Design Archives - Page 6 of 8

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in Advice, Construction drawings, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, On site, Quality control inspections

The ‘opt out’ guide to building control

Confused by ROI’s opt-out option for self-builders? We’ve asked Building Control officers to answer your questions. In this article, we cover: What the Building Control regulations expect of you when you are building or extending The need for building regulations compliance Who needs to sign off on what What your responsibilities are as the owner […] More

by Astrid Madsen October 18, 2017, 3:15 pm
in Advice, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Heat emitters, Interior Advice, On site, Ventilation and heating systems: Watchpoints

Piping Hot: Underfloor Heating

For many self-builders and home improvers underfloor heating (UFH) is now the preferred method of emitting heat, but it’s a good idea to get to know how it works to get the most (the lowest energy bills possible) out of your system. You may remember UFH from the 1960s, when it was installed with inadequate […] More

by Astrid Madsen October 18, 2017, 11:47 am
6 Comments
in Advice, Basics, Design, Securing planning permission

Selfbuild guide to planning permission

Securing planning permission can be an uphill battle, here’s how it’s done and some tips on working with the planners. In this article we cover: Who needs planning permission? Those building a new house need planning permission, and those extending or who are changing the use of their house (e.g. garage converted to workshop for […] More

by Brendan Buck October 17, 2017, 2:03 pm
4 Comments
in Advice, Choosing an architectural designer, Pre design

MEET THE EXPERT: healycornelius design

Firmly established in the London architectural scene since 2004, the award-winning practice healycornelius design is a company with Irish roots that recently expanded its operations to the South West of Ireland. We catch up with Managing Director Niall Healy and Regional Director Michael O’Keeffe to learn their views on a rapidly changing industry. Why did you pursue a career in architectural technology? Niall Healy: I loved making and […] More

by Astrid Madsen September 14, 2017, 10:16 am
2 Comments
in Advice, Design, Heating systems, Selfbuild Q&A

Should I compare heat pumps on the basis of COP?

Is the Coefficient of Performance (COP) the best way to compare heat pumps? In this article we cover: What COP is What other factors to consider when comparing heat pumps Factors that determine operating efficiency Importance of system sizing and installation COP or the Coefficient of Performance is a measure designed to show how many […] More

by Gerard Duffy August 25, 2017, 12:52 pm
in Advice, Design, Selfbuild Q&A, Ventilation

What impact will heat recovery ventilation have on my house plans?

Q: I plan to install heat recovery ventilation, what do I need to factor into my design? A: There are a lot of things to consider but purely from a house design point of view remember that you will need to think, very simply, of where the vents will go. This is important for system […] More

by Gareth Fitzsimmons August 23, 2017, 9:28 pm
50 Comments
in Advice, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Free Content, Securing planning permission

Extensions without planning permission

You can extend without planning permission but there are five rules of thumb to follow. In this article, we cover: There are many rules to building an extension that doesn’t require planning permission, and you must abide to all of them. So if there’s only one piece of advice to give, that is to get design […] More

by Mark Stephens August 21, 2017, 10:01 am
in Advice, Extension/Renovation Advice, Selfbuild Q&A

What information does my architect need to start on the design?

Q: I am starting a search for an architect to build a replacement farm house and I am putting together a specification of what I’d like in the house my question is how much detail do I need in the specification? Do I need to include photos of other houses I have seen? Do I […] More

by Astrid Madsen August 14, 2017, 4:30 pm
in Advice, Design, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Insulation and airtightness: Watchpoints, On site, Pre design, Ventilation

Self-build guide to airtightness

Have you ever worn a woolly jumper on a windy day? To keep the shivers out the only solution is to don the coat or parka. Insulation and airtightness barriers work very much in the same way; in fact the analogy also extends to insulation becoming ineffective when wet. Photo taken by Fergal O’ Malley RIAI […] More

by Paul O'Reilly August 2, 2017, 11:57 am
in Advice, Building control: Register your project, Construction drawings, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Getting started on site, On site, Quality control inspections

Building Control in NI

Building Control is responsible for ensuring that the Building Regulations, a set of construction standards laid down by the UK Parliament, are enforced in your local Council. There are 11 local councils in NI and they are part of the umbrella group Building Control Northern Ireland. Building standards include requirements on health, structural stability, fire […] More

by Astrid Madsen July 27, 2017, 11:42 am
in Advice, Construction drawings, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Interior Advice, Selfbuild Q&A

How do I check the quality of the materials I buy?

A: When buying materials, is it enough to look for the CE mark? Not for the materials that are covered by the Building Regulations. A CE marking will only guarantee performance to the minimum European standard and this may not be enough, or adapted to what’s specified in the Building Regulations’ technical guidance documents (ROI) […] More

by Astrid Madsen July 19, 2017, 2:02 pm
in Advice, Basics, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Securing planning permission

Top 5 tips to secure planning permission

Top tips to secure planning permission whether you’re building new, extending or renovating in any of the 32 counties of Ireland. In this article we cover: 1. Read, consult and reference your local authority’s planning policy. In NI these are referred to as local development plans or area plans and in ROI county development plans […] More

by Astrid Madsen July 6, 2017, 11:10 am