There will be a saving if you manage your house build yourself (direct labour) as opposed to hiring a main contractor to manage the build; here we look at how much you can really save with a self-build. In this article we cover: What’s the price difference between a direct labour vs contractor led project […] More
We’re all familiar with our carbon footprints, but how about your water footprint, or the amount of water it takes to make construction products? And what can you do at home to minimise the amount of water you use? In this article we cover: Embodied water There’s quite a bit of information out there around […] More
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) is a whole-house ventilation system and is considered to be the most energy efficient method of ventilating an airtight home. Here BEAM Vacuum & Ventilation explains the ins and outs of MVHR. New build homes are now being built to be as airtight as possible. Increased insulation and double […] More
The ROI Department of Housing has published a new technical guide to help homeowners renovate their old building, built before the 1940s. In this article we cover: A new guidance document aimed at helping homeowners renovate their historic properties emphasises that energy performance upgrades should be approached with caution, stating that “the integrity of our […] More
How do you know if you’re truly building an eco-house? There are the checklists to help you get there. In this article we cover: How can you prove you’ve built an eco home? Through environmental certification. For construction projects, certification tends to take into account the design and construction stages but occupancy can be evaluated […] More
What is renewable energy and what are your options if you’re building new or renovating in Ireland today? In this article we cover: The United Nations defines renewable energy as energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. That means harnessing power from the sun, wind, and […] More
DJ Ramsdale of DJ Build Estimations updates us on builds costs in Ireland at Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Limerick in January 2024. He covers: Favourite More
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) Annual Residential Market Monitor suggests that residential property prices are expected to stay steady for a while, adding that conveyancing is becoming a concern as are ‘false hope’ vacant property grants. In this article, we cover: Estate agents in the survey predict a small 1 per cent increase […] More
Eco-builder Harrison Gardner opens his doors to chat about his home renovation project in Co Clare. In this article we cover: Embarking on a 10 year journey across the globe, Australian eco-builder and host of RTÉ’s Build Your Own series, Harrison Gardner sought to master a diverse array of alternative build techniques. It was in […] More
As the supply of homes for sale in ROI halved in 2023 as compared to the pre-Covid average, reports show eco-friendly rural homes are the most popular buys. In this article we cover: ‘Lifestyle’ choices are driving the price of rural homes up in ROI, according to a property market analyst Geowox, while daft.ie’s 2023 […] More
The 12 variables that determine whether the home you’re planning to build or renovate is sustainable. In this article we cover: This summer stood out as one of the hottest on record, marked by devastating floods and raging wildfires across various regions of Europe. These alarming events have underscored, once again, the urgency for a […] More
You guide to creating a build schedule, what information it should contain and when to change it. In this article we cover: The first articles in this series led up to this point of actually producing the programme. Here are the elements included in a construction programme or build schedule. Gantt Chart Unless you actually […] More