Having a storm proof roof and external façade is a necessity in Ireland but my wife Karen and I, like most people I think, were more focused on the aesthetics and ensuring that our house blended in to its surroundings, writes self-builder Brian Corry who is on a mission to build himself an eco house. […] More
Paul and Diane Gates stumbled across an old hilltop farmhouse for sale with jaw dropping views across Belfast’s cityscape. This unexpected discovery was a stroke of luck that followed them throughout their self-build journey. In this article we cover: Paul and Diane Gates hadn’t set out to become self-builders. Neither of them had built a […] More
Tiffany Brien’s major renovation project was inspired by her day job as an estate agent. In this article we cover: How did you find the house? It took time and patience. I was looking for a three-bed semi that wouldn’t take too much work, in Holywood at a certain price point. To help me decide […] More
Carpenter Chris Gillick constructed his family home with the “stick built” timber frame method. Here’s how he and his wife Serena did it in County Meath. In this article, Chris explains: Why did you decide to stick build the house from standard lengths of timber? It’s a method I’m familiar with. And to save money, […] More
Anthony Cash’s Belfast renovation project was partly funded by a little known VAT rebate. In this article we cover: Overview Renovation cost: £160,000 including kitchen at £20,000House value: in excess of £525,000House size before: 160sqmHouse size after: 212sqmBedrooms: 4Plot size: ¼ acreHeating system: natural gas condensing boiler, stove for living room space heatingBuild method: blockwork […] More
Securing planning permission in Co Wicklow took longer than building Luis Reis’ family home – in large part because it sits on a narrow infill site, sandwiched between two overlooking properties. In this article we cover: House size before: 179sqm Plot Size: 283sqmBER: A3Airtightness: 1.962m3/hr.sqm Costs: SIPs supplier cost approx. €350k which includes the €15k […] More
For Jason and Joanna Blake, this Co Antrim new build was all about tailoring it to their family’s lifestyle. And high on the wish list was the games room. In this article we cover: Overview Build cost: £210,000House size: 320 sqmPlot size: 2,000 sqmConstruction: 200mm cavity walls fully filled with EPS graphite beads, blockwork 100mm each side, internal finish […] More
As an engineer and one of the first to be on the building energy rating assessors’ database, Rodger O’Connor was on a mission to install renewables in his Co Cork new build. The questions was, which ones. How did you go about doing the energy calculations? My wife Louise and I wanted a spacious modern […] More
Gareth and Lesley McAuley’s extension project created a connection with the garden and increased the value of their home in Co Antrim. In this article Gareth and Lesley explain how they added value to their home with their extension, including: Overview House size before: 100sqmHouse size after: 150 sqmHouse cost (2014): £275,000Refurbishment and extension cost […] More
Giving free reign to an architect to design your new build pays off. And as Kerri Farrell found out, it’s not nearly as expensive as your might think. In this article we cover: Overview House size: 2,700 sqft Plot size: ¼ acreRoof: attic truss, breathable membrane, counter battened and 12×24 natural slate covering.Walls: 150mm cavity construction EPS bead […] More
Gillian and Seamus Brennan injected personality into their Co Carlow new build thanks to a clever H-shaped design and repurposed furniture. This article about Gillian and Seamus’ H-shaped new build in Co Carlow covers: Overview Walls: Cavity walls 125mm PIR board full fillRoof: 150mm PIR board between rafters with insulated (50mm PIR) plasterboard on ceilingFloor: […] More
Dan and Jessica Tynan share what it’s been like to build their Co Tipperary home themselves, from designing the house to building it. In this article we cover: Overview House: 2,850sqftPlot: 1 acre Why did you decide to build your Co Tipperary home yourself? Dan: I always wanted to build my house on this site. It’s on […] More