For those who find that making a selection from available properties simply isn't enough, building or renovating your own house is the only answer. This book will tell you what you need to know. It will help you make an informed choice and prepare you for what lies ahead. It contains vital hints about choosing the right self-build option, how to survive life on a building site, how to finance your project and nurture your self-build dreams into reality, how to deal with paperwork and regulations, and how to get the best out of the construction professionals you will need to use. Many self-builders are acutely conscious of the environmental impacts of construction, so this guide provides straightforward advice on the materials to avoid, suggests cost-effective eco-friendly alternatives, and provides information on how to re-use as much as possible.

Contents: 1 Why self-build?; 2 Life on site; 3 Your family and friends; 4 Your self-build options; 5 Legal requirements: a brief introduction for self-builders; 6 Construction professionals; 7 Doing the work yourself; 8 Using a builder; 9 Staying safe on site; 10 Toolbox talk; 11 Sustainability: building in an environmentally-friendly way; 12 Sustainability: practical ways to make sure that your self-build is environmentally-friendly; 13 Finances; 14 Done!; 15 Resources and useful contacts.