Building Regulations & Planning Guides
Practical UK homeowner guides explaining statutory requirements, joist span limits, permitted development thresholds, and Part P compliance.
Tiling Bathroom Walls: Preparation, Quantities and Waterproofing
How to prepare, set out and tile bathroom walls in a UK home: substrates, tanking, adhesive and grout quantities, ventilation and electrical points.
Which Home Projects Need Building Regulations Approval?
A plain guide to what building regulations cover in England, which common projects need approval, how competent person schemes work and what happens if you skip it.
C16 vs C24 Timber Joists and the Rules on Notching and Drilling
What the C16 and C24 strength classes mean, how to choose joist sizes, and the accepted limits for notches and holes for pipes and cables.
Damp, Mould and Condensation in UK Homes: Diagnosing the Real Cause
How to tell condensation from penetrating and rising damp, what a moisture meter can and cannot tell you, ventilation fixes, and when to involve a landlord or surveyor.
Installing a Home EV Charger in the UK: Circuit, Smart Rules and Grants
What a home electric vehicle charger installation involves in the UK: dedicated circuit, earthing, smart charging regulations, planning, grants and who can fit it.
Building a Garden Brick Wall: Height Limits, Foundations and Materials
Plan a freestanding brick garden wall in the UK: permitted height, foundations, bricks, mortar, piers, copings and how to count bricks and mortar.
Sizing Gutters and Downpipes for a UK Roof
Work out the effective roof area, pick a gutter and outlet size using Approved Document H, and plan downpipes, falls and where the rainwater goes.
Heat Pump or Gas Boiler? A Practical UK Comparison for 2026
Running costs, grant money, installation reality and when an air source heat pump beats a new gas boiler, with worked examples and the 2026 Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Loft Conversions Under Permitted Development: Volume, Dormers and Building Regs
The Class B permitted development limits for loft conversions in England, how the 40 and 50 cubic metre allowance works, and the building regulations that still apply.
Loft Insulation in the UK: Depth, Materials, Ventilation and Payback
How much loft insulation a UK home needs, how to lay it without causing damp, what it costs, and what the payback realistically looks like.
How Much Paint Do You Need for New Plaster?
Work out litres for walls and ceilings, why bare plaster drinks paint, how to apply a mist coat, and how long to wait before decorating new plaster.
Part P and DIY Electrical Work: What You Can Do and What You Must Notify
What Part P of the Building Regulations means for UK homeowners doing their own wiring, which jobs are notifiable in England, and how certification works.
Laying a Patio: Sub-base, Bedding Layer, Falls and Quantities
A step-by-step guide to laying a paved patio in a UK garden: planning rules, excavation depth, sub-base, bedding, falls, jointing and material quantities.
Rear Extensions Under Permitted Development: The 3m, 4m, 6m and 8m Rules
How far a single-storey rear extension can go without planning permission in England, the 6m and 8m prior approval route, and the other approvals you still need.
How to Size a Radiator: Room Heat Loss, BTU and Delta T Explained
Work out the radiator output a room needs from its heat loss, convert watts to BTU, and correct for flow temperature so the radiator performs as claimed.
How to Build a Concrete Base for a Garden Shed
Size, thickness, hardcore, formwork and concrete volume for a shed base, plus the planning and building regulations points UK owners should check first.
Solar Panels for UK Homes: Sizing, Savings, Export Payments and Rules
How to size a rooftop solar PV system in the UK, estimate generation and savings, understand the Smart Export Guarantee, and check planning, grid and electrical rules.
Building a Stud Partition Wall and Fitting Plasterboard
Plan a timber or metal stud partition: load-bearing checks, stud spacing, noggins, board sizes, quantities, fixing, taping and the building regulations points.
Wet vs Electric Underfloor Heating: Costs, Floor Builds and Which to Choose
Compare water-based and electric underfloor heating for UK homes: running costs, floor build-up, pipe spacing, controls, flooring limits and regulations.
Pattern Repeats Explained: How Many Rolls of Wallpaper to Buy
Free, straight and drop-match repeats explained, with a step-by-step roll calculation, worked examples and hanging tips for UK standard rolls.