Blog
Construction guides, UK regulations, and practical tips to help you work smarter on site.
How to size gas pipes for domestic installations. Covers pipe diameters, appliance demand, run lengths, and the key rules every Gas Safe engineer needs to know.
Work out how many tonnes of gravel, MOT Type 1, or aggregate you need. Covers depth recommendations, bulk densities, ordering tips, and common project sizes.
Work out exactly how many deck boards, joists, noggins, posts, and fixings you need. Covers timber choices, spacing, costs, and common deck sizes.
A practical guide to calculating drainage falls, gradients, and pipe sizes for domestic projects. Covers Approved Document H, foul and surface water drainage, and common mistakes.
Work out exactly how much paint you need for any room. Covers wall and ceiling measurements, coverage rates, number of coats, and common tin sizes.
Work out how many downlights you need and where to position them. Covers spacing rules, room-by-room layouts, wattage, and common mistakes to avoid.
How to choose the right lintel for domestic openings. Covers steel lintels, concrete lintels, wall types, bearing lengths, and Building Regulations requirements.
How to size radiators for each room using BTU calculations. Covers room types, insulation factors, window adjustments, and common sizing mistakes.
A plain-English guide to UK staircase building regulations. Covers Part K requirements for rise, going, pitch, headroom, handrails, and balustrades.
A practical guide to structural steel beam sizes and weights for domestic construction. Covers RSJs, universal beams, common sizes for extensions, and what builders need to know.
How to size timber joists and rafters using Approved Document A span tables. Covers C16 and C24 timber, floor joists, ceiling joists, and common roof rafters.
A practical BS7671 cable sizing guide covering voltage drop, current carrying capacity, correction factors, and common domestic circuit sizes for UK electricians.
CIS tax deductions explained in plain English. Covers rates, registration, verification, monthly returns, and how to claim back overpayments as a UK subcontractor.
Work out exactly how much concrete you need for a shed base. Covers volume calculations, mix ratios, ready-mix vs hand mixing, and common shed sizes.
Learn what a RAMS document is, when you legally need one on site, what to include, and how CDM 2015 regulations affect your duties as a contractor.
Practical guide to quoting construction jobs accurately. Covers materials, labour, overheads, profit margins, contingency, and a worked example for a small extension.
A clear guide to permitted development rights in England. Covers extensions, loft conversions, outbuildings, porches, and when you still need Building Regs.
A practical breakdown of scaffolding costs in the UK. Covers hire vs buy, pricing per metre, common house sizes, scaffold types, and legal requirements.
U-values explained in plain English. Covers Part L requirements, target U-values for walls, roofs, floors, and windows, plus insulation materials compared.
A plain-English guide to CDM 2015 regulations for builders. Covers duty holder roles, notification thresholds, the F10 form, and common mistakes.
Learn how to calculate exactly how many tiles you need. Covers measuring rooms, wastage allowances by layout, tile sizes, grout, and adhesive quantities.
HMRC approved mileage rates for 2025/26 explained for self-employed builders. Covers what counts as business mileage, record keeping, and common mistakes.
A practical guide to the Party Wall Act 1996 for builders. Covers when you need to serve notice, types of notice, timelines, surveyors, and costs.
Work out how many roof tiles you need for any roof. Covers pitch factors, tile coverage rates, felt, battens, ridge tiles, and wastage allowances.
Understand the different electrical certificates in the UK — EIC, EICR, minor works, and Part P. Know when each is needed and who can issue them.
A complete snagging checklist for new-build homes. Room-by-room guide covering what to look for, common defects, and how to get them fixed.
UK fence height rules, boundary ownership, planning permission, and dispute resolution. Everything builders and homeowners need to know about fencing law.
Plan your patio from the ground up. Covers paving types, sub-base, drainage falls, laying patterns, and how to calculate quantities and costs.
Essential asbestos awareness for UK builders. Where it's found, the three types, legal duties, when to test, and the penalties for getting it wrong.
When do you need building regulations approval? What building control does, which works require sign-off, inspection stages, and completion certificates.
Work out exactly how much plaster you need. Covers skim, bonding, hardwall, and render with coverage rates per bag and pre-calculated room quantities.