How much you will pay to build your home will depend on how much builders are charging; here we look at tender costs and how tenders are put together. In this article we cover: To get a price for your construction drawings with exact specifications (including lighting schedule, heating system, ventilation, etc.) you could get […] More
Barry McCarron explains how he went about renovating his home in Co Monaghan to the passive house retrofit methodology, EnerPHit. In this article we cover: Overview House size before: 125sqmHouse size after: 188sqmBedrooms: 4Heating: air to water heat pumpVentilation: centralised mechanical with heat recovery Construction: blockwork (cavity wall)BER before: D2 (energy consumption of 289.86 kWh/ […] More
How much it costs to build a house in Ireland in 2023, according to the Selfbuild Cost Survey. In this article we cover: It’s true that relying on average costs to figure out what a self-build will cost you will only lead to confusion and disappointment. But we still thought we’d share what other self-builders […] More
Having lived in Australia, single level, open plan living was what Anne and Niall Jordan wanted from their Kilkenny renovation and extension project. In this article we cover: Anne and Niall had a clear idea of what they wanted for their first family home. Six years of apartment living in Australia had instilled a huge […] 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
What lies beneath the finished floor surface is something every self-builder needs to consider; here are your floor construction choices. In this article we cover Naturally when people look at a floor, they see only the surface, not the construction underneath. But designing a floor requires thinking not only about how it will look but […] More
Paul Lawford explains how he built his tiny home on wheels from scratch, including: Favourite More
How much your plumbing and electrics will cost when building new or renovating in Ireland today. In this article we cover: Systems that run the house, from keeping your home supplied with fresh air to those that you use to heat both hot and cold water and the spaces you live in, from heating to […] More
Here’s why build costs tend to run out of control, and how to guard against it happening on your project. In this article we cover: For small developers, the cost of building a house will often only represent half of their financial outlay. They’ll have to secure a plot, which is about a third of […] More
Jonathan Byrne of Co Longford chose an Avrame timber frame kit because it gave him cost certainty and a turnkey finish. Alan Rowan of TuffHouse Eco Build got a call one day from a prospective client, who’d gotten his contact details from a happy customer. “Jonathan came to me recommended from word of mouth,” says […] More
TDs and local councillors in ROI are pushing to change planning rules, to support the uptake of log homes. In this article we cover: Independent TDs want to see log homes given planning permission, in a bid to build more durable, energy efficient and cost effective homes in rural Ireland. In most rural areas in […] More
Check out the homes that have won awards in 2023, from the Federation of Master Builder Awards to architects’ awards. In this article we cover: Celebrating building excellence in NI is the biennial Federation of Master Builder (FMB) Awards. The accolades this year went to a range of different house styles, from historical to modern. […] More
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