Astrid Madsen, Author at Selfbuild

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in Basic site checklist, Before you start to dig, Block, Budget & Financing, Building methods, Choosing an architectural designer, Choosing external finishes, Choosing the bathrooms, Choosing the kitchen, Choosing wall and floor finishes, Collating your ideas, Cost savers, First fix: Watchpoints, Joinery: Watchpoints, Landscaping: Watchpoints, Living Arrangements, New Build, Other key structural decisions, Planning red flags, Projects, Provisions for on-site electricity, water, Road openings, Roofing & External finishes: Watchpoints, Securing planning permission, Self-build Projects, Site access, Site assessment, The design brief and getting the space right, Two Storey, Ulster

Building the tin house

Matthew and Hannah Sterrett of @ourweecountryhome share their story of building what they call the tin house: how it started and the obstacles they came up against. In this article they talk about: Contents Part 1 – Avoiding the rent trap – Skip to Part 1 Part 2 – The tin roof – Skip to […] More

August 11, 2022, 9:49 am
in Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, News

The way we build and renovate is unsustainable, say climate experts

An Oireachtas Committee was told buildings account for one third of all emissions in Ireland. Houses in Ireland today pollute as much as agriculture, if both operational carbon (the energy used to run the home) and embodied carbon (the energy it takes to build, repair and demolish) are taken into account. That’s a figure the […] More

July 28, 2022, 9:56 am
in Building methods, Choosing wall and floor finishes, Choosing windows and doors, Collating your ideas, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, Heating systems, Insulation and airtightness: Watchpoints, Podcast, Pre design, Roofing & External finishes: Watchpoints, SB+ Podcasts, Ventilation, Ventilation and heating systems: Watchpoints, Windows and doors: Watchpoints, Working out your requirements

Ep52 – What to consider when self-building plus thoughts about the mica grant scheme

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 […] More

July 25, 2022, 3:35 pm
in Budget & Financing, Choosing an architectural designer, Choosing external finishes, Choosing windows and doors, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Heating systems, News, Other key structural decisions, Ventilation

New grant for upgrading old buildings

Local authorities are offering up to €50k for you to renovate a vacant property to live in. In this article we cover: In a bid to tackle dereliction and encourage people to move back to rural towns and villages, the ROI government is now offering renovators up to €50,000 to refurbish vacant buildings. Croí Cónaithe […] More

July 22, 2022, 12:42 pm
in Block, Leinster, New Build, Projects, Two Storey

Co Meath direct labour new build

When Tanya Fitzpatrick was given land on the family farm, she and her husband Alan jumped at the opportunity to build their forever home. In this article, Tanya explains how she went about her direct labour new build: Overview Plot size: 3 acres House size: 3,100 sqft excl void space, garage and outdoor roofed areas Bedrooms: 4 […] More

July 18, 2022, 11:45 am
in Collating your ideas, Design, Designing the outside space, Exteriors & Landscaping, Pre design, Projects

DIY garden hut project in Co Antrim

Graeme Taylor’s DIY lockdown project was to build a garden room to hang out in – a hut for barbequing and entertaining. In this article, Graeme talks about his DIY garden hut project: Tell us about your house, did you buy or build it? We got the house built through a small scale developer who […] More

June 29, 2022, 9:42 am
in Advice

Summer garden parties

Summer is the best time to host a backyard party – here’s when and how to get your garden ready for the festivities. o host a fun outdoor party, you don’t need a total garden makeover. Preparation is more about placing your best foot forward. That way you won’t be noticing or fretting over things […] More

June 29, 2022, 9:25 am
in Block, Bungalow, Connacht, Cost Under 200, Extensions & Renovations, Projects

Compact renovation and extension in Co Galway

This compact renovation project in Co Galway shows what can be done on a budget. In this article we cover: House size before: 110sqm House size after (with porch and extension): 155sqft Bedrooms: 4Site size: ¾ acre Renovation cost (incl purchase price): €185k House value (2019): €200k Construction method: blockwork (cavity wall) Heating and hot water: oil condensing boiler Ventilation: […] More

June 29, 2022, 9:19 am
in News, Road openings, Water & Electricity

Ireland’s first community broadband project

A community unable to benefit from the National Broadband Plan came together to deliver its own Fibre To The Home (FTTH) network. Over the years, communities across Ireland have built renewable energy farms to benefit from green electricity and lower energy bills. They’ve set up group water schemes, mini wastewater treatment plants that serve communities […] More

June 22, 2022, 7:53 am
in Budget & Financing, Building methods, Choosing an architectural designer, Collating your ideas, Podcast, Pre design, SB+ Podcasts, Working out your requirements

Ep51 – Modern Building Methods in Ireland Part 2

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 Favourite More

June 14, 2022, 11:31 am
in Advice, Choosing external finishes, Choosing windows and doors, Design, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, On site, Other key structural decisions, Pre design, Windows and doors: Watchpoints

Window furniture: from locks to hinges

Frames are an important part of making your windows and doors secure, but crucial too are their locks, latches, screws and hinges. When it comes to window and door furniture, you don’t have to settle for the factory standard, but remember that, unless you specify otherwise when placing your order, that’s exactly what you’ll get. […] More

June 8, 2022, 11:31 am
in Budget & Financing, Building methods, Choosing an architectural designer, Collating your ideas, Podcast, Pre design, SB+ Podcasts, Working out your requirements

Ep50 – Modern Building Methods in Ireland Part 1

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 […] More

May 29, 2022, 7:51 pm