Useful articles for self-builders
A range of articles and tips to educate, inform and inspire self-builders
Transforming a home with BBC DIY SOS
The TV audience of BBC DIY SOS Series 32: 3. The Big Build – Longframlington, last night included most of the Fleming Homes team, and lots of our friends and family all keen to catch a glimpse of the timber frame used in the build. When we agreed to take part in this project to…
Choosing a supplier during uncertain times
All the indicators suggest that the UK’s cost of living crisis is deepening with inflation at its highest level since 1992. Inflation looks set to continue to rise and interest rates are set to follow them. As the UK population becomes poorer, there can be little doubt that customer concerns around the financial health of…
The Case for Project Management
The build route you choose will ultimately depend on what’s right for your individual circumstances. Self-managing the coordination of your build can be advantageous if you are well researched, organised, a confident negotiator and have the time to dedicate to keeping your project on track. In this article, Harry Burt of Century Project Management highlights…
Financing your self-build with a mortgage
Access to finance along with land are cited as the two biggest hurdles to getting a self-build project off the ground; however, we also know that lenders in the ‘stage release funding arena’ have a healthy appetite to lend to self-builders. So, what do you need to know to achieve success at this early stage…
Custom Build Collaboration for West Cumbria
PRESS RELEASE – 15/10/21 Fleming Homes have joined forces with Hugr Homes, a specialist in custom build homes for a unique development in the Lake District. Hugr Homes, which is based in the North-West of England, with its private equity partner FNS, is behind Wellbank, a 50-plot development on land on the edge of the…
Build your self-build knowledge at the NSBRC
Growth is one of our FLAGSHIP values which explains our enthusiastic commitment to learning. For us, the curious mind and a thirst for knowledge are fundamental to the success of self-build projects. And this is one of the reasons we have always been huge supporters of the National Self Build & Renovation Centre’s (NSBRC) self-build…
Market dynamics and the supply of materials for self build timber frame
If you have a self-build timber frame house project underway, or you are planning one, you will already be aware that the availability of materials is an issue affecting the construction sector, regardless of your chosen structural system. In this article, Operations Manager, Michael Burns explains how this is affecting timber frame manufacture and looks…
What does ‘wind and watertight’ mean?
In our last article ‘learning the lingo‘ we tackled timber frame terminology, explaining the typical terms, materials, and details that self-builders would benefit from knowing. Another phrase that self-builders often query is wind and watertight. This article aims to explain exactly what it means. Wind and watertight (sometimes also referred to as weather-tight) is a…
Tackling timber frame terminology
Getting to know the terminology of timber frame construction is a big step in every self-builder’s journey. Learning the ‘lingo’ can aid and ultimately lead to stronger communication channels with your project team. This, in turn, can result in better decision-making. Sound communication and greater levels of knowledge are two consistent elements of all successful…
Why winter might just be the optimum time to get started on site
With concerns around the negative impacts of winter weather on build schedules, conventional wisdom puts spring or summer as the optimum time to push forwards on-site with a self-build project. Building through the winter months is generally perceived to be a bad idea, but is this justified? At Fleming Homes, we believe that winter can…
