Tips on Building Your Own Home – Quantity surveyor Lisa O’Brien, on behalf of the Irish Concrete Federation, shares her advice and tips before you start building your home. Favourite More
Can I rely on the Heat Recovery Ventilation system to heat, or even cool, my house? Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) only recovers heat from air leaving the house and pre-warms the incoming air. HRV, in its basic form, does not add any heat in winter or subtract any heat (cooling) in summer. It is possible […] More
Can heat pumps provide cooling, to deal with overheating on warm summer days? Yes, advanced heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling. Surprisingly, cooling can be provided with the correct heat pump control solution via the underfloor heating. The control system watches over temperature and humidity within the house, providing a sufficient amount of […] More
I understand airtightness does a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of insulating the house and keeping it warm. But I’m worried about moisture management. If the house is really well sealed up and fully airtight, will the airtightness membrane allow the building fabric to breathe, and control moisture? A little bit of moisture […] More
Environmentally friendly solutions for water management including domestic wastewater treatment and rainwater harvesting. For over 50 years, the GRAF brand, a German based, family owned business founded in 1962, has been synonymous with high-quality plastic products; developing, manufacturing, and marketing an extensive range of products for water resourcemanagement. GRAF products are environmentally friendly solutions, with […] More
When a sewage treatment system is required for your home build site, the option you choose depends on whether primary, secondary, or tertiary treatment levels are required. This is determined having had a percolation test and site assessment carried out. Primary septic tank system Septic tanks are used when site percolation is good— the Chieftain […] More
Lumi Windows has increased its range of products to bring you a whole house solution, adapted to every project, from new build to renovation, and to every budget, with no loss of look or impact. all-glass windows Lumi Windows are best known for their sleek and stylish appearance, thanks to their flush, bonded external glass […] More
An energy efficient, quick and cost effective method to build your home. The Ceramic Houses are made of ceramic lightweight concrete wall panels, which include proprietary silicate materials that are naturally fire proof (A1 fire rating) and provide excellent acoustic properties (45dB). The wall panels, along with the roof structure, are made […] More
Installation of an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System This video is a timelapse showing the installation of a BIOROCK non-electric Onsite Wastewater Treatment System. The system can be installed on new builds or as a replacement for an exisitng septic tank. This BIOROCK advanced Secondary Treatment system requires no electricity to produce excellent effluent quality. The […] More
An advice and opinion column brought to you by Kingspan Klargester. “In the 1980s, 500 of Irish rivers were described as having pristine water quality conditions. Today the number is 20,” commented Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan while speaking on Newstalk’s Breakfast Business show in November 2020. The Environmental Protection Agency […] More
Walk around this 3D model of a substantial home designed to capture the views from the South West aspect which is at the front of the building. The views are cleverly sectioned off to ensure the living space and outdoor private spaces capture afternoon and evening light. This house also boasts a second floor (so […] More
Walk around this 3D model of a chic contemporary house in a suburban setting with beautiful river views to the South. Design challenges include exploiting views and light at the front as well as dealing with a sloped and confined site. The roof provides maximum height whilst being mindful of neighbouring houses and planning restrictions. […] More
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