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in Advice, Basics, Choosing external finishes, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Roofing & External finishes: Watchpoints

Exterior Finishes: Charred Timber

Shou Sugi Ban, or charred timber, can provide a contemporary finish to your self-build both inside and out. Also known as Yakisugi, Shou Sugi Ban is a term used to describe the ancient Japanese art of charring timber with fire. The United States, Australia, New Zealand, and many countries throughout Europe have seen a massive […] More

by Sasha Stewart March 19, 2019, 1:19 pm
in Advice, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Heat emitters, Interior Advice, Interiors, On site, Ventilation and heating systems: Watchpoints

Smart heating for your home

Adjusting your heating controls can have the single biggest effect on the amount of energy you use in the home; here’s what you need to know about smart heating. In this article we cover: The factors influencing heat and warmth are specific to each human being, depending on age, fitness levels and even moods. Within […] More

by Paul O'Reilly December 4, 2018, 3:48 pm
in Advice, Design, Heating systems

Biomass burners

Biomass is organic matter used as a fuel. It covers everything from fish oil and bone meal to wood and energy crops; for your home it’s likely to mean a log, wood chip or a wood pellet burning boiler or stove as other fuel sources are not yet feasible on a small scale. Almost everyone […] More

by Tony Traill December 4, 2018, 3:06 pm
in Advice, Choosing the kitchen, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Interior Advice, Interiors, Kitchen and bathroom designs, On site

Tailored Kitchen Design

The kitchen is nowadays at the centre of family life but for the self-builder it’s also at the heart of the budget. Here are the basics to design it successfully. It is a truth universally acknowledged – among kitchen designers, anyway – that kitchen planning for new builds should take place before anything is built, […] More

by Marion McGarry December 4, 2018, 2:05 pm
1 Comment
in Advice, Choosing the bathrooms, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Interior Advice, Interiors, Kitchen and bathroom designs, On site

Bathroom Design Tips

Top 5 tips to get you thinking about bathroom design: when to start planning, what to prioritise and to how to be budget savvy. In this article we cover: Because of its size the bathroom is often neglected and left last to plan, especially in a new build. Too often we just go out and […] More

by Deirdre Coleman November 22, 2018, 2:50 pm
4 Comments
in Block, Bungalow, Connacht, Design, New Build, Projects, Securing planning permission, Self-build Projects

Co Mayo bungalow with tricky planning permission

The site Keith and Romina McGreal chose to build their bungalow on in Co Mayo required an Environmental Impact Statement to secure planning permission. In this article we cover: “When we decided to build we were living in a three bed semi detached house; with two children space was getting tight,” says Keith. “We also […] More

by Astrid Madsen November 1, 2018, 2:32 pm
2 Comments
in Block, Bungalow, Design, Extension/Renovation Projects, Extensions & Renovations, Projects, Ventilation

How James got rid of damp and mould

James McIntyre’s solution to mould and mildew was a whole house mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. When and how was your home built? Our bungalow was built with blockwork in 1985 to the insulation and ventilation requirements of the time, approved by Building Control. The house was built on a sheltered site. We carried […] More

by Astrid Madsen August 22, 2018, 2:39 pm
in Advice, Basics, Design, Interior Advice, Interiors, Ventilation

How to deal with damp?

Different types of damp and how to deal with it. The most common source of damp in our wet and humid climate is condensation, and it happens when warm, moisture-laden air hits a colder surface. The amount of water held in the air rises and falls with room temperature so when warm air cools, water […] More

by Astrid Madsen August 21, 2018, 2:25 pm
2 Comments
in Advice, Design, Heating systems

Your guide to solar PV panels that generate electricity

Your guide to installing PV panels in Ireland including types of systems, sizing, installation and battery options. This article covers: Benefits of PV What a PV system looks like Finding the right size PV system for your home Storing excess electricity Battery types, ratings and capacity, lifetime and AC DC coupling The ROI Department of […] More

by Astrid Madsen July 31, 2018, 11:40 am
in Advice, Choosing windows and doors, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Interior Advice, Interiors

Double versus triple glazing

There’s a debate around the need for triple glazing on the side of the house that’s facing south. Some argue that double glazing is more effective in areas that are most exposed to the sun while others say triple glazed should be installed all around. Here are the pros and cons. If you have a […] More

by Aleyn Chambers July 27, 2018, 1:53 pm
in Advice, Design, Designing the outside space

Orientation: putting your house where it belongs

Orientation is about where to position your house, how to angle it and how to make best use of the site you have. Your architectural designer will help you decide the orientation of your home – that is, where to position it and how to angle it on your site. This will be done in […] More

by Art McCormack July 26, 2018, 3:11 pm
in Block, Design, Extension/Renovation Projects, Extensions & Renovations, Heating systems, Munster, Projects, Self-build Projects, Two Storey

‘It takes 40 cows to heat the house in winter’

How Denise and Matt Donoghue’s research led them to devise an innovative heating and hot water system. When Denise and Matt got married over a decade ago they set up their base on Matt’s family agricultural holdings, and lived in the farmhouse that had been on the land for over 100 years. The couple carried […] More

by Astrid Madsen July 26, 2018, 9:41 am

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