The Selfbuild Podcast

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hos...

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 bui...

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...

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 sto...

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...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 to...

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 an...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 t...

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; read up on his project on https://selfbuild.ie/project/county-down-project-with-main-contractor/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 req...

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

We have a chat with Belfast-based energy advisor Patrick Waterfield about how you will generate heat and hot water in the home. Some of the main points we cover are:- Boilers vs heat pumps- Underfloor heating vs radiators- Fabric first approach- How the building regulations affect system choice- The situation in NI- ROI new building regulations coming into force in November- How to design a house...

We have a chat with building costs expert Keith Kelliher, a quantity surveyor based in Dublin about where to start with the budget, how to deal with tenders (builders' quotes) and methods to keep costs under control. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 1: We have a chat with Nicola Thorpe of Co Down whose house is on the front cover of the Spring 2019 issue of Selfbuild magazine. She shares her experience dealing with the planners, staying on top of the budget, and practical tips such as choosing self-cleaning windows for the hard to reach places. Read the background to her story on selfbuild.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...