Many people are looking at ways to extend their homes rather than move house, but 'getting the builders in' can be a recipe for disaster unless you really know what you are doing. Whether you plan to employ a building contractor or tackle so

Many of Britain's four million Victorian and Edwardian houses were shoddily built and often require 'essential repairs'. Problems like rising damp, timber decay, bowed roofs and subsidence are well known, but how can you tell if your house has major defects or is just typical for its age? Forget 'makeovers': this new edition of the Victorian House Manual, which has been extensively updated, shows where to look for danger signs, what's 'normal' and what isn't, and how to fix common defects. Equipped with this book, you can talk the same language as builders and property professionals. Written in a friendly and enjoyable style, and yet technically comprehensive. How your house was built - its age and history. What adds value? Packed with entertaining snippets - everything from anthrax in the walls and ingress of sewer rats to why cats are bad news for some roofs. Each chapter is devoted to a key part of the house: roofs, walls, windows, ceilings, etc, in the comprehensive style of a Building Survey, with full-colour photos and some step-by-step projects for repairs. Defects, causes and solutions: how to identify, solve and prevent all common defects found in Victorian houses, with some common scams exposed.

Britain has a wonderfully rich stock of period houses. These properties are often unwittingly damaged, some by well-meaning owners or incompetent builders, others as a result of mortgage lenders insisting on misguided quick-fix 'remedies' that cause long-term deterioration. There is widespread lack of knowledge about how to maintain period properties but Haynes has now come to the rescue with this clearly written Manual showing the correct approach to care and repair. This is essential reading for anyone who owns, or would like to own, a period house. 'essential reading...this Manual will guide you safely through'

Most of us would love to design and build our own home. In fact, more people than ever are doing precisely this. But how exactly do you go about it? How much of the building work should you do yourself? This manual explains the entire process in plain English, backed up with hundreds of colour photos showing real self-build projects taking shape. Each chapter is devoted to a key stage of the build from the foundations right through to snagging and completion. Whether you tackle some of the works yourself, or employ architects and contractors, this step-by-step guide will show you how to stay firmly in control, get to grips with the latest planning and building regulations, and complete your project on time and within budget.