Kieran McCarthy of KMC Homes talks about:

• The new concrete levy due to come into force September 2023 in Ireland
• How to reduce the amount of concrete you use on your build
• How to save on your build costs
• What's the most cost effective build route nowadays?
• Where are build costs heading?

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Susan Andrews of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland chats about how to get a grant for your home energy upgrade, including:- The three types of grants available in ROI and how each of them work- One Stop Shop (OSS) vs individual grants: the extras you get with OSS- Cost of home energy upgrades for detached houses in Ireland- How you can get up to half the cost of the works funded through the grants- What the application process looks like and what timescales to expect for each- Whether you can reapply if you've availed of a grant before- Benefits of living in a more energy efficient home

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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 LeitrimFor more about the building methods available in Ireland today, check out the Selfbuild guide to building methods here:https://selfbuild.ie/guides/

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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

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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

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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

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