News and updates
What's changing in EV charging, building regulations and DIY — and what it means for your numbers.
- EV charging
Off-peak EV tariffs keep widening the gap with standard rates
More UK suppliers are advertising dedicated EV overnight rates well below their standard unit price. The difference is now large enough that the same 20–80% top-up can cost three to four times as much on a standard tariff. Our worked 7 kW example shows the maths — check your own tariff's unit rate and off-peak window before assuming you're on the cheap rate.
- Building regulations
Part L efficiency rules keep insulation in the spotlight
The ongoing push for better fabric performance in English homes means insulation upgrades remain one of the most common notifiable jobs. If you're topping up loft insulation or insulating a floor, measure the area carefully and check the manufacturer's stated coverage per pack — our insulation calculator turns your dimensions into a pack count.
- DIY trends
Panelling and bold colour drenching are still everywhere
Wall panelling and single-colour 'drenching' continue to dominate DIY social feeds. Both are paint-heavy projects: drenching in particular means painting walls, skirting and often the ceiling in the same colour, so coat counts add up fast. Measure every surface you intend to paint, not just the walls, before estimating litres.
- EV charging
Rapid charger pricing is drifting upwards at many networks
Public rapid and ultra-rapid charging remains the most expensive way to add miles, with many UK networks charging several times the average home unit rate. For long trips it still buys you time — but running your route through the charging cost calculator with the actual network tariff is the only way to know what a top-up will really cost.
- Building regulations
Garden rooms and outbuildings: check permitted development limits first
Interest in garden offices and outbuildings hasn't slowed. Many fall within permitted development, but height, footprint and distance-to-boundary limits still catch people out — and building regulations can apply separately depending on size and use. Before ordering materials, confirm the position with your local authority; our concrete and decking calculators can then size the base.
- DIY trends
Second-hand materials and reclamation yards are having a moment
Reclaimed bricks, tiles and timber are increasingly popular for both cost and character. The catch is quantity: reclaimed stock is sold in whatever batches exist, so measure your job precisely and buy the whole lot in one go — matching a second batch later is often impossible. Our brick and tile calculators give you the number to shop for.
Looking for step-by-step guides? Read the blog for worked examples, or jump straight to the building calculators and EV tools.