New Builds

8-wheel lorries and other heavy vehicles need a large entrance that they can…

An existing house on a site can be the key to securing planning permission on…

If you are looking to buy a site without Outline Planning Approval then…

Water and electricity connections need to be investigated early on,…

Wastewater systems treat foul water from your home from the…

Any extensive works that require road openings are subject to…

To get planning permission, i.e. approval from the authorities to build a…

Deciding on a budget is very individual. It could be…

The most common building methods in Ireland are blockwork and timber frame but…

It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a pivotal…

Scrapbooks, online ideas or mood board such as Pinterest, Houzz or SB+ Inspiration, as well as pictures on your phone of designs, features,…

Unless you have direct experience at employing trades people and…

This is especially a concern in ROI where, in simplified…

The decision to make on the roof at this early stage is…

Before you put pencil to paper and start sketching out a design,…

The legislation in ROI is called the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction)…

Before work can start on site your architectural designer will need to produce…

Some items will need to be designed early on so that future…

Ventilation is the method by which fresh air enters the…

Oftentimes the type of heating system you choose will pair up with…

The drive to improve the energy efficiency of homes and reduce carbon emissions…

Planning permission is the government’s written authorisation for you to build a house…

Picking you windows and doors is often a matter of personal…

Quite often your architectural designer will be able to advise you on any potential planning restriction with…

These, as well as planting schemes may require planning approval.   It is one of…

The kitchen is the room most people spend the majority of their time…

Writing a design brief is the single most important thing you can…

However, as discussed in the budgeting section, you start by working…

In the context of project management, using a main contractor is attractive for a number…

The choice of where to live while you build is an important…

In a first instance these will help the grounds works…

Direct labour consists of hiring all of the individual tradesmen yourself. It is…

It is a legal obligation for the homeowner (self-builder) to…

Before you start on construction, you must appoint a Principal Contractor or…

Some self-builders will clear the site before going through this…

A good site plan as part of your construction drawings…

The bathroom design will have been considered at the design stage to…

Earlier on in the design process your architectural designer will have given…

When budgeting the build, the cost of a block will be fairly…

In most cases you will need to choose these early…

At this stage the fitting out of all the bathrooms as well as kitchen and other…

Once the structure is erected and you have walls, a…

Your joiner will most likely be in charge of fitting out the kitchen, internal…

On site a carpenter will fit the roof and you or your…

Nearly all window suppliers and many door suppliers will insist on…

Your ventilation and heating strategy will have been determined at the design stage.   A set…

Your insulation and airtightness strategy will have been worked out at this…

The wastewater company will install the system, possibly under the…

Your foundation type will have been chosen at this stage. The process for a…

If you have hired a main contractor you can be as hands-off as you…

In NI, your local authority will arrange a set number of mandatory inspections for your build….

The change of ownership process on property is called conveyancing; this applies…

In addition to a certificate or opinion of compliance the mortgage company will look…

In NI, your local building control officer will do a…

Once the builders and tradesmen have packed up their tools…