EDITOR’S LETTER

Claire Lloyd has been a member of the Homebuilding & Renovating team for 15 years. She’s currently in the midst of another renovation.

One of the biggest expenses to date on my current renovation has been replacing the roof cladding. Unfortunately the property was blessed with asbestos roof tiles, a combination of pitched and flat roofs, with work required to the chimneys thrown in for good measure. (No wonder I looked tired as the scaffolding went up!)

While a substantial outlay (and VAT certainly isn’t a renovator’s friend in these circumstances), the new roof slates have given the property some much-needed kerb appeal. I knew the extent of the work before purchasing, but in an ideal world, I would rather have spent the money on the interiors or on an extension.

That’s why it’s important to be informed before embarking on a building project, so you can budget accordingly. While we can’t tell you to the penny how much your new roof will cost (or any aspect of your project, for that matter), on page 91 our expert, quantity surveyor Tim Phillips, provides up-to-date figures together with the factors that will influence the cost. (Next month he explores an overlooked but expensive element of a self-build or extension — the garden hardscaping.)

In this issue we also kick off a new series — how to create a healthy home with one of the UK’S leading design experts on the subject, Oliver Heath. Wellbeing is often given little consideration when designing and building houses, but self-building provides an unprecedented opportunity to create healthier homes. Each month, Oliver will delve into a different topic – from acoustics and air quality to natural light – to explain why it’s worth considering when building or renovating and how to apply the principles to your project.