Astrid Madsen is the editor of the SelfBuild magazine. Email astrid.madsen@selfbuildextendrenovate.co.uk
Attic and cavity insulation grants almost triple while solar and heating control grants remain unchanged, as eligibility criteria widened to pre-2021 homes for renewables. Grant amounts for insulation upgrades and for installing renewables have been increased in ROI, as announced by Taoiseach Micháel Martin on February 8, 2022. The body responsible for administering the grants, […] More
Tips to help you find the perfect bathroom style for any type of home, including choosing materials and how to tackle colour. In this article we cover: Received wisdom has been to go for a matching bathroom style throughout the room, be it contemporary, farmhouse or Victorian style, but there has been a breath of […] More
The ROI government plans to make serviced sites in regional towns and villages available to self-builders. The ROI Department of Housing says a pilot programme will be initiated as part of a Croí Cónaithe (Towns) fund, to “facilitate the making available of some 2,000 sites for homes by 2025, depending upon demand, and to design […] More
Aidan and Julie-Ann Rainey built their family home in the Co Down countryside, a charred timber and stone new build, driven by a need for more space. In this article we cover: Built on family land, this new build project was a labour of love. “When we decided to self-build, we were staying in a […] More
New buildings will have to meet “net zero” standards by 2026/27, and new energy grants for existing homes will be introduced this year (2022). A one-stop shop for homeowners seeking energy advice, “a significant pilot domestic retrofit scheme in 2022”, and net zero building regulations for 2026 are all part of NI’s Path to Net […] More
For Fiona and David McKee, an eco new build was the obvious way to go… In this article Fiona and David chat about their new build project, including: Overview House size: 2,200 sqftPlot size: 1 acreBedrooms: 5Build method: blockwork cavity walls (thermal blocks)Heating: oil boiler, two wood burning stovesVentilation: mechanical with heat recoveryEPC (SAP): […] More
The ROI Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) has finally been announced – more than three years behind schedule – so you will now be paid to export electricity to the grid. In December 2021, ROI Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan announced the MSS roll out with the launch of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff, […] More
The ROI Department of Housing is in the process of putting the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) on a statutory footing from 2024. This means that all entities providing building services will have to register with CIRI from 2024. Home builders and builders of non-residential buildings will have to register first, then the various trades. […] More
Michael Daniels shares how his semi open plan kitchen layout embraces the room’s large number of windows and doors, both internal and external. In this article Michael covers: The design of the house in general came about from a lot of thinking, consideration and travelling the country to view different types of building designs. My […] More
This modern new build shows that a contemporary design in the open countryside can get planning permission, as long as it’s well thought out. In this article we cover: Self-builders in ROI often think a contemporary, or otherwise striking, design in the open countryside is unlikely to get planning permission. Yet Niamh Duffy and Gary Jordan’s […] More
When deciding what kitchen to go for, you’ll need to consider what cookers are out there and which extractor fans they go with. In this article: Hobs Nowadays most kitchens will separate the oven from the hob, although hobs can be integrated in a range or simpler cooker combination. When separate from the oven, […] More
There’s a lot of electrics in the kitchen, from appliances to sockets. But music systems and undercounter and inbuilt lighting could also readily be added to your list. You need to know what you want, and where, at the earliest design stage. Lighting On self-builds, hiring a lighting designer is not the norm but […] More
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