The Selfbuild Podcast: Recent Episodes
Selfbuild Ireland
SelfBuild Ireland specialises in helping people either build or improve their home via our exhibitions, magazines and online resources. Selfbuild is designed to cut through the noise and deliver what matters, whether that be innovative new ideas, services, new products, projects or the basics in building a dream home. Let Selfbuild be your guide.
Matt Kinloch of SONAS Bathrooms and DarrelMcCauley of Spectrum Bathrooms joined us at Selfbuild Live Belfast to talk about what’s trending in bathroom designs and how to get the style on a budget, including
- Colours and style in general: what’s on trend, e.g. is barbiecore a thing in bathrooms? What are the classics?
- General budget saving advice: consider number of bathrooms, size? How about renovations, how to save with existing bathroom upgrade?
- Sanitaryware: what’s on trend, e.g. wall hung basin/toilet and standing bath, and how to save and still get the look
- Fittings: what’s on trend, e.g. is gold still fashionable, and how to save and still get the look
- Radiators: what’s on trend and how to save, e.g. output?
- Mirrors: what’s on trend, is it still LED and Bluetooth mirrors, and hacks to save.
- What are the other big ticket items in the bathroom and how can self-builders save?
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Pete Cole of Pete Cole Consulting shares the most common issues he comes across self-build sites, including:
- How to work to a budget - where to spend your money
- Evaluating site conditions, from utilities running through the site to contamination
- Task approval in NI, developer enquiries
- Variations to designs and importance of site meetings
- How to choose a builder and pitfalls of going direct labour
- What can go wrong and examples of the need for site supervision
- What contract to sign with your builder in NI
- What to do if you want to do some work and/or hire some trades yourself
- Issue of availability of skilled labour and changing technologies
- Issues with pitched warm roofs, including potential of condensation with panels
- How to deal with defects
- Who has PI insurance and who needs to sign off on changes
- Practical examples
Recorded at Selfbuild Live Belfast in October 2023.
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DJ Ramsdale of DJ Build Estimations updates us on builds costs in Ireland at Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Limerick in January 2024. He covers:* How are projects costed for maximum accuracy? * How much is an average self-build costing nowadays, per sqm? For what type of house? * What is the most cost effective type of house to build? Size, shape, choice of building method for floor, walls roof, window, setc? * What are the typical budget busters? * Direct labour versus hiring a main contractor: what savings can you make? * Is it cheaper to build with timber frame or blocks? * Can you haggle with builder's merchants?
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Architect Mark Stephens, who is based in Co Mayo, chats about how to get planning permission in ROI including:
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What is planning permission
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Who needs planning permission and under what circumstances
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The application process
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How to improve your chances of getting permission
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Main reasons for getting turned down
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Local needs provisions
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Requests for further information: what it is and what the planners commonly ask for and how that's changed over the years with computerisation
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How to make changes to an existing application that already got approved
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When to amend an application or make a fresh one
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What kind of specialist reports do you need and how much do they cost
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Examples from Mark's experience lodging planning applications
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Francis Rilley of Unilin Insulation and Andrew Rennie of Energy Store chat about insulating your home in Ireland today. We caught up with them at Selfbuild Live Belfast 2023 to chat about:* The different types of insulation with pros and cons for each including cost, thermal efficiency, fire resistance * Recipe for an energy efficient building fabric: insulation and airtightness * Typical wall build up scenario for a building regulations compliant house vs NZEB: block builds and timber frame * Typical roof build ups and typical floor build ups * Performance gap: how can self-builders ensure that the design is right and the installation is done correctly? * Typical retrofit scenarios: how to insulate an existing home (existing cavity walls, solid walls, floors, roofs)
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Where are build costs heading? We look at the situation in Ireland today, in 2023 with DJ Ramsdale of DJ Build Estimations who tunes in to answer your questions about how much it costs to build in Ireland in 2023, from what method is cheapest to what to expect to pay overall.
He covers:
- What’s the most cost effective construction method?
- Is a dormer cheaper than a two storey house?
- For an existing house is it more cost effective to demolish and rebuild, or renovate?
- Will material costs and labour costs stabilise? Are prices coming down enough to start a direct labour build or is labour still too expensive?
- What percentage of the budget goes into substructure, superstructure, internal finishes?
- What does a contractor typically need for a tender?
- What kind of house can you build today for €/£150-170k?
- What is the average cost per square metre these days?
- What exactly will the mortgage cover? How far in the build does it get you?
- What is a builder’s finish, what does it cover?
For more on build costs go to the Selfbuild Cost Hub.
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Kieran Dwyer of insurance broker SelfBuild Protect chats about: * What self-build insurance is and why you need it * Is self-build insurance mandatory like car insurance? * What do mortgage providers look for * What makes it difficult to insure a new build project * When do insurance companies insure non-standard builds? * How much does insurance cost today * Renovations and extensions: when does self-build insurance kick in? * New duty of care legislation in Ireland and whether it will lead to lower premiums * Competition in ROI vs NI
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Barry McCarron, Chairman of the Passive House Association of Ireland, chats about doing up his family to make it energy efficient, including:* Going from a bungalow to an A rated home * Cost details and how it compared to building new * What is the fabric first approach * What are the main types of insulation? Where are each best used? * How much insulation is enough: cost optimal amount to install * Why is airtightness important? * How to install insulation and airtightness correctly * The benefits of following a set standard like the passive house standard * What the future of house building and retrofitting looks like
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Paul Lawford explains how he built his tiny home on wheels from scratch, including:* What is a tiny house * Why he decided to build a tiny house to live in * How he built it from start to finish, DIY with no previous experience * Where he sourced materials * How much it cost * The case for tiny house living * Tips and advice to others thinking of a building themselves tiny house * Lessons learned
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Rodger O'Connor of ROC Energy explains when it makes sense to apply for an energy grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, including:* What grants are available and which ones suit which budgets * How much it costs to carry out a One Stop Shop upgrade * How to apply for the grants: dos and don'ts * Pros and cons of going for a One Stop Shop grant * Should you invest in solar panels? How much will it cost and what's the grant? * Should you invest in a heat pump? How much will it cost and what's the grant? * When does it make financial sense to invest in energy upgrades? * Are energy upgrades worth it? What are the benefits?
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Dr Ciara Ahern chats about what energy upgrades and if they're worth doing, issues people are having with heat pumps and heating systems and what can be done about it, plus what changes we can expect coming from Europe in relation to energy and the building regulations. More specifically, she covers:
- What is the difference between a shallow and a deep retrofit?
- If someone has a house, how can they tell if they should consider a shallow versus a deep retrofit, e.g. would homes with medium gains always need a deep retrofit?
- Recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD): What are the headline changes coming from Europe and when we can expect them to come into force
- EPBD implications for end users: new builds, renovations and those selling property
- Why energy ratings don’t show how much energy the house will consume: does the recast EPBD take that into account?
- How to optimise the operation/performance of existing heating systems in the home
- Issue with oversizing heating systems and what homeowners can do
- Issues surrounding heat pump installations, what needs to happen industry wide to make sure they’re done correctly and to the right sizing?
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In this episode, David Magnier chats about his self-build in Co Wicklow:* Design process * Securing planning permission * Choice of building method: pros and cons * How day to day went on site * Working through Covid * Switching from main contractor to direct labour * Keeping on top of the budget * Keeping on top of quality
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Gavin Millar of BPC Ventilation chats through the benefits of heat pumps and MVHR, including:
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What is mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and is it worth the money? What are the benefits?
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What are heat pumps and are they worth it? What's the payback?
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Why are heat pumps and MVHR more efficient than traditional systems? How much more do they cost?
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How much more do they cost?
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Should settings on ventilation systems be adjusted according to the outside temperature, e.g. summer, winter?
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Which ventilation system is best for an ICF house?
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Are MVHR units noisy?
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Energy upgrades: the case of changing a 1950s house from oil heating to air to water, is that the best option?
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Is it efficient to mix underfloor and radiator heating?
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Can one heat pump be used for two buildings?
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Jonny Orr of Daniel George Kitchens chats about how to design your new kitchen in Ireland today:
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Optimal kitchen size
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Current trends, including colours and handles, and must haves
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Where the most savings can be made in a kitchen, including countertop materials
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Common mistakes people make and what to think about when planning your kitchen
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Tips to get the most out of walk in pantry
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Magic corner cupboards: are they worth it?
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Ideal size of an island
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Pros and cons of building in a dining table into the island
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Sink or hob in the island
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What extractor fan options there are for the island, can you rely on heat recovery ventilation
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Extractor fans in a passive house: what to consider
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How to incorporate a deep standalone fridge
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Kitchen lighting options
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Oven heights
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Hand painting versus factory painting
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Timeframe to get kitchen installed and ordering kitchens cross border in Ireland
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Eoin Ó Broin, a TD who’s written a book called Defects, chats through the issue of quality control when building a house in ROI. He talks about:
· How the building control system works in ROI and why it’s broken
· Opting in or out of appointing an assigned certifier
· How we got to this point
· Prospects of changes to the system
· Where to next
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Laura and Ronan Campbell built themselves a house on Ronan’s parents’ laneway. Here they chat about:
- Difficulties with planning permission and why they had to leave a deposit with the local authority for three years.
- How they made a narrow site work with their design vision.
- Choice of steel frame construction and challenges building the house.
- Delays (due to windows and Covid) and how they affected the build.
- Choosing finishes that look the part and saved money.
- How much DIY they did and their top tips for others considering building a laneway house.
- Budget considerations and how they kept a lid on costs.
- Main headaches and what they would do differently.
Read more about their project on https://selfbuild.ie/project/dublin-laneway-house/
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Kieran McCarthy of KMC Homes talks about:* The new concrete levy due to come into force September 2023 in Ireland * How to reduce the amount of concrete you use on your build * How to save on your build costs * What's the most cost effective build route nowadays? * Where are build costs heading?
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Susan Andrews of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland chats about how to get a grant for your home energy upgrade, including:- The three types of grants available in ROI and how each of them work- One Stop Shop (OSS) vs individual grants: the extras you get with OSS- Cost of home energy upgrades for detached houses in Ireland- How you can get up to half the cost of the works funded through the grants- What the application process looks like and what timescales to expect for each- Whether you can reapply if you've availed of a grant before- Benefits of living in a more energy efficient home
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Tony Dunne, Managing Director at MBC Project, chats about the ins and outs of buying windows in Ireland today, including: - Main types of windows available in Ireland: timber, uPVC, aluminium, alu-clad - Average cost of windows on a self-build today - Double vs triple glazed, options for quadruple glazing - What specifications to look out for when choosing windows, certs/standards - How the process unfolds from choosing the right windows for your project to installation and maintenance - Material price increases and how it affects window costs - Window upgrades in renovations - Watchpoints for both new builds and energy upgrades, from choosing windows for the right exposure (wind loading, coastal, etc.) to protecting your windows on site
Connecting your sewage to the mains is not always an option when you're building in the countryside. You might need to install an onsite wastewater treatment system instead, which is a mini sewage treatment plant. In ROI, if an onsite system is not feasible you will more than likely be denied planning permission. Cathal Keane of Graf Environmental gives us a crash course and highlights what you need to know, including: - Who needs an onsite wastewater treatment system. - What’s a typical setup? Brief overview of primary, secondary and tertiary treatment. - What are the requirements in NI and ROI and how they differ. Main Building Regulations requirements to be aware of. - The process of choosing an onsite wastewater treatment system in NI and ROI. - Maintenance and keeping the system working at its best to protect environmental and human health.
Resident construction expert John Corless chats about flash points to consider when building your home, including:
• Managing heat loss, U-values and airtightness • Ventilation • Insulation • Space and water heating including thoughts on PV • Intermediate floors • Roofs • Contracts • List of other considerations: security, waste, health and safety, equipment hire, etc.
Michael Doherty of the Mica Action Group rounds up the talk with a chat about the ROI government’s remediation scheme to rebuild homes that were built with defective concrete blocks.
Michael talks about the skewed grant amounts, based on 2007 costings of house rebuilding costs by the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI), plus eligibility for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grants.
He also discusses planning exemptions, retention amounts for contractors and what building methods mica affected homeowners are considering.
Brian Corry of Selfbuild+ introduces self-builders to modern ways of building in Ireland today. In Part 2 he chats about:
- Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) with Ballantine Building Solutions
- Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) with FutureTek
- Hemp block construction with Hempbuild
Brian Corry of Selfbuild+ introduces self-builders to modern ways of building. In Part 1 he chats about:
- Timber frame construction with Redwood Timber Frame in Dungannon
- Structural polystyrene construction known as M3 with Passive Housing in Kildare
- Steel frame and precast concrete with Future Cast in Leitrim
For more about the building methods available in Ireland today, check out the Selfbuild guide to building methods here: https://selfbuild.ie/guides/
This podcast is the first in a series of talks for mica affected homeowners. Mica is a naturally occurring material that has been the cause of thousands of homes crumbling; a redress scheme is being devised through the ROI government to rebuild affected homes.
The topic for this first instalment is what to expect from the process of building your home, relevant to all those new to the area of self-building.
We look at the process of building a new house from start to finish, flash points (from the importance of good design beyond obtaining planning permission to health and safety) and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Michael Doherty of the Mica Action Group gives us an update as to where the mica process is at, and the profile of affected homes.
Then John Corless discusses: · Starting the self-build journey · Building on past experience · Where to start · Current house building legislation · House types · House design considerations · Who will build it? · Professional Services · How much will it all cost? · Where SelfBuild can help
David McHugh of ProAir chats through your ventilation options and answers commonly asked questions about mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, including: - Why you need ventilation - What are the requirements - Why you need to sort out which ventilation system you choose early on in the building/renovating process - What are the different types of mechanical ventilation systems available in Ireland, with pros/cons - What are the performance criteria for mechanical ventilation with heat recovery? What do self-builders need to check for when buying? - Difference between teed and manifold systems - What is the process of getting a system installed? From design to commissioning. What do self-builders need to look out for? - Maintenance tips and advice
Zeno Winkens of Winkens Architecture chats through spatial design, including: - How to choose the right location for your house - Designing your home from the inside out/outside in - Window and door locations - Budget friendly designs - Difference between an A1, A2 and A3 building energy rated house - Working with a builder and what to watch out for on site - How to work with your architect
Niamh O'Donovan of Instagram account @passive_build shares her experiencing building her home in Co Waterford, including: - Direct labour tasks from start to finish - Passive house design without central heating - Development fees and planning issues - Budgeting tips and advice
Mark McCall, of Instagram account @automatedhome, runs through his Co Down home building project including: - the design and build process - issues with foundations - stages of the build from first, second to third fix - design and budgeting tips The full story available here: https://selfbuild.ie/project/the-automated-home/
Episode 44 – Quantity surveyor Keith Kelliher discusses the recent material price increase and what it means for self-builders. He covers: – Which materials have been hardest hit – Reasons behind material price inflation – Where to next for material price increases – How to budget for your project – Whether to wait or start building now – Budgeting tips
Energy consultant Patrick Waterfield shares his tips and insights into building an eco house without breaking the bank. He covers: - The tricks to building an eco house and how he tackled his own new build project - How to build a house to make it cheap to run - How a humble stove can heat your entire house - How to avoid greenwashing - How to tackle energy efficiency in a new build on a budget
Miyuki Katsu Maloney, of Instagram account @our.japandi.selfbuild , walks us through her self-build project, including:
- Japandi design features including the no-shoe zone entrance
- How the Japandi interiors had to be adapted to Irish building regulations
- Choice of windows
- Choice of finishes including a microcement bathroom
- Top tips and advice for a novice embarking on a self-build
For more information, check out Miyuki's article about Japandi design in the Summer 2021 edition of Selfbuild magazine: https://selfbuild.ie/advice/japandi-design-tokoyo-meets-mayo/
Padraic Rogers of mybuildingsupplies.ie talks through how material prices increases are affecting self-builders: - Causes for price increases - What materials are hit the hardest and by how much - Shipping costs - What self-builders can do to reduce the impact of cost increases
Rodger O'Connor explains how he designed his home to be super energy efficient, including his insulation and airtightness strategy, choice of heating systems, photovoltaic panels and how he managed the build.
Seasoned self-builders Paul and Anne Dyer share how they managed to get planning permission in an area with a presumption against development (hint: it took a while), and how they hand built their underground house, leaving only specialist work such as tanking the roof and walls, to specialist trades. They discuss: - Wildflower roof design and installation - Underground structure and what they would differently - Polished concrete floor disaster - Heating and ventilation systems - Tips and advice from decades of experience self-building
Mark Coleman explains how he renovated a tired old bungalow into a stylish family home. His choices were guided by the budget and achieving an affordable home to heat. He chats about: -Wall and roof insulation, and why he didn't need external wall insulation. -Why he chose an LPG boiler based on payback times. -Turning the garage into usable space in the home. -His experience doing DIY work as a novice and why his project was a success.
Solar panels come in many forms: those that generate hot water, electricity or both. The way energy is collected from daylight, through collectors in the panel, will depend on the type of system you have. Here Richard White of LVP Renewables chats through how thermodynamic panels work, along with how they are installed and maintained. This recording predates the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant changes for photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal panels. For the latest information on SEAI grants see https://selfbuild.ie/advice/basics/grants-in-ireland/
Self-builder Orlean McCaffrey shares her tips and advice building her home in County Fermanagh, including: - Planning restrictions - Choice of how to build the house and who to get to build it - Home cinema design - Microcement kitchen
Expanded PolyStyrene (EPS) is a cost effective insulation product that usually comes in board or bead form. Steven Magee of KORE Insulation Solutions, a leading EPS supplier, explains where and how to use it on a self-build or renovation project.
All properties require an adequate ventilation strategy; Dave Redmond of Beam Vacuum and Ventilation here outlines the options that are open to self-builders and home improvers and also looks at the option of installing a central vacuum system, to further reduce allergens from the home.
Wendy McClintock of the Progressive Building Society explains what it takes to secure a self-build mortgage in NI, including:
- What you need to apply and how a self-build mortgage is different to a regular mortgage
- What to expect from the process
- How stage payments work
- Pitfalls and what to watch out for
Hemp is best known for its insulating properties, and when combined with lime it has been used as a structural building material to make walls for generations. Ronan McDermott of Hempbuild outlines the benefits of using natural materials and explains how the company has come up with an off-the-shelf hemp based solution for those building new or renovating an older property suffering from damp.
Self-builder David Dobbs shares his experience getting planning permission from Wicklow County Council and running into some trouble with his main contractor. He talks about: - How the existing cottage on the site helped secure planning permission - Bungalow design tips - Experience with architect and quantity surveyor - Opting out of appointing an assigned certifier and health and safety requirements - Sourcing products from abroad to save money - Finding a new contractor midway through the build - Tips and advice for a novice embarking on a self-build project
To protect your valuables, a safe will be high on the list of things you need to include in your project. Trustee Safes outlines what to check for and the need for proper installation.
The type of roof covering you choose for your house will have a huge impact on the final appearance of the house. Lagan chats through your options, from lower end to high end finishes.
Richard Sloan of Sonas Bathrooms and Gwen Kenny of Devine Design explain how to tackle bathroom design in a new build, what the process is and how to approach a renovation project.
The kitchen requires a lot of advance planning, and a good budget, which is why many self-buidlers turn to kitchen companies to help them with design and installation. Here Neptune advises on how to go about it and whether an island is right for you.
Carpets add a feel of luxury to any bedroom; here Mark McCallister Carpets explains the different types and how they are installed.
There are many choices of floor coverings out there, with laminate and LVT two popular low maintenance options. We find out more about what they are and how they are installed.
Interior design is essential to get right at the design stage of your build; here Hamilton Interiors shares top tips and advice.
Building your home with stone usually means building a cavity wall with the external leaf solid stone. This method tends to have costly knock on effects on the foundations, window detailing and structural supports such as lintels. An alternative is to use stone cladding, or slices of stone stuck to blockwork with an adhesive, as explained here by Fernhill Stone.
Building with solid oak is a skill that takes years to master; Grace Design walks us through how to use oak in your self-build project and what to look out for at the design and construction stages.
Cross Laminated Timber construction is a new and exciting method of building, now often used on commercial building and some notable examples of self-builds. But there is a lower cost and lighter weight version known as HBE, iDomus Construction explains the ins and outs of both systems.
We chat with Stephen Blakely about the role of an interior designer, from working with the architect at the design stage to furniture choice and window treatment. Interior designers charge by the job, e.g. by the square foot as Stephen does to take account of the size of the house, but others may charge by the hour. Costs tend to range from £1/€1 to £1.50/€2 per sqft when they are involved from the beginning of the project.
George McStravick of GMS Intelligent Systems talks about the "smart home" and the internet of things. He chats through the process of installing a home automation system in both new builds and renovations.
A question on every self-builder's mind is "How am I going to build this thing?" It's a key decision to make and one that will follow you throughout the design stage; in fact each method will require a tweaking of the plans to optimise how cost effective it is to build. This episode we chat with Ronan McKee, architectural designer with FMK Architecture to go through the most popular self-build building methods in Ireland today. He explains: - Traditional blockwork - Timber frame - Modern methods such as Insulating Concrete Formwork - Eco methods - How to choose the right method for your build
It is a legal obligation for the homeowner (self-builder) to be on top of health and safety on site and there are procedures in place for you to prove that to the authorities. However, it is not mandatory to take out self-build insurance.
Insurance is in fact a safety net that will cover your costs in the event of a claim related to your build or renovation project. In other words, what insurance will do is protect you from the unforeseens and the many risks associated with construction activity, including trespassers getting injured and filing a claim against you.
In fact, most lenders will require that you take out an insurance policy if you have a mortgage with them.
Bernie Downey of the Kerr Group explains what type of insurance you need to get for your self-build and why taking out a structural warranty will help you keep on top of quality control.
In this epidose we cover: - What is self-build insurance and what products does it include - What does self-build insurance protect you from - Structural defects warranty: how it helps you manage the project - The builder's insurance versus the homeowner's - What drives up the cost of self-build insurance - Difference between self-build insurance and home insurance
Two DIY self-builders have put pen to paper in the Summer 2020 edition of Selfbuild magazine and they've come back to share their stories on this podcast.
First up is Michael Rauch of County Down who built a moveable tiny house on a trailer. Gordon Le Moignan, meanwhile, shares how he tackled a DIY deep renovation and insulation project in County Kerry.
The topics covered include: - How the two storey tiny house was built on a trailer, from design to completion - Planning restrictions on the tiny house and plans for the future - Getting an energy rating done in practice, after a DIY insulation job - Alternative insulation methods
Brendan Begley is a man on a mission, a mission to reform the planning system which he views as unaccountable and oblivious to local knowledge and traditions.
In this podcast he argues that the planning rules currently in place in ROI are hurting rural Ireland.
They are so onerous, he says, that people can’t afford to build their own homes and in turn, revitalise rural towns and villages.
He also believes planning officers have too much of a say as to what kinds of houses are allowed to be built in the countryside.
Here, he shares his experience dealing with Kerry County Council; the local authority refused him planning permission a dozen times on family land, threatening to send him to jail for two years if he doesn't remove the temporary house on wheels he built himself to live in, on his land.
Brendan describes how he built his house on wheels in detail, which he calls the "most passive house in Kerry", along with costings.
He argues that the planning current rules, in particular Cluster Housing guidelines, do not take into account the needs of the people who live in rural locations. Local culture and people have knowledge of important factors such as wind direction or where the flood plains are.
"The problem is that I'm a human being," he says. "Since I started this, three massive sheds have gone up in [my] village."
He discusses at length the need to make local authority planners accountable and questions the wisdom of the planning appeals board, An Bord Pleanala. In Brendan’s case the authority sided with the local authority despite the ABP engineer's report saying the proposal should be granted planning permission.
Self-builder Bobby Fitzpatrick shares his story of what it's been like working in the construction industry whilst juggling a renovation project at the family homestead. Astrid caught up with Bobby at the beginning of the lockdown late March.
Arguably the two most important advisors to hire on your self-build are the architectural designer and the quantity surveyor. Edel Regan of Edel Regan Architects and Dermot Rasdale, quantity surveyor with DJ Build Estimations, help us shed more light on their respective roles.
We cover: - How architects and quantity surveyors contribute to self-build projects - An overview of the design stage and top tips to get it right - An overview of the building phase with pitfalls - How architects and quantity surveyors help self-builders save money
John Corless is Ireland’s leading independent self-build advisor and the host of the Selfbuild Live Bootcamp. We caught up with him at Selfbuild Live Belfast to give us a bird’s eye view of the self-build process. Topics covered: - Turning a house into a home: how vital good design is and why you should hire a professionally trained architectural designer - Why you should hire a quantity surveyor and how to keep on top of the budget - Finance, insurance and warranties - Building contracts and what happens when things go wrong - Quality control and the roles of the advisors you need to hire - The three regulatory pillars: planning permission, Building Control/Building Regulations and Health and Safety - How big is too big and re-saleability of the property
Co Antrim self-builder Vivienne Hanna shares what it was like building her home on a budget and provides tips and advice on how to get the dream home without breaking the bank. Vivienne has been repurposing furniture for over 30 years and also offers self-build advice, specialising in cost effective interior solutions.
Instagrammers Gillian and Seamus Brennan share the ups and downs of building their own home, from the design stage to furnishing it with upcycled furniture. Follow them on Instagram @hanselhousedesign https://www.instagram.com/hanselhousedesign/
Planning permission is the first stumbling block to building or extending your home. This episode Patrick O'Reilly, Managing Director of niplanningpermission.co.uk and irelandplanning.ie, gives us the low down on how the planning process works in NI and ROI and how to increase your chances with your local authority.
We also discuss which projects are exempt from planning permission, how to check that they are, and a reminder that not needing planning permission does not mean you are exempt from Building Control. Patrick has a BSc in Environmental Planning & MSc in Urban and Rural Design from Queen’s University Belfast, and is a full corporate member of The Irish Planning Institute.
This episode we're also joined by Sean Armstrong, Senior Advisor at the Department of Housing to chat about the new NZEB Building Regulations that came into force on the 1st of November 2019 (ROI) and what appears to be loopholes in relation to the Major Renovations requirement.
Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy also gives us an update on the "locals only" provision currently in place in many County Development Plans in ROI.
Jason Taylor of Co Down chats about how he designed and managed his new build project and how he kept a rein on the budget; follow him on instagram https://www.instagram.com/grafficar/
The building regulations for ventilation (part F) and energy efficiency (Part L) are coming into force on the 1st November 2019 in the Republic of Ireland; we chat with Mark Shirley of 2eva.ie to find out what it all means for your self-build in terms of heating systems, ventilation strategies, major renovations and added costs.
IMPORTANT INFO: In the podcast Mark and Astrid chat about the new requirement in Part L that states all “Major Renovation” projects must upgrade the home to a building energy rating of B2.
At the time of recording, it was widely understood that this requirement would apply to most extension projects; however the Department of Housing has since clarified that extensions are unlikely to trigger the requirement to upgrade the entire home to a B2.
For more detailed information about the requirements for Major Renovations, check out this exclusive extract from the Winter 2019 edition of Selfbuild magazine: https://selfbuild.ie/advice/faq-new-nzeb-building-regulations-apply-to-renovations/
Dan and Jessica hired every tradesman and did a lot of the work themselves, from tidying up the site every evening to laying floors. We chat about what it takes to design the house of your dreams, how to get it built and keep a positive outlook. Check them out on Instagram @seanuahouse
The Climate Action Plan launched in June promised that homeowners in ROI would be able to sell electricity from their PV panels back to the grid by 2021. Brian Denvir of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland explains what kind of feed in tariffs are available in Europe and sheds some light on how the Irish project will be rolled out.
We have a chat with Belfast-based energy advisor Patrick Waterfield about how you will generate heat and hot water in the home. Some of the main points we cover are:
- Boilers vs heat pumps
- Underfloor heating vs radiators
- Fabric first approach
- How the building regulations affect system choice
- The situation in NI
- ROI new building regulations coming into force in November
- How to design a house without central heating
We have a chat with building costs expert Keith Kelliher, a quantity surveyor based in Dublin about where to start with the budget, how to deal with tenders (builders' quotes) and methods to keep costs under control.
Episode 1: We have a chat with Nicola Thorpe of Co Down whose house is on the front cover of the Spring 2019 issue of Selfbuild magazine. She shares her experience dealing with the planners, staying on top of the budget, and practical tips such as choosing self-cleaning windows for the hard to reach places. Read the background to her story on selfbuild.ie