Building DIY Gardening

strong>Ecobuild the future at ExCeL, London
Tue 5 to Thur 7 March 2013.
This a great show and worth the effort of getting to Excel in London Docklands. It is an interesting venue.
This is the best exhibition for sustainable design, construction and the built environment.
There are many attractions including:

Practical Installer
Future Materials Gallery
Lighting Village
Many new products to [...]

These are some photos from a recent lawn laying session. The small lawn was killed by overhanging trees provding too much shade, and neglect by tenants in a rented property.
Autumn is a good time to lay a lawn as rain will make it bed in better. Laying in Spring is also possible but you have [...]

nnual show approaches, for all DIY, self-build, refurbishment projects, and you can get free tickets, see link at end.
Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 2012.
Lots on as usual. Well worth a visit especially as free (get your tickets before 14th September)
Real life examples and talks about:
Two storey extension
Cottage extension, 2 stories plus garage conversions, very [...]

These are a selection of images from the fitting out of a new build job. This is a varied collection of outdoor and indoor shots.
Above: Architect Ivy Ngeow RIBA makes an inspection visit.
These stairs were made onsite by the carpenter Craig, very fine job.
Above: Note insulation, cladding (Thermowood) and check tags from inspectors. Cables and [...]

New Government self-build scheme to help people building houses. This was announced by Grant Shapps the Housing Minister on 7 July 2012. Kevin McCloud is involved.
The idea is to release Government land so people can build houses on it. To build a home is admirable but a large project for a young first-time buyers, which [...]

There is a new ‘web portal’ for all things self-build. This is created by The National Self Build Association (NaSBA). It is independent of Government and has Kevin McCloud on the front.
Bit short on actual advice. In Technical Documents, there is one pdf on Health and Safety in the Workplace.
Information is general, as is expected [...]

This is a very interesting video of flying robots building a tower out of preformed parts. Here, the parts are laid out and the robots fly off and build as fast and efficiently as they can.
In the real world, this method of construction is standard in large structures, where precast and manufactured walls, beams, girders, [...]

Like many households in Britain, we have received leaflets through our door about fitting free PV (photovoltaic) solar panels, with free use of the generated electricity.
This sounds too good to be true as even a small system can cost well over £10,000 so what is the deal? Is it a scam? How does it affect [...]

Went along to the installation in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. The building is an old power station converted into a vast art gallery – a bit like an Art Mall – styled to be a bit modern, a bit industrial, a bit futuristic.
The Turbine Hall is the [...]

We have an old traditional Welsh dresser which is used for glassware and crockery. The drawers and cupboards in the lower half are very useful. However the furniture is made of a very dark wood.
The overall appearance was always very dark and gloomy. We had various ideas – sell it; paint it; separate into [...]