5 Tips for Self-Build from Kevin McCloud

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Alexandra works in the marketing department, and in 2014, bought her first house, which turned out to be somewhat of a ‘project’.
Since then, the whole house has needed renovating, which has helped her gain a knowledge of basic DIY, decorating and making the best of a small space.

By Alexandra Giles

In this short video with RightMove, Kevin McCloud shares his top five tips for those who are undertaking a self-build project. His top tips are:

Fail to prepare and prepare to fail
Invest in the bones of the building
Invest in the things you touch
Employ the right people
Enjoy yourself

These are excellent tips that really hit the nail on the head (excuse the pun) and can, realistically, extend to anyone looking at making home renovations.

1. Fail to prepare and prepare to fail

A term originally coined by Benjamin Franklin back in the 18th century, it still holds true today: by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Whether you’re ambitiously building a property from scratch or simply looking to install bi-fold doors, creating a plan of action will help you achieve effective execution with limited unforeseen circumstances. For example, if you’re looking to install bi-fold doors, your plan may look similar to this:

Research suitable materials, configurations and styles
Visit a local showroom
Choose a reputable company with quick lead times
Source a builder to measure/create your aperture
Order yourbifold doors, and
Be available for the installers’ arrival.

2. Invest in the bones of the building

We often spend a lot of time worrying about the aesthetics of our property – such as kitchen or bathroom styles – and sometimes even invest heavily in them because they’re the most visible. However, McCloud recommends investing more in the bones of the building, such as the overall structure, the insulation, and the glazing. Unlike fitting a new kitchen or bathroom, the bones of the building can be very tricky to replace or repair. So, it’s crucial to make wise decisions early on to invest inhigh quality features that improve thermal efficiency and ultimately create a strong, reliable and comfortable home.

3. Invest in the things you touch

McCloud’s third tip for self-build is to invest in the things that you will physically make contact with on a day-to-day basis. McCloud highlights the importance of investing in high quality door handles that provide an easy and enjoyable operation. When it comes to choosing handles for your bi-fold doors,Origin offer a selection of elegant handle styles, all exhaustively cycle tested and designed to provide the optimum balance between strength and sleek design. The best way to ensure you get high quality is to visit your local retailer, orvisit an Origin showroom, and physically test the product.

4. Employ the right people

Whether you’re in need of a project manager, an architect or a supplier, working with businesses and people that understand your needs and are prepared to give you all the support you need to execute your plan is crucial. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it wasn’t built by just one person.

As a family run business with a family ethos at its heart, Origin is extremely proud to say that it’s not just our products that are high quality, our customer service is as well. Origin have more than462 customer reviews, 88% of which are 4 or 5 stars, and an archive of inspiringcustomer stories.

Whether you’re ordering doors or windows, Origin understand the importance of having a safe home and therefore work to a “Your Lead Time, Not Ours” promise – a completely unique offering in the doors and windows market.

5. Enjoy it

Lastly, it’s important to enjoy yourself. It’s all too easy to put immense pressure on yourself or others when completing renovations – not many people like living on a building site. As McCloud says, “buildings are not for building, they are for inhabiting”. However, it’s important to remember that the work you do on your home is a means to create a nicer place to live, so take the time to make smart decisions and enjoy the process.

The Origin Bi-fold Door is a completely bespoke product – from style to colour to finishing touches, we aim to give you as much choice as possible so you can truly enjoy the process of ordering your bifold doors. If you’re interested in finding out more, then pleasedownload our brochure.