Everything you need to know to build your new home and transform it with daylight

Whether you've already committed to a new self-build or you're wondering where to begin, building your own home is exhilarating... but also terrifying. Creating a self-built house puts great demands on you and your planning skills. Get off to a good start with our expert advice for building your own home and filling it with daylight!
Key takeaways
  • Start with working out your budget. Figure out how you'll fund the build and start estimating the costs.
  • Get in touch with local planning authorities early in the process to find out if your project and the plot are viable.
  • The more decisions you make in the design stage, the better, and that includes decisions about windows and daylight. Customising the daylight in your home will ensure better energy efficiency, indoor climate, and health.

How to build your own house

Building your own home has many benefits. You get to design a home that meets your every need and desire. It's also a lot of hard work; there are many things to consider before you start. Luckily, we've got your back!

Where to start your self-build project - dos and don'ts

Getting off to a good start with your self-build house project will make the entire process much more enjoyable. Let us help you with a list of dos and don'ts when building your own home.

Make a budget

Do: Work out a budget in the early stages. Building your own house is a big financial commitment. Therefore, working out a budget is one of the first things you should do. Figure out how you'll fund the build and start estimating the costs.

Don't: Blow the budget! Be realistic when marrying your vision and expectations for your build with the realities of your budget. A lot can go wrong, so don't forget about a contingency fund.

Find your plot

Do: Be patient, creative, and open-minded. Finding a plot can be tricky. Let friends, family and colleagues know that you are searching and make use of all media possible.

Don't: Fall in love before you've done your homework. Beware of pitfalls when choosing your plot and remember to look into available services such as gas, electricity, and broadband, as well as soil surveys.

Get planning permissions

Do: Get in touch with local authorities early in the process. Before you build your dream house, you need to find out if your project and the plot are viable.

Don't: Make assumptions. Never purchase a plot without planning permission in place.

Have a well-planned design

Do: Make as many decisions as possible before you start the build. The design stage is critical! It includes layout and architecture, as well as choosing your doors, windows and other fixtures.

Don't: Save big decisions for last. The more things you’ve put into place at the design stage, the more likely you'll stay within the timetable and budget.

Gather your dream team

Do: Spend time building your self-build team. If you're like most of us, you will need help to complete the self-build. Check online reviews, get recommendations from friends, and do interviews to find contractors you trust.

Don't... just consider the quoted time! A self-build is a lengthy process. You want to gather a team that makes you feel confident.

And finally, what we've all been waiting for: it's go time!

Make daylight part of your plan

When building your own house, the more decisions you make in the design stage, the better. This includes making decisions about windows and daylight. Customising the daylight in your home will ensure better energy efficiency, indoor climate, and health. But where should you start?

Personalised advice for your home improvement projectGet advice
Building your own home has many benefits. You get to design a home that meets your every need and desire. It's also a lot of hard work, so there are many things to consider before you start.

Author

VELUX Editorial team

Share

Read more articles

10 reasons to bring more daylight into your home (and how)
Daylight plays an important role in our mental and physical well-being. We spend a lot of time indoors, either at home or at our workplace. While we cannot always make significant changes to the office, we can bring solutions to our own homes to create a better indoor environment. Research has shown that sitting close to a window increases our well-being; let VELUX roof windows provide this benefit and more. Read our 10 reasons why you should let more natural daylight into your home.
Read the full article
 How to improve indoor air quality
We spend up to 90% of our time indoors. While we hear a lot about outdoor pollution and rising CO2 levels, outside, have you ever wondered about the air quality in your own home? Indoor air quality has a considerable impact on our health. The average person breathes about 10,000 litres of air per day, most of which consists of air from their home. That's a lot of air! We believe that roof windows can provide an aesthetic element to every home and a lot of natural light. In addition, they promote a better indoor climate that will benefit your health.
Read the full article
Creating a more energy efficient home
Before you start construction or a home renovation, check the energy efficiency of your home. When you invest in energy-efficient products such as roof windows, you will save both energy and money in the long-term.
Read the full article
A healthy home starts with a great environment
Are you looking for ideas to create a healthier home and indoor environment? Then you've come to the right place! There are many ways to improve indoor air and light quality. Here are our tips to help you get started.
Read the full article
Change your home with a roof window
Want to make improvements to your home? We have the answer. It's simple but effective: add roof windows! Bringing in natural light from above is one of the most significant improvements you can make to your space.
Read the full article