Homebuilding & Renovating Show celebrates 30-year anniversary

Sponsored by Fleming Homes, the anniversary provides the show’s experts with the ideal opportunity to look back at some of the best and worst home renovation and self-build trends of the last three decades.

Oversized and incongruous gates and porches, including a toilet alongside a roll top bath in the bedroom, and adding ‘eco bling’ to a house to demonstrate green warrior credentials are just some of the culprits according to the Homebuilding & Renovating experts.

Property expert Michael Holmes describes ‘eco bling’ as tiny, oddly proportioned windows, roofs shrouded by too many solar panels, wind turbines which never turn, and badly ageing, untreated timber cladding. However, he celebrates the move towards broken plan living where living spaces are separated by informal dividers, bringing the outside in, and the rise of the utility room as some of the best property trends since the 1990s.

Quantity surveyor Tim Phillips picks the rise of the spreadsheet over the calculator, while building expert Andy Stevens gives a shout out to the development of cordless power tools. Marianne Suhr, a specialist in the repair of older buildings, is excited by well-designed secondary glazing and wood fibre insulation, but despairs over products which claim to be ‘breathable’ yet turn out to be non-permeable in use.

‘DIY SOS’ and ’60-minute Makeover’ interior designer Julia Kendell enjoyed the minimalism which followed on from the chintz of the 1980s, and particularly disliked festoon blinds, fleur-de-lis stencils and the ‘jarring feature wall’. She remembers celebrating the move from magnolia walls to a grey colour scheme and is now equally delighted to see a warmer neutral palette becoming popular.

Many of these experts will join the biggest-ever line-up of property experts under one roof at the Scottish Show to offer advice on all aspects of building and renovation, from planning a new extension to embarking on period renovations. In addition, the show will allow visitors to experience thousands of products from over 140 exhibitors and obtain one-to-one expert advice.

During the show’s Home Energy Hour, industry leaders from the Home Energy Academy will cover topics including how to slash energy bills and make your house cosy; picking the right mix of heating, ventilation and renewables, and moving towards net zero in designing and building a home.

Experts in the Masterclass and Seminar Theatres will present on topics ranging from a beginner’s guide to building your own home; estimating and controlling build costs; integrating smart technology seamlessly; sustainable home design and construction, and the planning permission rules for extensions.

The Advice Centre will provide opportunities to book free one-on-one sessions with planning expert Simon Rix, Tom McSherry, finance expert from Buildstore, architect Allan Corfield, David Hilton, eco expert and Michael Holmes, property expert.

The show is taking place at the SEC, Glasgow on 11-12 May 2024. Opening hours: Saturday 10am - 5pm; Sunday 10am - 4.30pm.

For more information on the show visit glasgow.homebuildingshow.co.uk.