Les O’Donnell is a Chartered Architectural Technologist and structural engineer with over 30 years’ experience designing and supervising the construction of new builds. His practice, Landmark Designs, is based in Co Tyrone. All of the information contained in the guide is for information purposes only; professional guidance must be sought for your own specific project.
If you’re going to be building with timber frame, you’ll have to decide whether you build your walls with an open or closed panel system. In this article we cover: When designing the timber frame structure, it is really useful to consider which dimensions to use for the structural grid or layout in order to […] More
Timber frame homes are built so that moisture doesn’t go near the timber elements but how is timber treated to prevent moisture ingress – and how fire resistant is it? In this article we cover: The ecologically balanced first step approach to timber preservative is that if it doesn’t need it, don’t use it. Nevertheless, […] More
Find out what type of timber is used to build structural timber frame walls, from CLS to engineered wood. In this article we cover: As with all structural timber, whether the timber is coming to you via a builders’ merchants or a timber frame manufacturer, the timber producer’s stamps on every item of timber should […] More
What is timber frame, structural considerations, environmental considerations and how to design around the eco friendly building method. In this article we cover: Building your walls out of timber frame is, in most cases, environmentally friendly, provides flexibility in design, and quick to put up on site. In the world of self-building, timber frame most […] More
A handy checklist of what needs to be in place before you start organising your build schedule, and what to prepare yourself for. In this article we cover: By now, all of the information that you will need to create a working programme should have been covered during the design and preconstruction phases. But here’s […] More
What lies beneath the finished floor surface is something every self-builder needs to consider; here are your floor construction choices. In this article we cover Naturally when people look at a floor, they see only the surface, not the construction underneath. But designing a floor requires thinking not only about how it will look but […] More
Suspended floors are usually either made of timber or concrete with steel elements. Find out how they’re made and what to watch out for on site. In this article we cover: A suspended floor is one that’s built across walls, beams, columns or foundations, spanning across an open space or void underneath. Upper storey, intermediate […] More
Things to bear in mind when building your floors if you plan to use underfloor heating. In this article we cover: Underfloor heating (UFH) systems usually consist of hot water being fed through a series of pipes, known as a wet system, but can also utilise electric heating mats. Either system is used to heat […] More
So you want to schedule your build and take charge of the construction programme of your self-build project? Here, structural engineer and architectural technologist Les O’Donnell explains where to start. In this article we cover: Project management costs run around 10 to 15 per cent of the total build cost and sometimes maybe more, not […] More
Working with concrete to make your floors requires a bit of prep, to protect it from the weather and from chemical or environmental conditions. In this article we cover: Defects in concrete can occur because of chemical and environmental conditions, construction or workmanship issues, or unexpected loading. A gradual loss of performance is usually described […] More
Some common mistakes tend to crop up on site when working with concrete; here’s what most commonly causes construction issues in Ireland. In this article we cover: Many problems with concrete can be designed out during the design phase. If the design and specification processes are properly carried out, it’s then down to the contractors […] More
Find out what type of concrete is suitable for the job at hand. In this article we cover: Specifying the concrete you’re going to be using can be a complex task, with five main methods for compiling the specifications. These are known as designated, designed, prescribed, standardised and proprietary. Every project has different requirements, so […] More
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