You will see us refer to BUILDBASE throughout this project. We use them for the supply of most of our materials, as we have found their service and the expertise of all their staff, to be by far the best in our area.

The Housebuilder's Bible Millennium Edition
Mark Brinkley

This is one of those books that has become a cult hit despite the publishing and bookselling trades. Self published because no publisher was originally interested in the concept, sold via mail order because bookshops don't like to deal with one man and a dog publishers, it first appeared in 1994 with a print run of just a few hundred. You'll still have trouble finding this title in regular bookstores but the print run on this edition (the 4th) is over 10,000 and it regularly appears in Amazon's top 1000 titles.

So who is buying it and why? The majority of purchasers are drawn from Britain's growing army of selfbuilders, people building new homes or renovating existing ones, who appreciate the frank and at times brutal appraisal of their efforts. However there is also a large number of architects, surveyors and builders who sing its praises. The information in the book is detailed and infomative yet the presentation is succint and often witty. If you just want to find out how the British build houses, this is a fascinating read. If you want to actually build one yourself, then frankly you'd be nuts not to have read this book from cover to cover.

It's 240 pages are packed with information on all aspects of homebuilding and renovating including 60 tables which detail current construction costs on everything from drains to hanging curtains. Even if the only tools you ever lift are your chequebook and your credit card, you will still treasure this book.

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The Self-Build Book
Jon Broome, Brian Richardson

This is a revised and updated edition of this definitive guide. The Self-Build Book gives both inspiration and practical information; relates personal experiences of putting theory into practice; outlines an environmentally friendly approach to design, choice of materials and energy conservation; includes a practical guide to organising a project which covers land, finance, permissions and professional help; and includes a detailed manual on the Segal Method of timber construction, because of its particular advantage to self-builders.

Excerpted from The Self- Build Book by Jon Broome, Brian Richardson. Copyright © 1995. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved .

Our main aim is to inspire you to build for yourself. This book will show you that designing and building your own house is within the reach of everyone, is enjoyable and can have great economic, practical and social benefits. You could feel the satisfaction of having made something really useful with your own hands and the excitement of dreaming about what your house should be like, how it will be laid out and what you are going to put in it. You will see it slowly taking shape and will imagine the next steps in your mind and have a vision of the finished house. A handmade house is a pleasure to live in and you will know every corner intimately. You will be able to afford a bigger, better house arranged to suit your needs and desires and could be free of the financial burdens that so many people suffer because of their housing costs.

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Do-it-yourself Housebuilding
George Nash

This text provides a guide to do-it-yourself housebuilding, from building a new home from scratch to specific remodelling projects. All systems are covered, including plumbing and electricity, as well as interior and exterior finishing. Over 1000 illustrations, drawings and diagrams are provided.

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The Home Plans Book
Murray Armor, David Snell

Everyone carries a picture of their ideal home in their mind. This book provides advice, information and design ideas for making this dream a reality. Taken from a wide cross-section of the major companies within the self-build industry, it gathers plans and divides them into 14 categories.

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Grand Designs
Kevin McCloud

"Grand Designs" provides inspiration and information to anyone thinking of taking on the challge of building their own house. During the 1990s architects and designers have increasingly called for us to change our houses to reflect the way we live, exchanging poky kitchens for larger living spaces, having more room than one bathroom and taking the surrounding environment into our plans. What better way of accomadating such demands than by designing and building your own home, creating a living space suited to your changing lifestyle? This aspirational book not only provides a guide to the series, it illustrates the increasingly fashionable desire to design and build a home of one's own.

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The Building Regulations Explained and Illustrated
Vincent Powell-Smith

A straightforward guide to building control in England and Wales. For this eleventh edition, the legal section has been substantially revised with new material on private certification and related legislation. It also includes revised regulations on stairways and glazing.

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The "Which?" Book of Wiring and Lighting
Mike Lawrence

Whether you've just moved into your home or have lived there for years, the chances are that you could benefit from some changes to the electrical system. Extra lights can make life easier in the kitchen and give the option of different effects in a home. This text aims to provide all the information needed to carry out any wiring job safely and to professional standards. Illustrated throughout with clear photographs and diagrams, the book introduces the tools and equipment needed for electrical work and teaches all the necessary techniques needed step-by-step. 36 wiring projects and guidelines for planning a complete rewire, plus a useful fault-finding secion are included.

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Electrical Installation Work
Brian Scaddan

Electrical Installation Work covers both theory and practice for the trainee who wants to understand not only how but why electrical installations are designed, installed and tested in particular ways.

The book complies with the 16th edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations, incorporating Amendment No. 2, and includes chapters on environmental aspects of the use of electricity, the electrical contracting industry and basic electronics. The third edition also includes an expanded section on testing.

This single-volume text covers parts one and two of the City & Guilds 2360 course in Electronic Installation. It also provides the underpinning knowledge needed for a level two NVQ.

Synopsis
Covers Parts One and Two of the City and Guilds 2360 course in electrical installation and provides the underpinning knowledge needed for a level two NVQ. This edition complies with the revisions of the 16th edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations and includes chapters on environmental topics.

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Building Construction Handbook
Roy Chudley, Roger Greeno

This handbook summarizes concisely, in diagrams and brief explanations, all elements of construction. Practice, techniques, components and procedures are clearly defined with supplementary references to regulations and relevant standards. This fourth edition has been extensively updated. In particular the section on thermal insulation has been substantially expanded and updated to take into account changes in Part L of the Building Regulations "Conservation of Fuel and Power." All sections have been updated to include reference to revised British and European Standards, regulations and legislation. Further references and explanations have been added to aid the reader's understanding. This should be a useful text for all students of construction and related subjects and is a valuable reference text for construction professionals.

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The Penguin Dictionary of Building
James H. MacLean, John S. Scott

The entries, ranging from foundations and footings to the fixing of roof tiles, cover bricklaying, joinery, plastering, brazing, soldering, plumbing, shoring, lightweight concrete work and the fixing of doors and windows among explanations of a host of other processes, tools and materials. There are many terms of special interest to DIY house-owners who want to find out about damp-proofing and plumbing, for example, or double glazing and security. There are also some extra terms particularly relevant to the student and professional builder, and the dictionary is illustrated throughout with explanatory line drawings.

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Home Extensions
Laurie Williamson

Written by an experienced freelance estimator, this book is a step-by-step guide designed to assist anyone planning to build an extension. It contains important points of "good building practice", accompanied by a handy illustrated reference guide.

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A Practical Guide to Alterations and Extensions  
Andrew R. Williams

At some point, most home-owners have to make a choice: whether to move or extend their property. In the case of the latter, there is a further choice - to put the whole matter into other hands or to try to understand the processes involved so that the whole business is carried out efficiently and cost-effectively. Those working or planning to work in the construction industry also need to be reminded of the pitfalls of local authority requirements, building control and planning, and this text provides an account of the necessary action.

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Roof Construction and Loft Conversion
C N Mindham

This manual provides practical guidance on the design and construction of timber roofs, featuring numerous detail drawings and including information on loft to attic room conversion.

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1001 All Time Best Selling Home Plans
Home Planners

Whether you're planning a self-build or preparing to contract-out, this is the onestop resource for your perfect home plan. In fact, if you can't find it here, it probably doesn't exist! This is a truly massive catalogue of home plans, over 700-pages featuring in excess of 1,000 designs, organised in sections covering: * One & two-storey traditional homes * Multi-level & hillside homes * Luxury homes * Southwestern US-style homes * One & two-storey contemporary homes * Tudor-style & Victorian homes * One & two-storey farmhouse style homes * And vacation home designs

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Plastering  
W.D Stagg, F. Brian Pegg

A thorough introduction to the techniques of modern plastering. It covers obsolete practices for the purposes of restoration and conservation work. Entries are listed in alphabetical order for ease of use.

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The Plumbing Encyclopaedia 
R.D. Treloar

This text, published in its first edition under the title, Mechanical Engineering Services: A Plumbing Encyclopaedia, provides succinct and well illustrated definitions of over 1,500 terms from the field of plumbing and mechanical services. The new edition includes 60 new entries.

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The "Which?" Book of Plumbing and Central Heating 
David Holloway

This is a guide to domestic plumbing and central heating, with advice on tools and materials and complete instructions for everything from plumbing in a washing machine, a power shower or a water softener, to installing your own central heating. A list of specialist suppliers is included.

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Plumbing 
R.D. Treloar

This textbook for plumbing students has been updated to cover the new 1999 Water Regulations. It is also suitable for gas installation students.

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Great Houses: Timber Frame Houses 
"Fine Homebuilding"

Articles from Fine Homebuilding magazine discuss the design, construction, and remodeling of timber-frame houses, provide information on traditional techniques and tools, and discuss recent innovations.

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Building the Timber Frame House : The Revival of a Forgotten Craft 
Tedd Benson, James Gruber

Fully explains the craft of timber building from planning and designing to actually constructing, with chapters on house plans, site development, foundation laying, insulation and timber assembly, and raising.

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Build a Classic Timber-Framed House : Planning and Design, Traditional Materials, Affordable Methods
Jack A. Sobon

This was my first look at timber framing and this book was a great primer. It explains the history of timber framing, the terminology, the how to's of getting started. I wish it would have had more suggestions for finishing the house after the frame is up, but it definitely gave me a good foundation and the confidence to give it try.

Jack Sobon does a great job walking you step by step in building your own house. It is one of the best sources out there for learning traditional timber framing technique. A must read for anyone interested in learning how the early framers built the barns and houses we love today. Expect hands on information and thoery for the practical end of getting the house frame built. Expect a well focused instructiional manual that is light and entertaining to read.

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The Building Acts and Regulations Applied: Houses and Flats 
C.M.H. Barritt

This edition has been brought about by the issue of the revised Regulations L and F and the supporting Approved Documents. These new Regulations considerably extend the application of energy conservation, introduce the need to supply an Energy Rating and amend the requirements for ventilation.

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