Grass Roofs
An overview of how to add some life to your building’s roof covering. There are two types of green roofs: Intensive roofs can include lawns, flowerbeds, shrubs and even trees;…
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Posts by tag
Summer 2018
14 posts
Interior Design Flow Explained
Hallways, corridors and access points may not be the most glamorous part of designing a home but they’re crucial in achieving the ‘flow’. Synonymous with flow, circulation is the architectural…
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Planning appeals
What if you or your neighbours disagree with a planning decision made by planners in your local authority; can anything be done? If your new home or extension is refused…
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The sky, and sea, are the limit
The last thing on most self-builders’ minds is to rent out their home. But as an alternative source of income it’s becoming increasingly commonplace, especially for those who have alternative…
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How to choose a designer for your build
Although it’s possible to design your new build completely on your own, it’s almost certainly a false economy and a decision that could cost you dearly in time, energy, stress…
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How self-builders can make villages thrive
We should be building homes in village clusters, argues Emer O Siochru, just like our rural-dwelling ancestors used to. How can self-builders help reverse the decline of rural towns? Main…
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The low down on solar panels
With the price of PV modules falling significantly since 2009, by up to 80 per cent depending on installation type, it’s starting to really make sense to invest in solar.…
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Renovation Examples: Upgrading the energy performance of your home
A turnkey solution for ROI renovators who want to heat their home for less, and improve their health. Upgrading the energy performance of a home can be a daunting prospect,…
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Building methods explained
Ronan McKee of FmK Architecture provides a bird’s eye view of the most common building methods available to self-builders. There are many building routes open to you as a selfbuilder,…
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Project management advice for your self-build
Project management is the management of people, time, money and quality by an individual or a team to ensure the efficient commencement, progress and conclusion of a project. All these…
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10 step guide to planning an extension
1. Check whether you need planning permission You don’t necessarily have to get planning permission to extend your home but you need to tick all the boxes to qualify. There…
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County Tyrone Barrel Roof House
Serial self-builders Eric and Gladys Black built their barrel roofed house to make the most of the rolling countryside views. Throughout his career as a contractor Eric has built and…
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