Centre for Alternative Technology

13.00
Ten Top Tips for creating a low energy, high performance home
Practical resilient solutions for self-builders and renovators looking to create a low energy, high performance home, covering the importance of insulation, how to achieve independency from the national grid, water management, to assessing the lifetime payback of renewables.
Gary Wilburn, Director of Award Winning Architects HPW

13.45
Harnessing renewable energy, from heat pumps to solar thermal
An independent guide to the pros and cons of air, ground and water source heat pumps plus an insight to solar thermal. Discover the true capital cost, running cost and what you need to know to decide if they are suitable for your home.
Tim Pullen, Homebuilding & Renovating Eco Expert

14.30
Sizing Renewable Heating Systems
If you want to heat your home using biomass boilers or heat pumps then it’s important to size your heating system correctly. This workshop introduces the concepts of ‘U-values’ and ‘degree days’ and shows how they can help you calculate how much heat your building will need.
Tobi Kelner, Centre for Alternative Technology

15.15
Passivhaus – practical lessons for achieving the eco home gold standard
The session demystifies the process of creating a sustainable home to Passivhaus standards, covering build quality, airtightness, insulation quality, cold bridging, MVHR, choosing the right builder and the importance of assessing lifetime energy costs.
Gary Wilburn, Director of Award Winning Architects HPW