Learn how to be your own project manager
Use code BUILD for 20% off our next online training course
Book here!Use code BUILD for 20% off our next online training course
Book here!Estimate your project costs instantly with Build It's interactive self-build cost calculator
Calculate NowGet an accurate, detailed cost breakdown of your project
Submit plans
The Build It Awards, now in its 12th year, is the most coveted accolade in the self build industry, recognising the UK’s most innovative products, essential services, pioneering suppliers and awe-inspiring projects.
When it comes to specifying the very best on your project, our independent judging panel does the legwork for you – vetting every entry before deciding which deserves to make the prestigious shortlist.
Forget those flash-in-the-pan, social media-led popularity contests. Every Awards entry is scrutinised in depth and the winners have an expert-backed Build It Awards seal of approval that should give you, the self builder, real confidence when specifying architects, designers, products and services for your home building project.
Here we give you the run-down on our 2023 Build It Award-winning products and services, from the best glazed doors to roofing materials and heating systems to self build mortgage lenders.
Norrsken for its P31 Window
The versatile P31 window from Norrsken combines impressive performance with appealing aesthetics and an amazing range of customisation options. Available in timber-only or alu-clad timber and combining triple-glazed, argon-filled glass panes with a 123mm-deep frame, the system can achieve whole-window U-values down to 0.67 W/m2K.
The judges felt the P31 range delivers excellence in all the core areas customers want – style, sightlines, efficiency and security – at a highly attractive price point for a high-spec window.
NIBE for its PV-T Heat Pump
Installed as part of a wider retrofit, this truly innovative system combines a rooftop solar PV system with ground source heat pump (GSHP) appliance.
While harvesting energy from the sun to generate electricity, the setup also extracts aerothermal heat to efficiently and silently drive the heat pump process – delivering low-carbon space heating and instant hot water.
Smart Control Technologies for Wolverhampton Assisted Living Project
The brief for this project by Smart Control Technologies was to create an advanced home for an 18-year-old wheelchair user, who has restricted use of their right hand. Lighting, heating and blinds are controllable from the client’s bedside, while a video intercom system allows them to speak to and let in visitors from an internal screen.
Category Sponsor Frame Technologies
Lifestiles for its Reclamation Mix Tiles
Old tiles generally look great by virtue of the fact they’ve been on roofs for a long time. But how do you capture that instant character? Lifestiles’ Reclamation Mix is a charming blend of handmade tiles that combine the texture and variation of reclaimed versions with the advantages of new products made to European quality standards.
Priced at just £1.12 per plain tile, they’re packed into crates pre-blended, meaning you won’t have to pay your roofing contractor for extra hours of labour mixing them on site.
Unity Lime for Isolair Multi Wood Fibre Insulation
Isolair Multi is a natureplus-certified wood fibre insulation board from Pavatex, available from Unity Lime. It’s supplied in an easy-to-install, interlocking tongue-and-groove profile and can be used in a range of new build and retrofit applications. These include masonry, timber frame and CLT external walls, internal walls and pitched roofs.
AeroBarrier UK for AeroBarrier
Typically applied at the second-fix stage of a new build project, AeroBarrier is a game-changing sealing system that can reduce air leakage. The system works by pressurising a house using a door blower fan and then misting it with a special water-based sealant, which forms a flexible and vapour-permeable seal. Remarkably, it can cut uncontrolled air leakage by anything from 40% to 95%.
Sunflex for the SF75eco Aluminium Bifold Doors
Designed from the ground up to accommodate a high-performance 48mm triple glazed unit, the Sunflex SF75eco delivers outstanding performance. But its appeal isn’t just down to thermal comfort: this system is the whole package.
A double-rebated frame and interlocking gaskets ensure exceptional air- and weather-tightness, meaning the doors are as good at stopping the weather getting in as they are at preventing heat from escaping. A range of finishes is available, and the clever handle design lines up perfectly with the frame whether open or closed.
Millworks for Mokuzai Charred
Many self builders love the look of shou-sugi-ban charred timber cladding, but it can be prone to chipping and flaking over time. So, Millworks set out to combat these issues while maintaining the strong aesthetic of heavily charred timber. The result is Mokuzai Charred, which uses a flameless technique with mechanical heat rollers.
Kloeber UK for UberFront
This impressive front door system delivers on both aesthetics and performance. Featuring an insulated core and thermally-broken aluminium construction, UberFront achieves a U-value of 0.8 W/m2K. It’s available in a choice of 75mm or 90mm panel depths – giving that much-coveted thud factor – and a flush-finish panel design.
Jotul UK for the Scan 67
The judges were impressed by the enhanced efficiency the Scan 67 5kW woodburning stove delivers, matching its sleek looks with modern performance through Zensoric airflow control technology.
This intelligent system achieves an efficiency rating of 76% and uses a temperature sensor to determine the correct amount of air to optimise combustion of the wood, while delivering the best ambient temperature for you.
Hinckley & Rugby Building Society
Hinckley & Rugby Building Society (HRBS) is a National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA) member that’s made a valuable contribution to the self build sector – on top of offering sizable loans and excellent service to customers creating their dream home.
Within the last year, it’s launched both advance stage lending and a custom build product for those who want to realise their tailor-made house.
Bisca for its Recycled Timber Staircase
Described by one Awards judge as “pure sculpture”, this beautiful staircase by Bisca was completed for a barn conversion in Northumberland. The flight forms a dramatic focal point in the centre of the living space.
Finished to perfection, the helical stairs’ rustic character adds instant wow factor to the house. The white-painted support structure provides a contrast to the palette of natural timber.
We would like to say thank you to all of our sponsors of the Build It Awards 2023, and our headline sponsor BuildStore.
Category sponsors: Self-Build Zone, Frame Technologies, Protek, IDSystems, Stovax.
General sponsors: Insulating Concrete Framework Association, The NaCSBA, The NSBRC.
Our Judges: Chris Batesmith, Jane Duncan, Mike Hardwick, Nigel Griffiths, Julian Owen, Tom McSherry, Calum Taylor, David Hilton.
Find out more about the Build It Awards by visiting the Build It Awards Website.
Login/register to save Article for later
