This County Down renovation and extension project consisted of upgrading a semi derelict house sitting on a site with amazing views. In this article we cover: Finding the perfect site with dream views is everything, especially for an avid gardener like Rhona Irvine of Co Down. The trick in this case was to give the […] More
Ken Gill’s rectangular self-built home in Co Down is low cost and energy efficient. In this article Ken talks about: In the coldest two weeks of January 2019 Ken only had to turn on the heat in the house for an hour. “Any bit of sun that gets into the house through the windows keeps […] More
Timber frame houses in Ireland are getting more and more popular and there are good reasons why. With many benefits for choosing the timber frame route, we bring you 18 beautiful timber frame houses based right here in Ireland. In this article we cover: 1 – County Tyrone Barrel Roof House Serial self-builders Eric and […] More
The first part in a series of articles by quantity surveyor Keith Kelliher helping you cost the specific elements of your self-build. At Self Build Live Dublin this past September in Citywest, I was approached by self-builders who had problems identifying their cost of building. Mostly at fault was the illogical yet widespread approach of […] More
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about self-building and how Selfbuild Ireland can help you on your journey. Q: What is a self-build? A: At Selfbuild we consider anyone undertaking significant work on their home or building new, to be a self-builder. The build route can be a mix of DIY and tradesmen, tradesmen project managed by […] More
With the price of photovoltaic (PV) modules falling significantly since 2009, by up to 80 per cent depending on installation type, it’s starting to really make sense to invest in solar. In this article we cover: Ireland actually enjoys a very healthy amount of solar radiation, not unlike that of the South of England. To […] More
(Click Here for Magazine Terms) 1. GENERAL The following terms and conditions shall be deemed part of any contract made between Applicants for Stand Space (hereafter called “the Exhibitor”) and the Organiser, SelfBuild Ireland Ltd. (hereafter called “the Organiser”) at any exhibition run by SelfBuild Ireland Ltd. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF EXHIBITOR AND EXHIBITS Exhibitor applications […] 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
We tackle the most debated topic outside of Brexit and rising property prices: how much does it cost to build in Ireland today? In this article we cover: A good analogy is to think of what a car costs per square foot. It’ll depend on whether it’s new or second hand, a people carrier or a […] More
You can extend without planning permission but there are five rules of thumb to follow. In this article, we cover: There are many rules to building an extension that doesn’t require planning permission, and you must abide to all of them. So if there’s only one piece of advice to give, that is to get design […] More
Your guide to planning for, and installing external wall insulation in your Irish home. In this article we cover: External Wall Insulation (EWI), which is also referred to as ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems) is a method of insulating the outside walls of either a new or existing house, and involves directly applying insulation […] More
Concrete is much more than a building material but if you plan to use it as a flooring solution, it’ll take time and dedication to make it look right. Here’s how. Long gone are the days of raw, unfinished concrete floor finishes, once the mainstay of commercial and industrial buildings. Now we can make the […] More
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