Building DIY Gardening

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 [...]

Discovered an archive of photos from the South London new build we did back in 2005-2006. Just show some of the external works, fitting of decking and steps:
This was a on site construction of balcony and steps out of wood, with paved barbecue area. This barbecue area is small so as to increase the grassed [...]

The annual Grand Designs show, fronted by Kevin McCloud, is on again, in Birmingham NEC, very easy to get to for most people in the UK unlike London. Kevin is doing book signings so check that out on the website. I am interested in what happened to the Swindon eco estate, I think it has [...]

The National Home Improvement Show.
Friday 30th September to Sunday 2 October. Earl’s Court, London, open 10am to 5pm every day.
This is a big show with a focus on saving energy – hardly surprising as energy prices have increased so much. This having the green effect as saving money is a bigger motivator than saving the [...]

The National Home Improvement Show is at Earls Court 1, Warwick Rd, London, SW5 9TA.
Friday 30 September – Sunday 2 October 2011
Friday 30 September 10:00 – 17.00
Saturday 1 October 10:00 – 17.00
Sunday 2 October [...]

ummer is a great time to do work around the house and garden, unless you want a holiday of course.
Unless your holiday is DIY… well maybe it is too hot to do much but if you feel the need for a sweaty workout try some of these. Feeling fit?
Garages and carports
Needs a lot of [...]

News here is that we adding a big new section on how to buy wholesale supplies and wholesale products for all aspects of building and construction. We think that DIY and small time and amateur builders should also benefit from cheap and low cost building supplies. Already suppliers like Wickes, B&Q and Homebase, Home Depot [...]

Happy New Year!
We have removed the Christmas articles on trees, decorations, green Christmas and presents.
We are adding articles on

fireplaces
double glazing
insulation
snow clearance

These will be online in the next week.

We have a whole new section on Lights and Lighting, to add to our existing light and solar power sections.
See our lighting and lights pages:

Lamps, lighting, lights design, uplighters, chandeliers >
Light in basement, cellars, underground lighting >
Lighting the home, house, commercial, shops >
Llighting, lights, technology types, halogen, neon, LED, solar, laser >
Llighting outdoors, garden [...]

Research by HTA – actually a sponsored Phd – shows that planting against external walls increases insulation by a big factor.
The vegetation ‘buffers’ the wall environment against cooling, and behind the plants it can be anything up to 6 degrees higher.
Of course, in the summer, vegetation will also shade the walls, making them [...]