Things to bear in mind when building your floors if you plan to use underfloor heating. In this article we cover: Underfloor heating (UFH) systems usually consist of hot water being fed through a series of pipes, known as a wet system, but can also utilise electric heating mats. Either system is used to heat […] More
Rodger O’Connor of ROC Energy explains when it makes sense to apply for an energy grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, including: Favourite More
Working with concrete to make your floors requires a bit of prep, to protect it from the weather and from chemical or environmental conditions. In this article we cover: Defects in concrete can occur because of chemical and environmental conditions, construction or workmanship issues, or unexpected loading. A gradual loss of performance is usually described […] More
Some common mistakes tend to crop up on site when working with concrete; here’s what most commonly causes construction issues in Ireland. In this article we cover: Many problems with concrete can be designed out during the design phase. If the design and specification processes are properly carried out, it’s then down to the contractors […] More
A new report shows rural regions rely on self-builds for new housing stock. In this article we cover: Completions and commencements are at record levels in ROI, and self-builds are propping up the mortgage market in rural regions, according to a new report. The Banking & Payments Federation Ireland‘s Housing Market Monitor for the first […] More
The ROI grant available to replace old lead pipes in Irish homes is now open to all. In this article we cover: All homes built before the 1980s that contain lead pipes can avail of a grant to replace them, thanks to a grant scheme introduced in 2016. As of December 2022 the scheme is […] More
Families find that grouping the living room, dining room and kitchen all into the one room is a layout that suits contemporary lifestyles, but there are some drawbacks too. Here we make the case against open plan designs. In this article we cover: For many years the dream has been to make the most of […] More
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) updated its guide to working with an architect for 2023. In this article we cover: The RIAI’s new guide for working with an architect has been updated to include the RIAI’s 2030 Climate Challenge, a voluntary pledge to design buildings to have as little impact as possible on […] More
Find out what type of concrete is suitable for the job at hand. In this article we cover: Specifying the concrete you’re going to be using can be a complex task, with five main methods for compiling the specifications. These are known as designated, designed, prescribed, standardised and proprietary. Every project has different requirements, so […] More
New climate data for thermal modelling of buildings will help building designers better take into account overheating. In this article we cover: Recent modelling data from Met Éireann shows that overheating is “expected to become more severe in the future”. On new builds, typical ways to prevent overheating include designing the house so that large […] More
Here’s what you need to know to build structural timber floors, starting with understanding the potential strength of this renewable material. In this article we cover: Building our homes up off the ground is standard practice in the majority of the world’s wet or humid countries. It protects us from rising damp and rainwater runoff […] More
Why aren’t we building our homes with natural materials? Which eco products are worth the investment in Ireland today? Eco architect Tom Woolley finds out. In this article we cover: Most people want to live in a healthy, thermally efficient house. But when they start researching how to build such a house, they often find […] More