Episode 9: Instagrammers Gillian and Seamus Brennan share the ups and downs of building their own home, from the design stage to furnishing it with upcycled furniture. Follow them on Instagram @hanselhousedesign Favourite More
Episode 7: Jason Taylor of Co Down chats about how he designed and managed his new build project and how he kept a rein on the budget; follow him on Instagram @grafficar Here’s the excel sheet Jason refers to in the podcast: Favourite More
Health & Safety is a fiendishly complicated area and your exact responsibilities as a self-builder will largely depend on how you choose to manage your project. Duties applicable to a self-build site can be divided into necessary documentation and practical measures. Documentation Remember that the overarching aim of these regulations is to keep everyone safe […] More
Orlean and Elton McCaffrey’s new build gave them more privacy, space and a house in which they could entertain family and friends, featuring a much coveted cinema room. In this article we cover: While Orlean and Elton McCaffrey loved the council house that they had bought in 2002, seven years ago they decided that they […] More
Building or extending a house generates a lot of waste, in the form of solids, liquids or sludges, all of which will cost money to dispose of. The first step therefore is to design waste out of your construction drawings, writes structural engineer and architectural designer Les O’Donnell. Whose job is it to dispose of […] More
A cottage renovation doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated, as Ray O’Foghlu learned on his project in Co Clare. Self-builder Ray O’Foghlu bought and renovated an old property in Co Clare. He shares what he learned along the way, including: A few years ago, sick of renting I decided to buy a small property. […] More
When disaster strikes sometimes you have no option but to carry out that much dreamed about renovation project, as Denis and Sarah Murphy of Co Meath experienced with their quick turnaround renovation. In this article we cover: Overview House size before: 248sqm House size after: 280sqmBuild cost excluding garden: €150,000 When we came back from […] More
If you are employing a builder, it’s common practice to have a contract to spell out the terms of your agreement so make sure you both sign on the dotted line. Like any insurance policy, you don’t really want it until it’s needed, but a written contract isa form of insurance which can be used […] More
Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), the operator of Ireland’s gas network, has just launched a new online version of its Dial Before You Dig mapping service. The new online service, which complements the existing Dial Before You Dig phone and email service, will make it easier than ever to check whether there are underground gas pipes […] More
Regardless of the size of your project, builder’s providers will help you find what you need, cost the materials and in some cases, even provide design services. In this article we cover: What is a builder’s provider or builder’s merchant, and where to find one Choosing the right builder’s provider Services offered by different builder’s […] More
Whether you’re building a totally new house or doing a substantial makeover you may need to think very carefully about how and where you live while it’s all happening. Building a house from scratch or doing massive alterations to your existing home can be both exciting and terrifying at the same time. But unlike other […] More
Most self-builders do a lot of homework, possibly involving months of time, energy and money, before they even get to the tendering stage. Professionals have been involved, the planners had their say, topographical surveys done, bats and Roman ruins ruled out. Yet we can still get terrible surprises when the quotes come in. Many people […] More
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