Most of us would love to design & build our own home In fact more people than ever are doing precisely this But how exactly do you go about it? How much of the building work should you do yourself? This manual explains the entire process in plain English backed up with hundreds of colour photos showing real self-build projects taking shape Each chapter is devoted to a key stage of the build from the foundations right through to snagging & completion Whether you tackle some of the works yourself or employ architects & contractors this step-by-step guide will show you how to stay firmly in control get to grips with the latest planning & building regulations & complete your project on time & within budget