Basic advice for the Selfbuild community who are starting to build, extend or renovate.
1. Check whether you need planning permission You don’t necessarily have to get planning permission to extend your home but you need to tick all the boxes to qualify. There are restrictions on floor area (in ROI less than 40sqm), eaves height (in NI no more than 3m high), etc. If you have any doubt, […] More
Every house needs some way to deal with the waste water it generates from flushing the toilet, from showers, washing machines, and so on. Images from The EPA Code of Practice: Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (p.e.≤10) If you cannot connect to the mains wastewater network, then you will need an onsite […] More
The most widespread standard to building a house that doesn’t require a centralised heating system comes from the Passive House Institute in Germany. Here are the basic precepts. This article covers: To qualify as a passive house from the Passive House Institute in Germany, you need to heat your home with very little energy, roughly […] More
A bird’s eye view of the construction stage of your project. Depending on your budget, time, ability and interest you will decide on a project management route, whether architectural designer, main contractor (building contractor), project manager or direct labour. Even if you are taking a hands-off approach keep a diary of everything that you are […] More
Foundations support the weight of your house, here’s what you need to know about them. In this article we cover: Foundation design and performance depend on two factors, the nature of the ground on which they are placed and the load, which in the case of a house isn’t huge. For self-builds foundation design is […] More
As with all building elements, you must satisfy the requirements in the Building Regulations which includes making sure the product is NSAI Agrément (ROI) or BBA/LABC certified (NI). Then specify as much as you can afford to get the best possible U-value, above and beyond the current statutory requirements. Consult Technical Guidance Documents Part L […] More
Securing planning permission can be an uphill battle, here’s how it’s done and some tips on working with the planners. In this article we cover: Who needs planning permission? Those building a new house need planning permission, and those extending or who are changing the use of their house (e.g. garage converted to workshop for […] More
At the very beginning of your self-build project, before you turn a sod, you will need to go through these ten steps. 1. DETERMINE THE BUDGET Consider if you have or can raise the funds to finance all of the following: Site investigation/survey including percolation – this is an upfront cost you will have to […] More
Self-builders building new in NI are exempt from paying Value Added Tax, but not those based in ROI. Here are the details. VAT in the Republic Of Ireland Sites In the case of sites and one-off housing, the VAT treatment is dependent on whether or not the site is developed, and whether or not it is […] More
All building work needs to follow the rules set out in the Building Regulations. To help builders comply with the Building Regulations, which are set out in law in both NI and ROI, relevant government departments have published technical booklets which provide guidance for the most common cases. Your specific building project may however require […] More
Energy ratings exist throughout Europe and consist of a certificate that gives your house a grade, on an A to G scale, much like your washing machine or fridge (A being the best). In ROI they’re called Building Energy Ratings (BER) and in NI, Energy Performance Certificates (EPC). The same methodology (in NI Standard Assessment […] More
Top tips to secure planning permission whether you’re building new, extending or renovating in any of the 32 counties of Ireland. In this article we cover: 1. Read, consult and reference your local authority’s planning policy. In NI these are referred to as local development plans or area plans and in ROI county development plans […] More
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