WR, by e-mail

Building your own home requires a variety of skills, from bricklaying to project management. There are many courses to choose from, depending on how involved you want to be.

The majority of self-builders choose to project manage their house-build, employing professionals to do the actual construction work. Project management essentially means managing tradespeople, ordering supplies and keeping to schedule. For courses in project management, try SStar Building Skills Academy (01635 522 007, www.buildingskillsacademy.co.uk) or Abbonny (01234 871 445), which both offer day courses run by experienced self-builders.

If you want to take a more hands-on approach, then there are literally hundreds of courses on offer. You can choose from one-day (from £150) to five-day courses (from £350) in all the trades, from plumbing and basic electrics to bricklaying and plastering. Try Trade Skills 4U (01293 529 777, www.tradeskills4u.co.uk), Able Skills (0808 100 3245, www.ableskills.co.uk) and the Builder Training Centre (0800 389 2775, www.buildertrainingcentre.co.uk).

Remember, you can’t expect a one-day course to turn you into a professional plasterer, but it will help you with patch-plastering and give you a taste of what’s involved; the longer the course, the more chance you will have of mastering essential skills.

For a good introduction to timber-frame building and other environmentally friendly building methods, such as cob construction and straw-bale building, contact the Centre for Alternative Technology (01654 705 950, www.cat.org.uk). It runs a variety of courses throughout the year.

Catherine Monk is editor of Build It magazine

e-mail your questions to propertyexperts@sunday-times.co.uk

Explore Property

• Buying & Selling

• New Homes

• Overseas

• Interiors

• Investment

• Gardens

• Cool In Your Code

• Specials

Times recommends

• Analysis: frustration for everyone - except investors
• Spanish property: why it's crunch time on the Costa del Sol
• Buy-to-let: professional investors cash in on the credit crunch