Welcome!
My name is Guy Hodgson and I am an eco builder in Bath, Somerset. I specialise in natural materials such as straw, hempcrete, strawbale, limecrete and green roofs.
I was a promising eco builder from an early age as this photo of one of my early new builds shows. That said, I have a broad range of interests, having studied a degree in Politics, worked for a hot air balloon in Europe, and spent 5 years as an incident manager in the railways.
My career as a builder started properly in 2012. Having worked under some very skilled carpenters, plasterers and green builders, I consolidated my knowledge by doing an apprenticeship with Barbara Jones’ School of Natural Building.
To improve my understanding of how to run a safe and productive construction site I also spent 6 months with Willmott Dixon (one of the UK’s biggest contractors) as a site manager on the £22m renovation and extension of a old factory for Bath Spa University.
I have come to realise we are very complacent about the health risks of common construction materials, and also how much resource we waste. I now strive to use only natural sustainable materials, and aim to send no waste to landfill or incineration.
I create spaces which are healthy for both occupants and the environment, be those renovations, extensions or new builds. I use naturally vapour permeable materials such as clay plasters, limecrete and hempcrete. These can effectively manage moisture and deliver good indoor air quality. See my materials page.
Well considered buildings can ‘lock up’ carbon in their materials, add to biodiversity and flood resilience with green roofs and make best use of the free energy of the sun (solar gain) without overheating in the summer.
They can enhance their setting. The best expression of this building philosophy can be found at The Living Building Challenge.
HandyGuyBuilds has worked on some fantastic projects.
Get in touch to discuss yours!
Projects
A 30m2 extension to an Oxfordshire cottage. Limecrete slab over foamglass insulation with load bearing strawbale walls, lime render externally, clay plaster internally, warmcell insulated roof and a limewash finish.
SNUG Home - A compact sustainable home
An innovative 50m2 modular building built to Passive-House standards. Built in four large sections off site, then craned into place in one day. Insulated with recycled newspaper (Warmcell) and using a solar powered heat pump to provide hot water.
A 12m2 extension to a Frome terrace. Suspended floor with sheep wool insulation, wood fibre walls with sheep wool filling lime rendered, green roof system.
Domestic Maintenance
As I am very particular about what projects I take on, there are occasional lulls. During these periods I take on some smaller domestic maintenance. An elite handyman!
Testimonials
“Guy has listened carefully to our needs and acted with great initiative throughout.”
Stuart Cooper
“Guy plans everything out thoroughly and completes work to an excellent standard.”
Nick Lambert
"Guy is thoughtful and capable, and cares about his work and client’s needs."
Juliet Carter