The controversial tax on concrete products was rolled out in September 2023, with a last-minute exemption for precast products. In this article we cover: Precast products will not be subject to the 5 per cent Defective Concrete Products Levy (DCPL) introduced in September 2023, announced ROI Minister for Finance Michael McGrath. The DCPL will continue […] More
Why you need to go all in to reap the benefits of a passive house design. In this article we cover: I started my journey with the Passive House standard, as defined by the Passive House Institute in Germany, eight years ago in 2015. In this time, the most common question I’ve been asked by […] More
As the First Home Scheme opens to those building a new home, and with the Help to Buy scheme to be extended to 2026, ROI Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien says there’s now €100k in supports for self-builders. We look at the maths. In this article we cover: Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien told reporters […] More
Your choice of building method will have an impact on the cost of your walls; here we compare a bungalow and two storey house built for both blockwork and timber frame. In this article we cover: For cost purposes, external walls refer to the structure of the main external envelope of the property. In most […] More
20 to 30 per cent of build costs can now be financed by ROI state initiative, as the First Home Scheme extends to self-builders. In this article we cover: First-time self-builders are eligible to apply for the First Home Scheme from Wednesday 20th of September, 2023. Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien announced the First Home […] More
What you can expect to pay in joinery costs in Ireland today, including staircases, internal doors and inbuilt units. In this article we cover: Joinery costs: staircase structure The size, shape, position and layout of staircases, which taken with material choices, will lead to a variety of cost outcomes. The combined effect can result in […] More
How much your upper storey structural floors will cost, from the various types of joists to concrete options. In this article we cover: The cost of your structural floors is determined by several factors, including the material choice, sound insulation, thermal insulation, fire resistance, structural stability, and transfer of services. It is crucial to have […] More
Kitchen, bathroom, tiling, architraves/skirting and panelling costs for new build and renovation projects in Ireland today. In this article we cover: This is where costs start varying so much that they have absorbed any material price increases we’ve seen over the past three years. The key to rein these costs in is to be clear […] More
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
Barry McCarron, Chairman of the Passive House Association of Ireland, chats about doing up his family to make it energy efficient, including: More about the project here: selfbuildextendrenovate.co.uk/project/passive-house-retrofit-monaghan/ Favourite More
Groundwork costs refer to the preparation of land for future work; here we look at landscaping and ancillary costs. In this article we cover: Groundwork is the term given to the preparation of land for future work. This includes all of the site preparations, including those relating to digging for foundations. Your foundations could cost […] More
Flat versus pitched, bungalow versus two storey, warm versus cold roof, we look at the details of roofing costs. In this article we cover: Four factors influence the type of roof structure selected for a project: size and shape of the building, ridge height, appearance, and installation and maintenance requirements. All of these will have […] More
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