Tony Casey always loved going down to the waterway at the end of his garden, so when retirement loomed he decided to build his dream art deco house beside it. In this article sasoned self-builder Tony covers: Overview House size: 3,000 sqftPlot size: 1/2 acresBuild cost including fees: around €500kBuilding method: ICF “We bought a […] More
How James and Rhea Kipling of Co Antrim undertook a light filled renovation project upon returning home from Australia. In this article, James and Rhea cover: House size before: 214 sqmHouse size after: 227 sqmPlot size: 280 sqmBuild cost: £50,000 including kitchen and landscapingHouse value: in the region of £400,000 “Our family home here in […] More
Emmanuelle Quinlivan of Co Cork had to juggle tricky soil conditions with her desire to build a passive house. Overview House size: 360 sqmSite size: 1 acreBuild cost: €367,000House value: €420,000BER: A2Airtightness: 0.4 ACH @50Pa Four years ago Emmanuelle was looking for an antidote to the damp, draughty and hard to heat home she was living in. It was only when […] More
Fire, theft, water damage, what this 19th Century house lived through reads like an insurance claim gone mad. Saving it from the brink were Wendy and David Campbell of Co Down. In this article we cover: Overview Site size: 1.5 acresHouse size: 4,500 sqft Starting their own business was perhaps the best training Wendy and David could […] More
How Fiona and Cormac Mitchell’s dream self-build in Co Cork turned into a nightmare. The good news is, there’s a happy ending. In this article we cover: Overview House size: 370 sqmGarage size: 190 sqmSite size: 0.45 hectaresGround floor: 150mm PIR insulation, 150mm concrete and 75mm screed.First floor: Precast slab with 75mm screed.Walls: Outer leaf 100mm concrete block, 150mm platinum bonded […] More
Thinking of buying a house to renovate? Here’s an architect-led project that lays out how to do it on a budget. In this article we cover: Overview Original house: 120 sqmExtension: 24.5 sqmPurchase cost (2012): £140,000Construction cost: £36,000Total project cost: £58,000 including professional and application fees, kitchen and bathrooms, finishes, full garden works, lighting, appliances, etc.House value: £250,000 Thinking of buying […] More
Stunning views, a family connection and the prospect of an original design prompted Lory Higgins, his partner Sandra and their young family to leave Dublin and set up home in Co Wexford. In this article we cover: The farmhouse Lory grew up in was typical in many ways, in its rectilinear courtyard layout and small […] More
When going on holidays, rented accommodation can represent a big part of the budget; so instead of being out of pocket why not make the most of the home you’ve built or renovated? Irish home exchangers guide you through the process of swapping homes… When building your home, did you consider the possibility of home […] More
When going on holidays, rented accommodation can represent a big part of the budget; so instead of being out of pocket why not make the most of the home you’ve built or renovated? Irish home exchangers guide you through the process of swapping homes… When building your home, did you consider the possibility of home […] More
When going on holidays, rented accommodation can represent a big part of the budget; so instead of being out of pocket why not make the most of the home you’ve built or renovated? Irish home exchangers guide you through the process of swapping homes… When building your home, did you consider the possibility of home […] More
A husband and wife team leads this architectural practice; it’s therefore no wonder they built themselves a carbon neutral home – replete with photovoltaic roof slates – to reflect their contemporary style and countryside location… In this article we cover: This article focuses on the countryside home of architect Nicola Waddington RSUA/RIBA in Co Armagh. […] More
A successful renovation and extension transformed this sloping house into one that makes the most of its Co Antrim views. In this article we cover: Overview House size before: 138 sqmHouse size after: 222 sqmPlot size: 3,575 sqmWalls: mainly existing 100mm cavity walls which were continued; all pumped with EPS insulation beads to achieve a U-value of 0.28W/sqmKRoof: 500mm fibreglass […] More
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