Projects

Learn from other self-builders all over the island of Ireland who have built new or renovated their home.

22 From quantity surveyor to selfbuilder

James and Jessica Corrigan pulled in all the favours they could to build their family home from scratch in Co Laois.

32 Savvy split level

Living

How Stuart and Katie Eadie built themselves a family home on a budget in Co Antrim.

42 Staying put

Having lived in their Co Limerick home for years before embarking on their renovation and extension project, Aoife and Mark Ryan knew just what to do to suit their lifestyle.

52 Extension for modern living

Advice

79 Ask Keith

Will a modular build save you money? Quantity surveyor

Keith Kelliher has the answer.

81 Ask Andrew

Project manager Andrew

Stanway explains what to guard against if you decide to go direct labour.

82 Going the whole hog

Why it makes sense to invest fully in the passive house standard, instead of adopting a pick and choose approach.

84 Build checklist

What you need to have in place before you can start scheduling your build.

86 DIY French drains

How to build the most basic drainage system around.

90 Bucking the trend: ICF

The downsides to Insulating Concrete Formwork.

92 Internal doors

Check out what your options are, from bifold to pocket doors.

Emma and Jonathan Rhodes took their lead from their architect to transform the back of their home from a dark and cold space to a warm and light filled haven.

62 What makes a house a home

Paul Lawford explains how he built his tiny abode and why it’s a more sustainable option than building a larger house,

SELFBUILD: THE ALL-IRELAND

both financially and from a construction point of view.

66 Living the big life in a tiny home

Michael Rauch shares the pros of cons of inhabiting a small house, having lived in one for three years.

69 Awards season

Showcasing workmanship in NI with the Federation of Master Builders Awards.

72 Covid casualty

Why Shauna and Finbar

O’Harte had to abandon their dream build in Co Fermanagh.

74 Hillside garden with stunning views

With views of the Burren comes high winds; this Co Clare home garden design makes the most of its location.

All articles equally cover the 32 counties; when we refer to the Republic of Ireland the abbreviation is ROI. For Northern Ireland it’s NI.

INSULATES

FASTER HEATING RESPONSE SO ROOMS HEAT UP QUICKER WHEN THE HEATING IS TURNED ON