The Selfbuild Podcast

Tony Dunne, Managing Director at MBC Project, chats about the ins and outs of buying windows in Ireland today, including: - Main types of windows available in Ireland: timber, uPVC, aluminium, alu-clad - Average cost of windows on a self-build today - Double vs triple glazed, options for quadruple glazing - What specifications to look out for when choosing windows, certs/standards - How the process unfolds from choosing the right windows for your project to installation and maintenance - Material price increases and how it affects window costs - Window upgrades in renovations - Watchpoints for both new builds and energy upgrades, from choosing windows for the right exposure (wind loading, coastal, etc.) to protecting your windows on site

Connecting your sewage to the mains is not always an option when you're building in the countryside. You might need to install an onsite wastewater treatment system instead, which is a mini sewage treatment plant. In ROI, if an onsite system is not feasible you will more than likely be denied planning permission. Cathal Keane of Graf Environmental gives us a crash course and highlights what you need to know, including: - Who needs an onsite wastewater treatment system. - What's a typical setup? Brief overview of primary, secondary and tertiary treatment. - What are the requirements in NI and ROI and how they differ. Main Building Regulations requirements to be aware of. - The process of choosing an onsite wastewater treatment system in NI and ROI. - Maintenance and keeping the system working at its best to protect environmental and human health.

Resident construction expert John Corless chats about flash points to consider when building your home, including: • Managing heat loss, U-values and airtightness • Ventilation • Insulation • Space and water heating including thoughts on PV • Intermediate floors • Roofs • Contracts • List of other considerations: security, waste, health and safety, equipment hire, etc. Michael Doherty of the Mica Action Group rounds up the talk with a chat about the ROI government's remediation scheme to rebuild homes that were built with defective concrete blocks. Michael talks about the skewed grant amounts, based on 2007 costings of house rebuilding costs by the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI), plus eligibility for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grants. He also discusses planning exemptions, retention amounts for contractors and what building methods mica affected homeowners are considering.

Brian Corry of Selfbuild+ introduces self-builders to modern ways of building in Ireland today. In Part 2 he chats about: - Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) with Ballantine Building Solutions - Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) with FutureTek - Hemp block construction with Hempbuild

Brian Corry of Selfbuild+ introduces self-builders to modern ways of building. In Part 1 he chats about: - Timber frame construction with Redwood Timber Frame in Dungannon - Structural polystyrene construction known as M3 with Passive Housing in Kildare - Steel frame and precast concrete with Future Cast in Leitrim For more about the building methods available in Ireland today, check out the Selfbuild guide to building methods here: https://selfbuild.ie/guides/

This podcast is the first in a series of talks for mica affected homeowners. Mica is a naturally occurring material that has been the cause of thousands of homes crumbling; a redress scheme is being devised through the ROI government to rebuild affected homes. The topic for this first instalment is what to expect from the process of building your home, relevant to all those new to the area of self-building. We look at the process of building a new house from start to finish, flash points (from the importance of good design beyond obtaining planning permission to health and safety) and how to avoid costly mistakes. Michael Doherty of the Mica Action Group gives us an update as to where the mica process is at, and the profile of affected homes. Then John Corless discusses: · Starting the self-build journey · Building on past experience · Where to start · Current house building legislation · House types · House design considerations · Who will build it? · Professional Services · How much will it all cost? · Where SelfBuild can help

David McHugh of ProAir chats through your ventilation options and answers commonly asked questions about mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, including: - Why you need ventilation - What are the requirements - Why you need to sort out which ventilation system you choose early on in the building/renovating process - What are the different types of mechanical ventilation systems available in Ireland, with pros/cons - What are the performance criteria for mechanical ventilation with heat recovery? What do self-builders need to check for when buying? - Difference between teed and manifold systems - What is the process of getting a system installed? From design to commissioning. What do self-builders need to look out for? - Maintenance tips and advice

Zeno Winkens of Winkens Architecture chats through spatial design, including: - How to choose the right location for your house - Designing your home from the inside out/outside in - Window and door locations - Budget friendly designs - Difference between an A1, A2 and A3 building energy rated house - Working with a builder and what to watch out for on site - How to work with your architect

Niamh O'Donovan of Instagram account @passive_build shares her experiencing building her home in Co Waterford, including: - Direct labour tasks from start to finish - Passive house design without central heating - Development fees and planning issues - Budgeting tips and advice

Mark McCall, of Instagram account @automatedhome, runs through his Co Down home building project including: - the design and build process - issues with foundations - stages of the build from first, second to third fix - design and budgeting tips The full story available here: https://selfbuild.ie/project/the-automated-home/

Episode 44 – Quantity surveyor Keith Kelliher discusses the recent material price increase and what it means for self-builders. He covers: – Which materials have been hardest hit – Reasons behind material price inflation – Where to next for material price increases – How to budget for your project – Whether to wait or start building now – Budgeting tips

Energy consultant Patrick Waterfield shares his tips and insights into building an eco house without breaking the bank. He covers: - The tricks to building an eco house and how he tackled his own new build project - How to build a house to make it cheap to run - How a humble stove can heat your entire house - How to avoid greenwashing - How to tackle energy efficiency in a new build on a budget

Miyuki Katsu Maloney, of Instagram account @our.japandi.selfbuild , walks us through her self-build project, including: - Japandi design features including the no-shoe zone entrance - How the Japandi interiors had to be adapted to Irish building regulations - Choice of windows - Choice of finishes including a microcement bathroom - Top tips and advice for a novice embarking on a self-build For more information, check out Miyuki's article about Japandi design in the Summer 2021 edition of Selfbuild magazine: https://selfbuild.ie/advice/japandi-design-tokoyo-meets-mayo/

Padraic Rogers of mybuildingsupplies.ie talks through how material prices increases are affecting self-builders: - Causes for price increases - What materials are hit the hardest and by how much - Shipping costs - What self-builders can do to reduce the impact of cost increases

Rodger O'Connor explains how he designed his home to be super energy efficient, including his insulation and airtightness strategy, choice of heating systems, photovoltaic panels and how he managed the build.

Seasoned self-builders Paul and Anne Dyer share how they managed to get planning permission in an area with a presumption against development (hint: it took a while), and how they hand built their underground house, leaving only specialist work such as tanking the roof and walls, to specialist trades. They discuss: - Wildflower roof design and installation - Underground structure and what they would differently - Polished concrete floor disaster - Heating and ventilation systems - Tips and advice from decades of experience self-building

Tobermore's Tarlach Quinn runs through concrete paving options for your garden.

Mark Coleman explains how he renovated a tired old bungalow into a stylish family home. His choices were guided by the budget and achieving an affordable home to heat. He chats about: -Wall and roof insulation, and why he didn't need external wall insulation. -Why he chose an LPG boiler based on payback times. -Turning the garage into usable space in the home. -His experience doing DIY work as a novice and why his project was a success.

Solar panels come in many forms: those that generate hot water, electricity or both. The way energy is collected from daylight, through collectors in the panel, will depend on the type of system you have. Here Richard White of LVP Renewables chats through how thermodynamic panels work, along with how they are installed and maintained. ** This recording predates the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant changes for photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal panels. For the latest information on SEAI grants see https://selfbuild.ie/advice/basics/grants-in-ireland/ **

Self-builder Orlean McCaffrey shares her tips and advice building her home in County Fermanagh, including: - Planning restrictions - Choice of how to build the house and who to get to build it - Home cinema design - Microcement kitchen

Expanded PolyStyrene (EPS) is a cost effective insulation product that usually comes in board or bead form. Steven Magee of KORE Insulation Solutions, a leading EPS supplier, explains where and how to use it on a self-build or renovation project.

All properties require an adequate ventilation strategy; Dave Redmond of Beam Vacuum and Ventilation here outlines the options that are open to self-builders and home improvers and also looks at the option of installing a central vacuum system, to further reduce allergens from the home.

Wendy McClintock of the ​Progressive Building Society explains what it takes to secure a self-build mortgage in NI, including: - What you need to apply and how a self-build mortgage is different to a regular mortgage - What to expect from the process - How stage payments work - Pitfalls and what to watch out for

Hemp is best known for its insulating properties, and when combined with lime it has been used as a structural building material to make walls for generations. Ronan McDermott of Hempbuild outlines the benefits of using natural materials and explains how the company has come up with an off-the-shelf hemp based solution for those building new or renovating an older property suffering from damp.

Self-builder David Dobbs shares his experience getting planning permission from Wicklow County Council and running into some trouble with his main contractor. He talks about: - How the existing cottage on the site helped secure planning permission - Bungalow design tips - Experience with architect and quantity surveyor - Opting out of appointing an assigned certifier and health and safety requirements - Sourcing products from abroad to save money - Finding a new contractor midway through the build - Tips and advice for a novice embarking on a self-build project

To protect your valuables, a safe will be high on the list of things you need to include in your project. Trustee Safes outlines what to check for and the need for proper installation.

The type of roof covering you choose for your house will have a huge impact on the final appearance of the house. Lagan chats through your options, from lower end to high end finishes.

Richard Sloan of Sonas Bathrooms and Gwen Kenny of Devine Design explain how to tackle bathroom design in a new build, what the process is and how to approach a renovation project.

The kitchen requires a lot of advance planning, and a good budget, which is why many self-buidlers turn to kitchen companies to help them with design and installation. Here Neptune advises on how to go about it and whether an island is right for you.

Carpets add a feel of luxury to any bedroom; here Mark McCallister Carpets explains the different types and how they are installed.

There are many choices of floor coverings out there, with laminate and LVT two popular low maintenance options. We find out more about what they are and how they are installed.

Interior design is essential to get right at the design stage of your build; here Hamilton Interiors shares top tips and advice.

Building your home with stone usually means building a cavity wall with the external leaf solid stone. This method tends to have costly knock on effects on the foundations, window detailing and structural supports such as lintels. An alternative is to use stone cladding, or slices of stone stuck to blockwork with an adhesive, as explained here by Fernhill Stone.

Building with solid oak is a skill that takes years to master; Grace Design walks us through how to use oak in your self-build project and what to look out for at the design and construction stages.

Cross Laminated Timber construction is a new and exciting method of building, now often used on commercial building and some notable examples of self-builds. But there is a lower cost and lighter weight version known as HBE, iDomus Construction explains the ins and outs of both systems.

We chat with Stephen Blakely about the role of an interior designer, from working with the architect at the design stage to furniture choice and window treatment. Interior designers charge by the job, e.g. by the square foot as Stephen does to take account of the size of the house, but others may charge by the hour. Costs tend to range from £1/€1 to £1.50/€2 per sqft when they are involved from the beginning of the project.

George McStravick of GMS Intelligent Systems talks about the "smart home" and the internet of things. He chats through the process of installing a home automation system in both new builds and renovations.

A question on every self-builder's mind is "How am I going to build this thing?" It's a key decision to make and one that will follow you throughout the design stage; in fact each method will require a tweaking of the plans to optimise how cost effective it is to build. This episode we chat with Ronan McKee, architectural designer with FMK Architecture to go through the most popular self-build building methods in Ireland today. He explains: - Traditional blockwork - Timber frame - Modern methods such as Insulating Concrete Formwork - Eco methods - How to choose the right method for your build

It is a legal obligation for the homeowner (self-builder) to be on top of health and safety on site and there are procedures in place for you to prove that to the authorities. However, it is not mandatory to take out self-build insurance. Insurance is in fact a safety net that will cover your costs in the event of a claim related to your build or renovation project. In other words, what insurance will do is protect you from the unforeseens and the many risks associated with construction activity, including trespassers getting injured and filing a claim against you. In fact, most lenders will require that you take out an insurance policy if you have a mortgage with them. Bernie Downey of the Kerr Group explains what type of insurance you need to get for your self-build and why taking out a structural warranty will help you keep on top of quality control. In this epidose we cover: - What is self-build insurance and what products does it include - What does self-build insurance protect you from - Structural defects warranty: how it helps you manage the project - The builder's insurance versus the homeowner's - What drives up the cost of self-build insurance - Difference between self-build insurance and home insurance

Two DIY self-builders have put pen to paper in the Summer 2020 edition of Selfbuild magazine and they've come back to share their stories on this podcast. First up is Michael Rauch of County Down who built a moveable tiny house on a trailer. Gordon Le Moignan, meanwhile, shares how he tackled a DIY deep renovation and insulation project in County Kerry. The topics covered include: - How the two storey tiny house was built on a trailer, from design to completion - Planning restrictions on the tiny house and plans for the future - Getting an energy rating done in practice, after a DIY insulation job - Alternative insulation methods

Brendan Begley is a man on a mission, a mission to reform the planning system which he views as unaccountable and oblivious to local knowledge and traditions. In this podcast he argues that the planning rules currently in place in ROI are hurting rural Ireland. They are so onerous, he says, that people can't afford to build their own homes and in turn, revitalise rural towns and villages. He also believes planning officers have too much of a say as to what kinds of houses are allowed to be built in the countryside. Here, he shares his experience dealing with Kerry County Council; the local authority refused him planning permission a dozen times on family land, threatening to send him to jail for two years if he doesn't remove the temporary house on wheels he built himself to live in, on his land. Brendan describes how he built his house on wheels in detail, which he calls the "most passive house in Kerry", along with costings. He argues that the planning current rules, in particular Cluster Housing guidelines, do not take into account the needs of the people who live in rural locations. Local culture and people have knowledge of important factors such as wind direction or where the flood plains are. "The problem is that I'm a human being," he says. "Since I started this, three massive sheds have gone up in [my] village." He discusses at length the need to make local authority planners accountable and questions the wisdom of the planning appeals board, An Bord Pleanala. In Brendan's case the authority sided with the local authority despite the ABP engineer's report saying the proposal should be granted planning permission.

Self-builder Bobby Fitzpatrick shares his story of what it's been like working in the construction industry whilst juggling a renovation project at the family homestead. Astrid caught up with Bobby at the beginning of the lockdown late March.

Arguably the two most important advisors to hire on your self-build are the architectural designer and the quantity surveyor. Edel Regan of Edel Regan Architects and Dermot Rasdale, quantity surveyor with DJ Build Estimations, help us shed more light on their respective roles. We cover: - How architects and quantity surveyors contribute to self-build projects - An overview of the design stage and top tips to get it right - An overview of the building phase with pitfalls - How architects and quantity surveyors help self-builders save money

John Corless is Ireland's leading independent self-build advisor and the host of the Selfbuild Live Bootcamp. We caught up with him at Selfbuild Live Belfast to give us a bird's eye view of the self-build process. Topics covered: - Turning a house into a home: how vital good design is and why you should hire a professionally trained architectural designer - Why you should hire a quantity surveyor and how to keep on top of the budget - Finance, insurance and warranties - Building contracts and what happens when things go wrong - Quality control and the roles of the advisors you need to hire - The three regulatory pillars: planning permission, Building Control/Building Regulations and Health and Safety - How big is too big and re-saleability of the property

Co Antrim self-builder Vivienne Hanna shares what it was like building her home on a budget and provides tips and advice on how to get the dream home without breaking the bank. Vivienne has been repurposing furniture for over 30 years and also offers self-build advice, specialising in cost effective interior solutions.

Instagrammers Gillian and Seamus Brennan share the ups and downs of building their own home, from the design stage to furnishing it with upcycled furniture. Follow them on Instagram @hanselhousedesign https://www.instagram.com/hanselhousedesign/

Planning permission is the first stumbling block to building or extending your home. This episode Patrick O'Reilly, Managing Director of niplanningpermission.co.uk and irelandplanning.ie, gives us the low down on how the planning process works in NI and ROI and how to increase your chances with your local authority. We also discuss which projects are exempt from planning permission, how to check that they are, and a reminder that not needing planning permission does not mean you are exempt from Building Control. Patrick has a BSc in Environmental Planning & MSc in Urban and Rural Design from Queen's University Belfast, and is a full corporate member of The Irish Planning Institute. This episode we're also joined by Sean Armstrong, Senior Advisor at the Department of Housing to chat about the new NZEB Building Regulations that came into force on the 1st of November 2019 (ROI) and what appears to be loopholes in relation to the Major Renovations requirement. Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy also gives us an update on the "locals only" provision currently in place in many County Development Plans in ROI.

Jason Taylor of Co Down chats about how he designed and managed his new build project and how he kept a rein on the budget; follow him on instagram https://www.instagram.com/grafficar/

The building regulations for ventilation (part F) and energy efficiency (Part L) are coming into force on the 1st November 2019 in the Republic of Ireland; we chat with Mark Shirley of 2eva.ie to find out what it all means for your self-build in terms of heating systems, ventilation strategies, major renovations and added costs. IMPORTANT INFO: In the podcast Mark and Astrid chat about the new requirement in Part L that states all “Major Renovation” projects must upgrade the home to a building energy rating of B2. At the time of recording, it was widely understood that this requirement would apply to most extension projects; however the Department of Housing has since clarified that extensions are unlikely to trigger the requirement to upgrade the entire home to a B2. For more detailed information about the requirements for Major Renovations, check out this exclusive extract from the Winter 2019 edition of Selfbuild magazine: https://selfbuild.ie/advice/faq-new-nzeb-building-regulations-apply-to-renovations/

Dan and Jessica hired every tradesman and did a lot of the work themselves, from tidying up the site every evening to laying floors. We chat about what it takes to design the house of your dreams, how to get it built and keep a positive outlook. Check them out on Instagram @seanuahouse

The Climate Action Plan launched in June promised that homeowners in ROI would be able to sell electricity from their PV panels back to the grid by 2021. Brian Denvir of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland explains what kind of feed in tariffs are available in Europe and sheds some light on how the Irish project will be rolled out.