The overall quality of your new home is largely determined by two factors. Obviously good design is one of these but of equal importance is your choice of materials. At Design & Materials we recognise the need to carefully match the specification to the design to ensure that each client achieves the quality they are seeking and gets the most from their budget.

Following is a list of materials covered by our materials service.
Not all the items listed below will apply to every client and your specification will itemise those materials to be supplied to meet your individual requirements.

Materials usually supplied if you opt for a ´good´ specification as described in the H&R build cost guide. ´Good´ specification Stock facing bricks Purpose made windows in softwood or white PVCu with factory fitted Argon filled thermal glass ('U' value 1.7) and easy clean hinges Softwood joists and fibreglass sound deadening quilt for upper floors including joist hangers Solid block partition walls to all ground floors and first floors where feasible Roof covering in pantiles or simulated plain tiles or simulated slate with standard ridges Hand made softwood staircase with contemporary/cottage style balustrade and newel posts Internal solid core moulded panel doors Solid brass/polished chrome door furniture Pre-finished painted metal garage doors

Materials usually supplied if you opt for a ´excellent´ specification as described in the H&R build cost guide. ´Excellent´ specification. Simulated hand made facing bricks or reconstituted stone walling Purpose made windows in laminated softwood or red hardwood or oak wood grain PVCu with factory fitted Argon filled thermal double glazing ('U' value 1.7), easy clean hinges and multi-point locking system Solid first floor i.e. beam and block system to 2 storey houses with solid block internal partition walls throughout ´Silent floor´ system for chalet bungalows Roof covering in plain tiles or Spanish slate with standard ridges Hand made softwood staircase with period style turned balustrade and newel posts Oak internal doors Solid brass or chrome door furniture in satin finish from ´Designer Range´ Garage doors in timber or GRP with electric openers

Choice is the very essence of self-build. Our service is designed to allow you to choose the key materials for your new home and our experienced team will patiently guide you through the options. Naturally you will want to achieve the highest possible quality within your budget and the team will therefore advise you on the options available and their cost implications.

The items in the tables above are not designed to restrict your choice. All the unseen items, 'nuts and bolts' and structural materials you can leave to us. However there are still lots of choices on the key features such as windows, bricks, roof tiles, kitchen, bathrooms, doors and door furniture.

The above materials fit generally within the 'good' and 'excellent' figures in the build cost table however some of you may wish to enhance your specification with items such as attic trusses, oak joinery or a conservatory. Below is a list of popular extras with past clients. Your local consultant will be happy to provide further details.

The following is a short selection of popular extras with our clients. Optional extras
Solid beam and block floor system for upper floors in chalet bungalows and attic floors in 2 storey houses, with solid block partitions throughout Special double glazed units ('U' value 1.1) Thermal enhancements Security enhancements Hand made windows, doors, stairs and joinery in natural oak Folding patio doors Triple glazed windows Acoustic glazing Real wood floors in oak or ash Timber decking for patios Aluminium/cast iron rainwater system Conservatories Glass blocks PVCu fascias, soffits and barge boards		Plinth and architrave blocks for internal door openings Architectural dressings in natural or reconstituted stone e.g. feature quoins, heads, cills and window surrounds Period columns and canopies in stone or glass reinforced plaster Special prefabricated roof trusses e.g vaulted ceilings or attics Block paving for drives Natural stone paving/flooring Natural stone external walling ´Bradstone´ reconstituted stone walling Handmade clay tiles/ornamental ridges/tile hanging Handmade bricks Quarry tiles or special bricks for projecting plinths Materials for drives, paths and patios, e.g. gravel, flag stones, block paviors