Expert advice and tips on hiring builders in the UK.
The main types of house extension compared, from rear and side return to wraparound and over the garage, with typical costs, build times and the planning points for each.
What it costs to convert a cellar or dig a new basement in the UK, how waterproofing works, the permissions you need and how long the work takes.
Typical UK prices for building a single or double garage in brick, block, timber or concrete panels, plus the planning and building regulations rules that apply.
What retrospective planning permission is, how to apply, what it costs, what happens if it is refused and how the enforcement time limits work in England since April 2024.
What architects charge for extensions and lofts, how fees are worked out, when an architectural technologist or designer will do and how to check who you are hiring.
Who can get a Disabled Facilities Grant, how much it pays in each part of the UK, what adaptations it covers and how to line up a builder without losing the grant.
Flat, lean-to and pitched roofs for a single storey extension compared on cost, looks, light, lifespan and the planning height limits, with typical 2026 prices.
What a barn conversion costs in 2026, how the Class Q rules have worked since May 2024, and the surveys, VAT savings and building regulations to plan for before you hire a builder.
Typical UK day rates for builders, bricklayers, labourers and other trades in 2026, what a day rate covers and when a fixed price quote protects you better.
The usual hours for noisy building work, why there is no single national rule, what councils can do about construction noise and how to agree working hours with your builder.
Typical UK garage conversion prices for single, double and detached garages, what the work involves, the fees on top and how long a conversion takes.
What it costs to build a new house in the UK per square metre, the fees and connections on top of the build, how long it takes and how the VAT refund works.
What makes an orangery different from a conservatory, typical UK orangery prices by size, the permissions involved and when a full extension is better value.
The planning and building regulations rules for a granny annexe, typical costs for garden, conversion and kit annexes, and the council tax points to check first.
When brickwork needs repointing, what a builder charges for a wall or a whole house, why older homes need lime mortar and how to spot a poor repointing job.
What chimney breast removal costs, why building regulations approval always applies, when the Party Wall Act is involved and what to agree with your builder first.
How to tell if a wall may be load bearing, what removing one involves, typical costs for the steel beam, engineer and making good, and the approvals you need.
What underpinning is, when a house really needs it, the main methods and typical UK costs, how insurance usually works and the approvals involved.
What a new porch costs in the UK by type and material, the permitted development limits for porches, when building regulations apply and how long a build takes.
When a home project needs a structural engineer, what they do, typical UK fees for inspections, reports and beam calculations, and how to hire the right one.
What building regulations cover, which home projects need approval, who applies, and why the completion certificate matters when you sell.
Typical UK loft conversion prices by type, the extra fees people forget, how long the work takes, and how to keep your quote realistic.
How to shortlist local builders, check their work and insurance, compare quotes properly and set up a contract and payment plan that protect you.
What a house extension costs per square metre in the UK, why published figures vary so much, and the fees to add on top of the build.
The order to tackle a house renovation in, what it is likely to cost, how long it takes and how to line up the right builder.
When you can build under permitted development, when you need to apply, what it costs and how long a planning decision takes.
