Blog
Construction guides, UK regulations, and practical tips to help you work smarter on site.
Calculate bricks or blocks per square metre, deduct openings, add wastage and estimate mortar for UK walling with a worked example.
Work out fence panels, posts, gravel boards, feather-edge boards and post concrete for a UK garden fence, with clear formulas and examples.
Calculate equal spindle spacing between newel posts, check the 100mm sphere rule and avoid the common mistake of forgetting the two end gaps.
Measure a lawn, calculate turf and topsoil quantities, allow for cuts and work out starter fertiliser for rectangular, circular or L-shaped areas.
Learn what UK builders should include in clear terms and conditions, from payment dates and variations to delays, disputes and client responsibilities.
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.
Calculate drainage falls, gradients and pipe sizes for UK domestic work, with practical guidance on Approved Document H and common site 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.
Choose a lintel for domestic openings with guidance on steel and concrete types, wall construction, bearing lengths and Building Regulations.
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.
Guide to structural steel beam sizes and weights for domestic work, covering RSJs, universal beams, extension projects and essential site checks.
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.
Practical BS7671 cable sizing guidance on voltage drop, current capacity, correction factors and common domestic circuits for UK electricians.
CIS deductions explained clearly, including rates, registration, verification, monthly returns and reclaiming 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.
Quote construction work accurately with materials, labour, overheads, margin and contingency, plus 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.