Could a dog uncover a hidden problem on your property that the human eye can’t see?

In Episode 10 of The Healthy House, we’re joined by Kat to explore the fascinating world of detection dogs and their role in finding Japanese knotweed, supporting property surveys and protecting the natural environment.

Kat explains how she trains dogs to recognise specific scents, locate knotweed rhizomes underground and work alongside surveyors to investigate problems that aren’t visible on the surface. She shares a remarkable case in Wales where her dogs helped identify 44 confirmed locations of knotweed after visual inspections and exploratory digging had struggled to find it.

We also explore the wider possibilities of scent detection, from searching for rare waxcap fungi to detecting bedbugs, water leaks and dry rot. Along the way, Kat shares the story of her rescued Dutch shepherd, who went from being terrified in a pound to working on a conservation project.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How detection dogs are trained and how their abilities are tested.
• Why Japanese knotweed can remain a problem beneath the surface.
• The role of detection dogs in property purchases and construction projects.
• How checking soil and machinery can help prevent knotweed spreading.
• The limitations of detection dogs and why no survey should promise 100% accuracy.
• Using scent detection to help protect biodiversity.
• The potential for dogs to help locate hidden dry rot in buildings.

Kat also shares her Healthy House Checklist, covering awareness of knotweed in your area, recognising potential warning signs and seeking specialist advice before trying to tackle it yourself.

Whether you’re a homeowner, surveyor, developer or simply a dog lover, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the work these dogs do and the problems they can help uncover.

The Healthy House is brought to you by Weatherwise.
Produced and managed by Crawford & Beattie.

How do you know if you’re paying the right price for your building project?

In Episode 9 of The Healthy House Podcast, Aaron is joined by Fiona Hall from Construction Q to explore how quantity surveying can help homeowners and contractors manage costs, avoid disputes and understand exactly what they’re paying for.

Fiona explains why the cheapest quote isn’t always the best value, how unclear costs can leave you facing unexpected bills, and why getting the scope and contract right before work begins matters.

The conversation also follows Fiona’s journey from starting a business with £500 in her spare bedroom to building an award-winning practice, alongside her passion for encouraging young people into construction and giving back through charity work.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What a quantity surveyor does and when to involve one
• Comparing builders’ quotes and understanding provisional sums
• Contracts, payment terms and avoiding costly disputes
• How changes during a build can affect your budget
• AI in construction and the value of practical experience
• Apprenticeships, women in construction and routes into the industry
• Supporting charities and bringing the industry together through Cash for Kids

Whether you’re planning a renovation, running a construction business or considering a career in the industry, this episode offers plenty to think about before taking your next step.

The Healthy House Podcast is brought to you by Weatherwise.
Produced by Crawford & Beattie.

How much thought do you give to the lighting in your home?

In Episode 8 of The Healthy House Podcast, Aaron is joined by Sam Coles to explore how light influences our daily lives, from our mood and concentration to how we wind down in the evening.

Sam explains the relationship between natural light and our body clocks, the differences between warm and cool lighting, and why choosing the right fittings involves more than finding something that looks good.

The conversation also explores lighting and sensory comfort for people with autism and ADHD, with a closer look at flicker, glare and colour temperature.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Natural light, circadian rhythms and sleep

• Warm versus cool lighting and where to use each

• Common kitchen lighting mistakes

• Blue light and LED bulbs

• Flicker, glare and sensory sensitivity

• Baffled fittings and why hiding the bulb can improve comfort

• Lighting that adjusts throughout the day

Whether you’re renovating, planning a new home or making small improvements to your existing space, this episode offers plenty to consider before choosing your lighting.

The Healthy House Podcast is brought to you by Weatherwise.

Produced by Crawford & Beattie.

Planning a home renovation or extension? The decisions you make before building starts can have the biggest impact on your budget, your timeline and how well your home works for you.

In Episode 7 of The Healthy House Podcast, Aaron sits down with architect Alexandra to explore what makes a successful building project, from understanding your family’s lifestyle to making informed decisions about design and construction.

Alexandra explains why a good architect asks questions, challenges assumptions and helps you explore the potential of your existing home before adding more space.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Creating a clear brief and designing around how you actually live.
• Getting costs, surveys and specialist advice at the right stage.
• Using 3D models to understand your space before work begins.
• Choosing the right builder and the importance of contracts, communication and agreed payment schedules.
• Managing changes during construction and understanding their knock-on effects.
• Renovating older properties with a fabric-first approach to insulation, ventilation and energy efficiency.
• Futureproofing your home for changing family needs.

To finish, Alexandra shares her Healthy House Checklist: assess the space you already have, think about your future needs and take the time to get the brief right.

Whether you’re planning a small extension, a full renovation or a new home, this conversation offers practical insight into making informed decisions throughout your project.

The Healthy House Podcast, brought to you by Weatherwise.
Produced by Crawford & Beattie.

Ventilation is one of the most important but misunderstood parts of creating a healthy home. As properties become more airtight, insulated and energy efficient, moisture and pollutants can become trapped indoors if there is not an effective ventilation strategy in place.

In Episode 6, Aaron is joined by Nick Higgs from ELTA Trade, who has nearly 15 years of experience in residential ventilation. Nick explains why installing a fan is not always enough and why the design, positioning, installation and commissioning of a ventilation system all affect its performance.

They discuss how older properties naturally allowed air and moisture to escape through gaps, chimneys and less airtight building materials. Modern improvements such as new windows, doors and insulation can reduce this natural airflow, creating the conditions for condensation, mould and poor indoor air quality.

We cover:

• Why ventilation is often overlooked until condensation or mould appears
• How increasingly airtight homes have changed the way properties need to be ventilated
• The difference between intermittent and continuously running extractor fans
• Why extractor fans require a suitable source of replacement air
• How incorrectly positioned trickle vents can bypass the intended airflow
• Common installation problems, including flexible ducting, poor commissioning and fans venting into loft spaces
• Why ventilation systems should be installed and tested by competent professionals
• How decentralised mechanical extract ventilation works
• What mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, or MVHR, can provide
• The benefits and potential costs of installing a whole-house ventilation system
• How heating, humidity, occupancy and everyday activities affect moisture levels
• Why ventilation problems often appear after lifestyle changes, such as working from home or having a baby
• The importance of cleaning and maintaining extractor fans
• Why dehumidifiers can help manage moisture but should not replace effective ventilation
• How Part F of the Building Regulations is changing ventilation design, installation and accountability

Nick also shares his Healthy House Checklist:

1. Check your extractor fans. Make sure they are present, working, clean and producing the correct airflow for the room.

2. Check the supply of replacement air. Trickle vents should be open and clear, with enough space beneath internal doors for air to move throughout the property.

3. Review your everyday habits. Avoid switching extractor fans off, contain moisture where possible and ventilate rooms properly after showering, cooking or drying clothes.

This episode provides practical guidance for homeowners, landlords, builders and property professionals looking to understand how effective ventilation can reduce condensation, prevent mould and create a healthier indoor environment.

The Healthy House Podcast is hosted by Aaron Worrall from Weatherwise and produced by Crawford & Beattie.

Good joinery shapes the spaces we use every day, from kitchens and staircases to timber windows and doors. But with materials, prices and workmanship varying, how do you know who to trust, what you’re paying for and whether the finished work will last?In Episode 5 of The Healthy House Podcast, Aaron is joined by Keith Dowley of Ultimate Joinery Solutions to discuss traditional craftsmanship, bespoke joinery and the realities of building a family business.Keith shares his journey from work experience at 13 and an apprenticeship in cabinetmaking to leaving the new-build industry with just three weeks of work lined up. Starting alongside his son from the back of a van, he explains how reputation, reliability and relationships through Grafters helped him establish a workshop, grow a team and take on increasingly creative projects.Along the way, we explore what homeowners should look for when choosing a joiner, why the materials you cannot see matter just as much as the finish, and how maintaining existing timber can help preserve a building’s character.We cover:• Keith’s route into cabinetmaking, traditional joinery and shopfitting• Why he left the new-build industry and decided to start his own business• How networking, recommendations and delivering good work helped Ultimate Joinery Solutions grow• The traditional skills being lost and the challenges of training the next generation of craftspeople• What bespoke joinery involves, from handmade furniture to projects tailored around unusual spaces• Traditional box sash windows, the work involved in making them and the importance of maintenance• Choosing suitable timber and the problems caused by movement, moisture and unsuitable materials• Why ventilation matters for timber and how neglected maintenance can lead to avoidable damage• Checking previous projects, asking for case studies and looking beyond a contractor’s quoted price• The difference between a cheaper quote and a genuinely comparable scope of work• Managing customer expectations and building trust between homeowners and tradespeople• Creative hospitality projects, including drinks trolleys and a mobile DJ station for luxury hotels• Working with family, supporting employees and stepping away from the tools to manage a growing business• Keith’s plans for fire door training and accreditation, and the responsibility that comes with this work• The opportunities and limitations of AI in pricing and design, including ideas that cannot realistically be builtWe finish with the Healthy House Checklist, bringing the conversation back to practical steps homeowners can take:• Keep timber properly ventilated and avoid blocking the airflow it needs.• Maintain wooden windows and doors, including their protective paintwork.• Research the people working on your home, check their previous work and avoid making your decision on price alone.For homeowners planning improvements, tradespeople developing their craft or anyone growing a construction business, this episode explores the care, skill and responsibility behind work that people live with every day.The Healthy House Podcast is brought to you by WeatherWise and produced by Crawford & Beattie.

A damp patch can look straightforward, but the wrong diagnosis can turn a simple maintenance issue into thousands of pounds of unnecessary work. Rising damp is often blamed first, chemical DPCs are prescribed by default, and moisture-meter readings are treated as proof, even when the real cause may be leaking gutters, blocked drains, high ground levels, condensation or penetrating damp.In Episode 4, Aaron is joined by Andrew Martin of The Damp Men to discuss why the damp-proofing industry has developed such a mixed reputation. Andrew shares his journey from bricklaying and general construction into property preservation, the sales-focused practices that made him question the industry, and why he believes honest diagnosis must always come before treatment.We cover:* Andrew’s journey from bricklaying contractor to founding The Damp Men* Why the damp-proofing industry remains widely misunderstood and why greater regulation could help* The difference between diagnosing a problem and simply selling a treatment* Why chemical DPC injections are so often recommended when they may not be needed* What moisture meters actually measure and why readings must be interpreted correctly* The importance of inspecting gutters, drainage, external ground levels and the entire building before specifying work* Penetrating damp, bridging, condensation, salts and some of the most common causes of misdiagnosis* Independent surveys, remedial contractors and the need for better collaboration across the industry* Why choosing the cheapest quote can lead to failed work, repeat costs and further damage* Basement waterproofing, appropriate materials and the difference the correct system can make* Building a family business, maintaining high standards and knowing when to walk away from the wrong job* Career longevity, work-life balance and Andrew’s determination to continue helping homeownersWe finish with The Healthy House Checklist, including three practical steps homeowners can take to protect their properties: maintain the exterior, improve ventilation and airflow, and carry out proper research before choosing someone to diagnose or repair a damp problem.The Healthy House Podcast is brought to you by WeatherWise and produced by Crawford & Beattie.

Look around your home and you'll find fabrication everywhere. The staircase you climb every day. The balustrade on the landing. The gates at the end of the drive. Most homeowners never think about who made them, or how much of that work is designed and built one-off, by hand, for a single property.

In this episode we're joined by Dan Bragg of Custom Fabrications to pull back the curtain on bespoke metalwork and the role it plays in modern homes. Dan takes us through how his business started, what a fabrication company actually does day to day, and why steel has quietly become one of the defining materials in contemporary design.

We cover:

• What fabrication really involves, and the difference between residential one-offs and production work
• Bespoke staircases, balustrades, gates, railings and structural steel
• The design trends driving it: steel and glass, industrial interiors, minimalism, steel paired with timber
• When to bring a fabricator into a renovation, and how leaving it too late costs you money
• Finishes and protection, from powder coating to galvanising, and what maintenance actually looks like
• The mistakes Dan sees most: bad measurements, cheap imports, style over practicality, no corrosion protection
• Behind the scenes from CAD drawing to installation, plus Dan's favourite project and strangest request
• Apprenticeships, recruitment and the future of skilled trades in a world of robotics, CNC and AI

We finish with our usual quick fire round and the Healthy House Checklist: three things every homeowner listening can do in the next month to protect and improve their home.

The Healthy House Podcast. Practical advice from the people who actually build, survey and fix homes.