This is the story of a beautiful family house built from concrete in Athlone. “We were building close to my family home so the key for us was to build once and build forever. A key choice for us was concrete because of the durability and the longevity of the build. We were also building […] More
Whether building or buying a house, a key question that may not be obvious at first is what is my house made of? We can be easily influenced by the location, the interior finishes and obviously the price. However, do we actually ask about the structure or the fabric of the house? What are the […] More
External and internal concrete walls along with concrete first floors can greatly improve your home’s energy efficiency. Heat can be lost through the floor, walls and roof of your home which is a waste of energy and money. Concrete floor and wall construction along with current high standards of insulation provide an energy efficient home, […] More
There’s one thing you need to consider in relation to comfort and it’s structure. We’ve all had the noisy neighbour. Floors, walls and even your stairs contribute to transferring noise around your home. Concrete slabs and internal walls have really high levels of sound insulation. In fact, concrete has the highest sound dampening properties of […] More
Can you connect to utilities? Self-build advisor John Corless highlights the need to check if water, electricity and broadband are easy to connect to, otherwise you could be faced with a heavy connection fee for the first two. Favourite More
As well as its strength, durability, fire resistance and thermal mass, another benefit of concrete is its flexibility. Older buildings can be transformed into modern designs with new architectural features. Here, an old shop is now part of a contemporary family home. The adaptability of concrete buildings mean that they can be easily converted and […] More
Is the site good enough? Self-build advisor John Corless explains what you need to check for when buying a site, or if you have one gifted to you. Favourite More
Episode 25: The kitchen requires a lot of advance planning, and a good budget, which is why many self-builders turn to kitchen companies to help them with design and installation. Here Neptune advises on how to go about it and whether an island is right for you. Favourite More
Episode 24: Carpets add a feel of luxury to any bedroom; here Mark McCallister Carpets explains the different types and how they are installed. Favourite More
Episode 23: There are many choices of floor coverings out there, with laminate and LVT two popular low maintenance options. We find out more about what they are and how they are installed. Favourite More
Episode 22: Interior design is essential to get right at the design stage of your build; here Hamilton Interiors shares top tips and advice. Favourite More
Episode 21: We chat with Stephen Blakely about the role of an interior designer, from working with the architect at the design stage to furniture choice and window treatment. Interior designers charge by the job, e.g. by the square foot as Stephen does to take account of the size of the house, but others may […] More
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