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Case study: Barn style family home

April 26, 2023
This beautiful four-bedroom family home, built by owners Tom and Frances Edwards, combines impressive sustainability with innovative design. Project information Project: Barn style family home Sector:Self-build Homeowner: Tom and Frances Edwards Specified for: Composite frame construction • Uniform sightlines and...
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Case study: Jason Ormes family home

April 21, 2023
Jason Orme, editorial director at Homebuilding & Renovating (HB&R), is an experienced self-builder who recently finished his second major renovation project, transforming an eclectic 1960s house into a stylish open plan family home. Project information Project: Jason Ormes family home Sector: Renovated 1960s home...
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Case study: Ten Oaks

April 17, 2023
Almost a decade in the building, Ten Oaks is undoubtedly an impressive family home. Architects Kirkland Fraser Moor worked with owner Ian Mays (one of the founders and now retired CEO of RES, the world’s largest independent renewable energy company) to create a ‘climate restorative’ zero carbon home with minimal...
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Case study: Driftwood

March 2, 2023
The slim-framed VELFAC composite frame delivered the durability and low energy performance together with ‘uniformity in appearance’, achieved by the distinctive VELFAC frame profile which makes every window appear identical whether fixed or opening. Project information Name: Driftwood, West Sussex Sector: Renovation...
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Case study: Hungate Lodge

February 7, 2023
It’s hard to believe that Hungate Lodge was once a dowdy bungalow with windows which took little advantage of a beautiful coastal location. Now fully renovated, the Lodge is clad in white render, timber and seamed zinc, with triple glazed VELFAC composite windows adding contemporary style, impressive thermal...
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Facit homes: bespoke homes for sustainable living

January 27, 2023
Facit Homes is an award-winning UK design and build company which creates contemporary, low carbon homes using digital manufacturing techniques, turning 3D digital models into building components which are quickly and efficiently assembled on site. Although every Facit Home is individually designed, they are all...
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Does 'net zero' mean the end of double glazing?

January 27, 2023
Already standard in much of northern Europe, triple glazing is increasingly installed in homes across the UK. Partly a response to rising energy costs, the shift to triple glazing is also driven by the latest Building Regulations, recently updated to support the UK Government’s aim to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2050. So...
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Ventilation, windows and building regulations - self-builders advice

October 14, 2022
Good ventilation can be an afterthought for many self-builders, especially given the current emphasis on insulation, air tightness and low energy performance. Yet fresh air is key to a happy and healthy home. It helps removes irritants such as pollen and dust, and can reduce problems such as condensation or mould...
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What is a sustainable window?

August 26, 2022
A guide to choosing windows and doors that are good for your home and for the planet. Climate change, the drive for ‘net zero’ carbon*, and the launch of the Future Homes Standard** - these are all reasons to specify building products designed to cause little or no damage to the environment throughout their entire...
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Create the perfect home office with high performance windows

January 25, 2022
A home office space has become a ‘must have’ for any dream home – a dedicated room which the whole family can use, whether to ‘work from home’, catch up on school work, or manage a busy household in peace. The ideal home office should be comfortable, practical and productive, which means it must have the perfect...
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