DIY Doctor

The DIYer’s Guide to Starting a Self Build Project Including How To Projects and Guides

This page includes links to all of our Self Build DIY how to projects. In this area of our site you will find how to guides on reclaiming selfbuild VAT, energy ratings, how to find a plot of land, designing a home and also what's involved in building your own home. Browse through the below list and click on your chosen link to view the project information.

  • Timber clad selfbuild property

    Self Build - 12 Tips on Finding the Right Selfbuild Plot - In this project we run through the tips and sources you need to know about if you are looking for a self build or custom build plot to ensure you get the right plot for you

  • Self-Build

    Self build - An introduction to what is involved - Planning a self-build project can seem like a daunting task at first so this project gives you some pointers on the main things you need to think about before starting

  • Self Build House Design

    Self build - Designing your home - Designing Your Selfbuild Home - What to think about when planning and designing a self build house including design finishes, costs and budgets and working with architects

  • Selfbuild Mortgages

    Self build - finding a mortgage - Learn all about what to look for and how to find the right self build mortgage for you and how to finance a self build project

  • Finding a Building Plot

    Self build - finding land - Finding a building plot - Tips and information on how to find the ideal building plot for your own self build project, what to look for and what to avoid

  • Self build plot and plans

    Self Build - How to find the right self build plot for you - If you are planning a home building project it is essential you find the right self building plot, learn about the different types here

  • Building Plots

    Self build - land for development - Getting a group of like-minded self-builders together and sharing in the cost of a large building plot can considerably reduce the cost of an individual home

  • Cheap Building Materials

    Self build - materials and discounts - Learn all about the materials needed to complete a self build house project and also how to source them for reasonable prices including storing them and having them on site when needed

  • Reclaiming VAT on Self Build

    Self build - reclaiming vat - In this project we give you all the information you need on how to reclaim the VAT spent on building materials used during a self build project

  • The Right to Build Scheme

    Self Build - Right to Build Scheme - The Right to Build Scheme helps self builders locate and buy a plot of land from their local authority council, find out how to register for the scheme

  • SAP for Self Build

    Self build - sap energy ratings - Find out all about the SAP Standard Energy Procedure for self build projects and how to obtain an EPC certificate to satisfy Part L of the UK Building Regulations

  • How to Use Storage and Self Storage Units Effectively

    Storage and self storage - Find out about the various home storage solutions that you can use to store unwanted and un-needed items including using garages, sheds, loft spaces and even self storage units

  • Self build VAT rates and rules

    VAT Rates and Rules - What VAT should you be paying for building work - How to Avoid VAT on Renovations and Conversions – A Simple Guide to the Rules for How Much VAT You Should be Paying on Building Work

As the name would imply, this category is all about how to build your own home. To start with a self build home, you need to find some land and may plot search agencies are around to help you. Many times however, land is not available in the area you have chosen to live so most people these days are looking for an existing property where the bricks and mortar only represent a fraction of the value of the total package. They then knock the house down and build their own. This has great advantages as the services such as gas, electricity and water are already on site and it unusual to find a property without some sort of access road or drive allowing you to get to it!

Kit houses will allow your construction to go up more quickly

Kit houses will allow your construction to go up more quickly

Further advantages of self build is that now you cab be almost carbon neutral with the incorporation of solar panels to generate electricity or warm your bath water, or both, ground and air source heat pumps to get a head start for the condensing boiler. You can add your own wind turbine and even sell electricity back to the national grid.

You can manage the build yourself or call in a project manager such as Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs. You can start from scratch with concrete foundations or you can buy a kit home and put it together at weekends.

You would be as well to look at guidelines for employing architects and structural engineers and there is some good advice on the channel 4 website

You should get advice on the pitfalls of buying land and set an achievable schedule for your self build program. Designing a house is good fun but there are many practicalities that need to be built in such as clearance for stair height etc. There are also legal aspects which need looking at. The positives far outweigh the negatives and our pages will help you through the maze that is self build.

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