The Selfbuild Podcast

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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 building methods in Ireland today. He explains:- Traditional blockwork- Timber frame- Modern methods such as Insulating Concrete Formwork- Eco methods- How to choose the right method for your build

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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 will do is protect you from the unforeseens and the many risks associated with construction activity, including trespassers getting injured and filing a claim against you. In fact, most lenders will require that you take out an insurance policy if you have a mortgage with them. Bernie Downey of the Kerr Group explains what type of insurance you need to get for your self-build and why taking out a structural warranty will help you keep on top of quality control. In this epidose we cover:- What is self-build insurance and what products does it include- What does self-build insurance protect you from- Structural defects warranty: how it helps you manage the project- The builder's insurance versus the homeowner's- What drives up the cost of self-build insurance- Difference between self-build insurance and home insurance

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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 storey tiny house was built on a trailer, from design to completion- Planning restrictions on the tiny house and plans for the future- Getting an energy rating done in practice, after a DIY insulation job- Alternative insulation methods

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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 believes planning officers have too much of a say as to what kinds of houses are allowed to be built in the countryside.Here, he shares his experience dealing with Kerry County Council; the local authority refused him planning permission a dozen times on family land, threatening to send him to jail for two years if he doesn't remove the temporary house on wheels he built himself to live in, on his land. Brendan describes how he built his house on wheels in detail, which he calls the "most passive house in Kerry", along with costings.He argues that the planning current rules, in particular Cluster Housing guidelines, do not take into account the needs of the people who live in rural locations. Local culture and people have knowledge of important factors such as wind direction or where the flood plains are."The problem is that I'm a human being," he says. "Since I started this, three massive sheds have gone up in [my] village."He discusses at length the need to make local authority planners accountable and questions the wisdom of the planning appeals board, An Bord Pleanala. In Brendan’s case the authority sided with the local authority despite the ABP engineer's report saying the proposal should be granted planning permission.

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