Astrid Madsen is the editor of the SelfBuild magazine. Email astrid.madsen@selfbuildextendrenovate.co.uk
The ROI planning regulator instructed Mayo County Council to scrap rules that would allow people to build in the countryside. We cover: What clauses Mayo County Council is being asked to remove Who has authority over County Development Plans Find out whose County Development Plan is best in class Why the appeals system overhaul could […] More
The 2023 Budget in ROI will see the cost of concrete products rise by 10 per cent due to a new tax, while a review of Help to Buy scheme shows it’s still cheaper to self-build than buy new. Under Budget 2023, the Help to Buy scheme is extended to the 31st of December 2024 […] More
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 […] More
The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund now makes serviced sites available at a discounted rate to people looking to build their home in a rural town or village in ROI. Local authorities are making serviced sites, i.e. sites with the necessary infrastructure such as electricity, water and wastewater, available in towns and villages to people who […] More
The design flow of your house deals with access points, stairways, hallways and other circulation spaces, plus how to integrate storage. In this article we cover: How to make your design layout flow, basic principles Tools to use to make sure your layouts work Furniture placement Kitchen triangle and other basic concepts Access points through […] More
Renovating this 1950s seaside house meant rebuilding the structural supports for the cantilever bedroom that takes in the view. In this article, we cover this cantilever house renovation project including: Overview House size before: 200 sqm House size after: 245 sqmPlot size: 1 acreBedrooms: 5Project cost: £400kConstruction: Steel and blockHeating and hot water: LPG boilerVentilation: mechanical My […] More
This new build bungalow in Co Donegal features bespoke finishes on a budget and a stunning garden. In this article John Fingleton explains how he designed and built his new build bungalow, including: I’m a builder by trade so it was natural for me to choose to self-build,” says John. “I came across a site […] More
Harrison Gardner’s Build Your Own book is a celebration of DIY, eco conscious self-building. This hefty tome seems to have a double aim. One is to share knowledge and advice. The other is to get us to reach for the tools, conscious of our environmental impact as we do. To get us to follow on […] More
Artificial grass is low maintenance, but should you have it in your garden? We look at the fake grass debate on Twitter. In this article we cover: Benefits of fake grass Why people are installing it Drawbacks of fake grass Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Pros/cons of fake grass if you have children It’s made of […] More
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 […] More
350 new lung cancer cases are linked to exposure to the radioactive gas in ROI each year, with Munster and Connaught the regions most affected. OI’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently updated its radon map, which shows 170,000 homes are now predicted to be at risk from radon (red being the most affected). That’s 36 […] More
Bringing together 25 years of experience project managing extensions and renovations, architect and interior designer Denise O’Connor recently published The Optimise Home Renovation Planner. The planner is a working guide to coach homeowners through the renovation process with tips and advice gathered from her experience working on hundreds of projects. “Always remember it’s a vicious […] More
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