Creating your dream home is an exciting idea, but it's also a major project and one where you need to be an expert on everything from planning laws to landscape design, and all that's in between. Self Build and Renovation For Dummies takes you through every step of the process, from choosing and buying a plot of land, through to the building's design and on to the actual build - plus all the financial and legal stuff - using plain English in an easy-to-understand format. Here is everything you need to know to create your perfect home.
Introduction 1
Part I: Preparing to Create the Perfect Home 7
Chapter 1: The Basics of Self-Build 9
Chapter 2: Forking Out the Finances 15
Chapter 3: Finding and Assessing the Building Plot 25
Chapter 4: The Legal Stuff 39
Part II: Before the Build: Getting Everything into Place 47
Chapter 5: Designing Your Home 49
Chapter 6: The Green Light: Getting Permissions and Approvals 59
Chapter 7: Construction Management, Builders, and Subcontractors 77
Chapter 8: Buying Materials 99
Chapter 9: Getting Connected to Services 111
Part III: Structurally Speaking: Understanding Construction 123
Chapter 10: Preparing the Ground 125
Chapter 11: Holding up the House: Walls and Structures 139
Chapter 12: An Open and Shut Case: Windows, Doors, Insulation, and Partitions 157
Chapter 13: Floors and Stairs 177
Chapter 14: Raising the Roof 187
Part IV: The Inside Story 207
Chapter 15: Forming the Landscape 209
Chapter 16: Putting in the Pipes and Wrapping Up Warm 229
Chapter 17: Let There Be Light (And Power and Communications) 249
Chapter 18: Kitchens and Bathrooms 263
Part V: Renovating, Extending, and Converting 275
Chapter 19: Internal Finishes 277
Chapter 20: Upgrading Old Houses 289
Chapter 21: Adding Space 305
Chapter 22: Buying a Property for Conversion or Replacement - the Opportunities and Dangers 317
Part VI: The Part of Tens 327
Chapter 23: Ten Good Reasons for Building Your Own Home 329
Chapter 24: Ten Good Reasons to Renovate 337
Chapter 25: Ten Things You Must Do Before Starting to Build 343
Appendix: Directory of Directories 351
Index 359
