Substructure costs refer to everything below finished floor level; here we look at your foundations costs. In this article we cover: The cost of the substructure is influenced by various factors, including the type of soil (this determines if you need the simplest, cheapest foundation or a more expensive option), level of the water table […] More
What you will end up paying to build or extend your home goes beyond the bricks and mortar; here are the non build costs to take into account. In this article we cover: The site If you don’t have one already, it’s easy to spend a third or more of your entire budget on the […] More
The new insurance reform law rebalances the duty of care between trespassers and owners, but will it lead to cheaper self-build insurance? In this article we cover: The ROI government recently introduced an insurance reform law to rebalance the duty of care between trespassers and owners. We ask the experts how it could impact self-builders, […] 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
In this episode, David Magnier chats about his self-build in Co Wicklow: Favourite More
Self-builders in ROI are losing out from a lack of building control officers in local authorities; TD Eoin Ó Broin’s latest book spells out how we got to this point. This book review of Eoin Ó Broin’s Defects: Living with the Legacy of the Celtic Tiger covers: Poor building practices and defects tend to be […] More
Eoin Ó Broin, a TD who’s written a book called Defects, chats through the issue of quality control when building a house in ROI. He talks about: Eoin was also rapporteur for the Oireachtais Joint Committee on Housing, Planning & Local Government’s report published in December 2017, entitled “Safe as Houses? A Report on Building Standards, […] More
Johnathan from Ballantine Building Solutions answers questions about ICF and how it could benefit your build. Find out more at Ballantine Building Solutions, Supplier Hub 37A Upper Dunmurry Lane, Belfast, BT17 0AA +44 (0) 28 90 686756 info@ballantinebuildingsolutions.com This post is sponsored content and was recorded at Selfbuild Live, Belfast in September 2021. Favourite More
To make your site secure, when building in Ireland, you will need to follow a few simple steps. In this article, we cover: It’s an uncomfortable fact that theft from building sites is common. All self-builders who’ve run their own site will have lost power tools and small pieces of plant. And some far more […] More
All tradesmen who are not employed by a construction firm will have to register with the Construction Industry Register Ireland. We cover: When the registration process opens Who is expected to register What to expect from the registration process Controversy around the register The Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) was put on a statutory footing […] More
Bringing together 25 years of experience project managing extensions and renovations, architect and interior designer Denise O’Connor recently published The Optimise Home Renovation Planner. The planner is a working guide to coach homeowners through the renovation process with tips and advice gathered from her experience working on hundreds of projects. “Always remember it’s a vicious […] More
How David and Christine Adams’ contemporary new build house came in £20k under budget. In this article David and Christine Adams share their experience building their new home, including: I grew up on the farm, and my plan was always to move back home,” says David. “A few years after Christine and I got married, […] More