Astrid Madsen is the editor of the SelfBuild magazine. Email astrid.madsen@selfbuildextendrenovate.co.uk
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 […] More
We look at bathroom costs for both new builds and existing homes; plus how to keep the budget under control with a step by step guide. In this article, we cover: It seems odd that a room where you spend so little time when you’re at home can involve so much expense per square metre […] More
Ventilation, heating and lighting are vital to get right if you want a bathroom that’s comfortable to be in. That’s because poor or underpowered lighting will make the experience miserable, as will a cold or stuffy bathroom. Accommodating wiring isn’t usually as inconvenient as accommodating pipework but, again, having a precise location of where […] More
In the increasingly complex world of tools, plant and machinery used in the construction industry, it’s unrealistic for most of us to own very much at all. The answer is to hire whatever we need. he plant and tool hire business is a multi-billion-dollar industry that has grown in complexity and scope decade by decade. […] More
Watchpoints: Foundations, subfloors and screeds – Self-build advisor John Corless walks through what to expect from the first stages of building and what to look out for. Favourite More
Sara Gunn-Smith and Craig Smith couldn’t believe their luck when they stumbled upon a semi-detached property in their neighbourhood big enough for their young family to live in. But there was work involved to upgrade the house. In this article we cover: “Before we bought our forever home we had lived in this neighbourhood for […] More
This new build energy efficient home in Co Cork shows how a simple and clever design will deliver on style and function. In this article we cover: Sometimes the only way to find a site is to see if a local farmer might be open to selling a field. That’s precisely how, after a three […] More
The Builder’s Companion is a two part guide to building your home, starting with the pre design stage all the way through snagging and completion certs. The author Philip Fitzpatrick is a serial self-builder, having built seven homes for his family over the years. He’s also a chartered surveyor and builder. This UK & Ireland […] More
Architect Zeno Winkens of Winkens Architecture chats about 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 […] More
People continue to flock to the countryside to buy and build, contributing to about half of the property price increases witnessed during the pandemic. A Bank of England analysis of the 13 per cent rise in UK property prices from June 2020 to June 2021 shows three factors have contributed to the race for space […] More
Most grant aided contractors do not show “good performance”, as the ROI government plans to invest €8 billion to 2030 in home energy upgrades. A record number of contractors were removed from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) contractors register in 2021, according to statistics supplied to Selfbuild by the SEAI. 291 contractors were […] More
Despite grant supports, retrofits continue to cost in the tens of thousands of euros. Experts’ estimates of whole house energy efficiency upgrades have increased significantly in the past four years. Despite the recent increase in energy upgrade grant amounts, a whole house energy upgrade continues to require an out-of-pocket investment of tens of thousands of […] More
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