Episode 27 – Richard Sloan of Sonas Bathrooms and Gwen Kenny of Divine Design explain how to tackle bathroom design in a new build, what the process is and how to approach a renovation project. Favourite More
Episode 26: First time self-builder David Dobbs, who happens to be an estate agent, shares his experience getting planning permission from Wicklow County Council and running into some trouble with his main contractor. He talks about:– How the existing cottage on the site helped secure planning permission– His bungalow design tips to add light and […] More
Episode 25: The kitchen requires a lot of advance planning, and a good budget, which is why many self-builders turn to kitchen companies to help them with design and installation. Here Neptune advises on how to go about it and whether an island is right for you. Favourite More
Episode 24: Carpets add a feel of luxury to any bedroom; here Mark McCallister Carpets explains the different types and how they are installed. Favourite More
Episode 23: There are many choices of floor coverings out there, with laminate and LVT two popular low maintenance options. We find out more about what they are and how they are installed. Favourite More
Episode 22: Interior design is essential to get right at the design stage of your build; here Hamilton Interiors shares top tips and advice. Favourite More
Episode 21: We chat with Stephen Blakely about the role of an interior designer, from working with the architect at the design stage to furniture choice and window treatment. Interior designers charge by the job, e.g. by the square foot as Stephen does to take account of the size of the house, but others may […] More
Episode 20: Building your home with stone usually means building a cavity wall with the external leaf solid stone. This method tends to have costly knock on effects on the foundations, window detailing and structural supports such as lintels. An alternative is to use stone cladding, or slices of stone stuck to blockwork with an […] More
Episode 19: Building with solid oak is a skill that takes years to master; Grace Design walks us through how to use oak in your self-build project and what to look out for at the design and construction stages. Favourite More
Episode 18: Cross Laminated Timber construction is a new and exciting method of building, now often used on commercial building and some notable examples of self-builds. But there is a lower cost and lighter weight version known as HBE. iDomus Construction explains the ins and outs of both systems. Favourite More
Episode 17: A question on every self-builder’s mind is “How am I going to build this thing?” It’s a key decision to make and one that will follow you throughout the design stage; in fact each method will require a tweaking of the plans to optimise how cost effective it is to build. This episode […] More
Episode 16: It is a legal obligation for the homeowner (self-builder) to be on top of health and safety on site and there are procedures in place for you to prove that to the authorities. However, it is not mandatory to take out self-build insurance. Insurance is in fact a safety net that will cover […] More
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