House Planning Help Podcast
353 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 30 ratingsIf you want to build a house, where would you start?
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Episodes
HPH350: What is value engineering?
April 27, 2024 11:42 - 29 minutes - 41.6 MBBen Adam-Smith explains what value engineering is and how it can help us to do more with less. He reflects on a short video about Slate House in Herefordshire that includes some great examples of value engineering. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH349: Timber build approaches – with Meredith Bowles
April 10, 2024 11:00 - 50 minutes - 70.2 MBMeredith Bowles from Mole Architects shares his experience working with timber as a construction material and explains the benefits and drawbacks of the different build approaches. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH348: Why do homes get mould? – with Alexx Stuart
March 27, 2024 08:58 - 42 minutes - 59.7 MBAlexx Stuart from Low Tox Life shares her experiences of toxic mould exposure and offers some advice on how best to keep your home healthy and mould free. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH347: Common pitfalls to avoid when building a house – with Amelia Lee
March 13, 2024 08:49 - 57 minutes - 79.5 MBAmelia Lee from Undercover Architect shares some common themes that tend to crop up on owner-builder projects (particularly with people who are doing this for the first time) and explains how they can be avoided by creating a clear foundation of your values and project intentions. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH346: Passivhaus homes where cooling is a key consideration – with Andy Marlow
February 28, 2024 08:53 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBAndy Marlow from Envirotecture explains why Passivhaus homes are a good fit for most climates in Australia, how they approach these projects and what is needed beyond shading to keep the homes comfortable when the outdoor temperatures soar. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH345: Why is the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) such a useful tool? – with Sarah Lewis
February 14, 2024 18:32 - 43 minutes - 60.8 MBSarah Lewis, the Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust and author of PHPP Illustrated, explains what the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) is and how it is used during the design process. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH344: Hazel Tree Passivhaus – with Janice Gardiner
January 31, 2024 11:24 - 30 minutes - 42.3 MBJanice Gardiner, an ecologist and the client of last week’s interviewee Josh Wood at Green Trace Architect, is here to tell us what it is like to be the client on a Passivhaus project and share what she has learnt from the experience. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH343: A low cost eco home on a challenging infill plot – with Josh Wood
January 17, 2024 11:52 - 42 minutes - 59.4 MBArchitect Josh Wood gives us an insight into his own self build project, where the balance between keeping costs low and creating a sustainable home have pushed him to come up with creative solutions. By undergoing most of the work themselves, Josh and his partner Amy have been able to transform their snug, back garden plot, into a comfortable and energy-efficient home. Josh explains how thinking outside of the box may be an excellent option if you are looking to get on to the property ladde...
HPH342: How to incorporate reused materials on a self build - with Kirsty Maguire
January 03, 2024 06:06 - 40 minutes - 56.5 MBArchitect Kirsty Maguire explains why reusing an existing building is always preferable to demolishing and rebuilding. However, when buildings are in terrible condition or need radical alterations to make them habitable we should be looking to reuse, recycle and reclaim as many materials as possible. Kirsty shows us that with intentional and sustainable design, you can create a new structure with a wealth of history. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH341: Should embodied carbon or energy efficiency be our priority? – with Jae Cotterell
December 20, 2023 21:14 - 37 minutes - 52.5 MBJae Cotterell, founder of Passivhaus Homes, explains the importance of the choices we make when considering our construction approach. It is possible to create a high performance home with low embodied carbon that doesn't cost the earth if we understand the process, where the impacts lie and where optimisation can make a huge difference. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH340: How to reclaim VAT on a self build or conversion - with Andrew Jones
December 08, 2023 17:04 - 50 minutes - 69.5 MBAndrew Jones explains how to reclaim VAT on a self build home or conversion as well as sharing some common pitfalls to avoid. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH339: What is the Housebuilder's Bible? - with Mark Brinkley
November 27, 2023 16:36 - 42 minutes - 59.5 MBMark Brinkley, author of the Housebuilder's Bible, explains how his book can guide you towards building a better home. He also shares some of the themes that have cropped up while he's been editing the latest edition. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH338: How to measure and monitor the performance of a home - with Luke Smith
November 09, 2023 15:41 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBLuke Smith from Build Test Solutions talks about making building performance measurement more commonplace, and how you can't manage what you don't measure. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH337: Wind power and solar power - past, present and future
October 25, 2023 10:27 - 35 minutes - 49.3 MBDr. Derek Taylor talks about advances in wind and solar power over the last 50 years. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH336 : Ben's Passivhaus 5 years on
October 11, 2023 10:59 - 35 minutes - 50 MBBen Adam-Smith marks five years of living in his Passivhaus home by reflecting on his self build journey and what the house has been like to live in. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH335 : Designing an intentional community - with Anne Thorne
September 27, 2023 19:34 - 53 minutes - 74.1 MBAnne Thorne talks through the architectural design process of Cannock Mill Cohousing community. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH334 : Combining smart home technology with energy efficiency – with Jonathan Dixon
September 13, 2023 09:31 - 52 minutes - 73 MBJonathan Dixon talks about incorporating home automation into a Passivhaus retrofit of a 1960s detached house, built using cross wall construction. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH333 : What is the One Planet Development scheme? - with Brendan and Ludka Powell
July 14, 2023 16:47 - 37 minutes - 52.9 MBLudka and Brendan Powell explain the Welsh ‘One Planet Development’ scheme and how it led them to building an off-grid, straw panel Passivhaus. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH332 : How accurate are Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)? – with Tom Gwilliam
May 03, 2023 17:11 - 36 minutes - 67.3 MBTom Gwilliam explains what Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are, how they are created and why they are unlikely to be a useful measure of how energy efficient a building is. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH331 : What is a mechanical services engineer? – with Alan Clarke
April 12, 2023 08:42 - 52 minutes - 96.1 MBAlan Clarke explains the role of a mechanical services engineer on a low energy house build, in designing a heating and ventilation system that works efficiently and is affordable. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH330 : What is a planning consultant? – with Andy Moger
March 29, 2023 09:00 - 47 minutes - 87.4 MBAndy Moger, from Tetlow King Planning, explains the role of a planning consultant and the benefits they can bring to a project. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH329 : What does a structural engineer do? – with Beth Williams
March 15, 2023 09:00 - 47 minutes - 88.4 MBBeth Williams from Build Collective outlines the role of a structural engineer and explains what tasks might be undertaken on a house build. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH328 : Insulating internally with a thin layer of wood fibre board - with Martin Twamley from Steico
March 01, 2023 09:30 - 36 minutes - 67.5 MBMartin Twamley from Steico explains how to use breathable internal insulation, while avoiding the risks of condensation and mould. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH327 : Upskilling in DIY during a home retrofit – with Es Tresidder
February 15, 2023 09:30 - 56 minutes - 103 MBAs someone with no previous interest or skills in DIY, Passivhaus Consultant Es Tresidder explains why he went about changing that for his own deep retrofit project. Check out the show notes for more information:
HPH326 : Is it worth upskilling your knowledge of Passivhaus? – with Simon Bell
February 01, 2023 09:00 - 32 minutes - 61 MBLandscape Architect and Director of HLM Architects, Simon Bell, explains why he decided to upskill when it came to building his own house. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH325 : What reduces the performance of insulation? – with Mark Siddall
January 18, 2023 09:00 - 31 minutes - 59 MBMark Siddall explains how thermal bypass – or air movement around insulation layers – might impact a self-build or retrofit project. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH324 : Why robust planning is vital for a home retrofit in stages – with Alan Budden
January 04, 2023 09:00 - 34 minutes - 64.2 MBAlan Budden explains how a phased retrofit might work and what preparation is required. He also shares how he's retrofitted his own home, which includes trialling an innovative roof solution. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH323 : Can I heat my home with an air source heat pump? – with Nathan Gambling
November 16, 2022 09:16 - 34 minutes - 64.3 MBInfluential podcaster and heating systems expert, Nathan Gambling, explains why choosing the right installer is even more important than selecting the heat pump. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH322 : An EnerPHit standard retrofit of a Victorian mid terrace home – with Guy Hargreaves
November 02, 2022 09:46 - 38 minutes - 71.4 MBHomeowner Guy Hargreaves reflects on adapting and expanding his Victorian mid terrace home, retrofitting the whole building to EnerPHit standard. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH321 : How do you make an existing home energy efficient? – with Paul Ciniglio
August 31, 2022 09:10 - 31 minutes - 58.8 MBWith price hikes being caused by the volatile energy sector, Paul Ciniglio from the National Energy Foundation explains what we can be doing to our homes to reduce our energy consumption and be better protected from rising bills. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH320 : Precision-cut timber frames – with Antoine Costantini from Kithurst Homes
August 17, 2022 09:07 - 24 minutes - 45.9 MBAntoine Costantini explains how Kithurst Homes has embraced modern cutting technology to increase efficiency and minimise waste. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH319 : Natural materials and healthy homes – with Tom Woolley
July 22, 2022 06:11 - 50 minutes - 92.7 MBArchitect, educator and builder, Tom Woolley, takes us through some of the natural construction materials we should be using to build healthier homes. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH318 : Do I need a structural warranty for my self build home?
June 27, 2022 10:38 - 28 minutes - 52.3 MBJake Fitness of Self Build Zone explains what a structural warranty is, and why you might need one on your self build or renovation project. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH317 : Getting ambitious with sustainability – with Kit Knowles from Ecospheric
June 17, 2022 15:06 - 41 minutes - 77.1 MBKit Knowles from Ecospheric explains why he is driven to keep pushing further in pursuit of sustainability in building projects. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH316 : Why we must embrace sufficiency – with Lloyd Alter
May 25, 2022 16:10 - 41 minutes - 76 MBLloyd Alter explains how we can take personal actions to address our own carbon footprints, and why it's more important to do so than ever. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH315 : Simplifying the delivery of high performance, sustainable homes – with Mike Jacob
May 11, 2022 12:37 - 28 minutes - 53.4 MBMike Jacob explains how Kiss House is using timber component based production to deliver homes to the Passivhaus standard. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH314 : Getting a self build over the finish line, despite setbacks – with Mike Coe
April 13, 2022 20:57 - 44 minutes - 82.9 MBMike Coe gives a final update on his now complete Portree Passivhaus, that has seen budgets stretched, contractors disappear for a year, and a Covid lockdown! Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH313 : What input might an engineer have for a Passivhaus self build? – with Gwilym Still
March 18, 2022 10:00 - 32 minutes - 60.5 MBGwilym Still, of Max Fordham engineers, explains how good planning and simplicity can improve a home's performance. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH312 : Building a tiny house with natural materials – with Jeffrey Hart
March 04, 2022 13:43 - 47 minutes - 86.9 MBJeffrey Hart, natural builder and host of the Building Sustainability Podcast, explains what he's learnt designing and crafting his own tiny house.
HPH311 : Should we celebrate architecture that performs poorly?
February 09, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 54.4 MBRichard Hawkes from Hawkes Architecture reviews the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) of the RIBA House of the Year longlist and asks why we are showcasing poorly performing architecture. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH310 : Important takeaways from an exemplar straw panel Passivhaus
January 17, 2022 17:15 - 32 minutes - 60.2 MBJuraj Mikurcik, Nick Grant and Mike Whitfield reflect on the award-winning Old Holloway project, which is built with EcoCocon straw panels and is a certified Passivhaus. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH309 : Keeping costs down by embracing simplicity – with Kirk Rushby and Polly Upton
December 01, 2021 17:05 - 34 minutes - 64.6 MBArchitects Polly Upton and Kirk Rushby explain how they used their expertise to deliver a striking, high performance home for a very reasonable budget. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH308 : Testing the thermal performance of a house – with Tom Fenton from Veritherm
November 04, 2021 10:56 - 29 minutes - 54.6 MBTom Fenton from Veritherm explains how to test the thermal performance of a home, what this data can reveal and how it can then be used. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH307 : Can you have integrity as a housing developer? – with Mike Webb
October 20, 2021 15:46 - 37 minutes - 68.7 MBMike Webb explains why he chose to build to high ecological standards even though he could've made more money by just complying with building regulations. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH306 : Building an exceptional house beyond the walled garden – with Nigel Dutt
September 28, 2021 16:09 - 33 minutes - 62.2 MBNigel Dutt tells the self build story behind Devon Passivhaus, a Paragraph 55 build. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH305 : Building a Passivhaus with cross-laminated timber – with Mick Woolley
September 08, 2021 08:44 - 31 minutes - 58.4 MBMick Woolley explains how the use of timber was a key element of his award-winning Passivhaus bungalow. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH304 : What are digitally manufactured houses? – with Bruce Bell from Facit Homes
August 25, 2021 10:15 - 37 minutes - 69.8 MBBruce Bell, founder of Facit Homes, explains why digital manufacturing has a lot to offer in the future of house-building. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH303 : What does it take to project manage your house build? – with David Arrenberg
May 12, 2021 09:00 - 35 minutes - 65.1 MBDavid Arrenberg explains why he wanted to project manage his self build, what the work entailed and how much of his time it took. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH302 : A contemporary Passivhaus home in a rural context – with Martin McCrae and Mhairi Grant
May 05, 2021 16:01 - 35 minutes - 65.4 MBMhairi Grant and Martin McCrae share their self build journey. Their contemporary home seems to have it all, from striking design and great ecological credentials to high quality finish and value for money... but Martin and Mhairi had to work hard for it! Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH301 : Energy | People | Buildings – with Hattie Hartman
April 21, 2021 09:00 - 32 minutes - 60.4 MBHattie Hartman, Sustainability Editor at the Architects' Journal, shares insights from her new book Energy, People, Buildings. Check out the show notes for more information.