The Selfbuild Podcast

The Selfbuild Podcast

By Selfbuild IrelandEducation
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The Selfbuild Podcast episodes

  • Ep62 - Are energy upgrades worth it?

    Dr Ciara Ahern chats about what energy upgrades and if they're worth doing, issues people are having with heat pumps and heating systems and what can be done about it, plus what changes we can expect coming from Europe in relation to energy and the building regulations. More specifically, she covers:


    • What is the difference between a shallow and a deep retrofit?
    • If someone has a house, how can they tell if they should consider a shallow versus a deep retrofit, e.g. would homes with medium gains always need a deep retrofit?
    • Recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD): What are the headline changes coming from Europe and when we can expect them to come into force
    • EPBD implications for end users: new builds, renovations and those selling property
    • Why energy ratings don’t show how much energy the house will consume: does the recast EPBD take that into account?
    • How to optimise the operation/performance of existing heating systems in the home
    • Issue with oversizing heating systems and what homeowners can do
    • Issues surrounding heat pump installations, what needs to happen industry wide to make sure they’re done correctly and to the right sizing?

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

    45 min
  • Ep61 - Steel frame self-build in Co Wicklow
    In this episode, David Magnier chats about his self-build in Co Wicklow:

    • Design process
    • Securing planning permission
    • Choice of building method: pros and cons
    • How day to day went on site
    • Working through Covid
    • Switching from main contractor to direct labour
    • Keeping on top of the budget
    • Keeping on top of quality 

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

    37 min
  • Ep60 - Heat pumps and MVHR: are they worth it?

    Gavin Millar of BPC Ventilation chats through the benefits of heat pumps and MVHR, including:


    -   What is mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and is it worth the money? What are the benefits?

    -   What are heat pumps and are they worth it? What's the payback?

    -   Why are heat pumps and MVHR more efficient than traditional systems? How much more do they cost?

    -   How much more do they cost?

    -   Should settings on ventilation systems be adjusted according to the outside temperature, e.g. summer, winter?

    -   Which ventilation system is best for an ICF house?

    -   Are MVHR units noisy?

    -   Energy upgrades: the case of changing a 1950s house from oil heating to air to water, is that the best option?

    -   Is it efficient to mix underfloor and radiator heating?

    -   Can one heat pump be used for two buildings?

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

    44 min
  • Ep59 - Kitchen design

    Jonny Orr of Daniel George Kitchens chats about how to design your new kitchen in Ireland today:

    -         Optimal kitchen size

    -         Current trends, including colours and handles, and must haves

    -         Where the most savings can be made in a kitchen, including countertop materials

    -         Common mistakes people make and what to think about when planning your kitchen

    -         Tips to get the most out of walk in pantry

    -         Magic corner cupboards: are they worth it?

    -         Ideal size of an island

    -         Pros and cons of building in a dining table into the island

    -         Sink or hob in the island

    -         What extractor fan options there are for the island, can you rely on heat recovery ventilation

    -         Extractor fans in a passive house: what to consider

    -         How to incorporate a deep standalone fridge

    -         Kitchen lighting options 

    -         Oven heights

    -         Hand painting versus factory painting

    -         Timeframe to get kitchen installed and ordering kitchens cross border in Ireland


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

    37 min
  • Ep58 - Building homes free of defects

    Eoin Ó Broin, a TD who’s written a book called Defects, chats through the issue of quality control when building a house in ROI. He talks about:

    ·        How the building control system works in ROI and why it’s broken

    ·        Opting in or out of appointing an assigned certifier

    ·        How we got to this point

    ·        Prospects of changes to the system

    ·        Where to next

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

    33 min
  • Ep57 - Dublin new build on laneway site

    Laura and Ronan Campbell built themselves a house on Ronan’s parents’ laneway. Here they chat about:

    • Difficulties with planning permission and why they had to leave a deposit with the local authority for three years.
    • How they made a narrow site work with their design vision.
    • Choice of steel frame construction and challenges building the house.
    • Delays (due to windows and Covid) and how they affected the build.
    • Choosing finishes that look the part and saved money.
    • How much DIY they did and their top tips for others considering building a laneway house.
    • Budget considerations and how they kept a lid on costs.
    • Main headaches and what they would do differently.

    Read more about their project on https://selfbuild.ie/project/dublin-laneway-house/

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

    57 min
  • Ep56 - The new concrete levy and how to save on your self-build
    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?

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

    20 min
  • Ep55 - How to apply for your home energy grant in Ireland
    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

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

    24 min
  • Ep54 - Buying windows in Ireland
    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

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

    59 min
  • Ep53 - Onsite wastewater treatment in Ireland
    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.

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

    23 min

About The Selfbuild Podcast

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The Selfbuild Podcast brings you expert and peer-to-peer advice on all aspects of home building and home improving in Ireland today.

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