BUILD SPEC
Ground floor: 150mm PIR insulation, 150mm concrete and 75mm screed. First floor: Precast slab with 75mm screed.
Walls: Outer leaf 100mm concrete block, 150mm platinum bonded bead and 100mm concrete block inner leaf. Roof: In situ cut roof with Spanish natural slates, 50mm x 25mm. Windows: Black double glazed uPVC; aluclad double glazed patio doors BER from spec: A3
Words of advice
Fiona and Cormac’s harrowing experience is in many ways a product of the recession, and while the story did end with a really lovely house built to the highest standards, it also provides the opportunity to share some advice with prospective self-builders, including making sure you have a system of checks and balances in place. This automatically happens when you lead the project but can be more difficult to achieve in a contractor-led scenario. “We had all of our eggs in the same basket, having the builder act as architect, engineer, builder and project manager,” explains Fiona. “This was a bit like the spider legislating for the fly but we trusted our builder totally.” Even if you have a great relationship with your builder, it’s a good idea to have your own quantity surveyor and designer accompany you throughout the project to identify any possible issues along the way. Insisting on this shouldn’t impact on your relationship with any of the parties and if it does, that should
case study
House size: 370 sqm Garage size: 190 sqm Site size: 0.45 hectares
ring the alarm bells. To fully protect yourself, Fiona believes it’s best to have penalty clauses linking the contract to each stage and release only the corresponding money (no exceptions) when each stage has been completed. If they genuinely need it for materials that indicates their cash flow is probably in trouble. “We should have listened to our solicitor’s advice on everything, including withholding payments and not making payments that we were not liable for. Arbitration and legal recourse are best avoided,” she adds, “as they’re expensive and are unlikely to have a positive outcome.”
The opinions expressed in this article are not those of the publisher; they are presented as the homeowner’s experience.
info The companies listed below provide products & services relating to this article. Planning drawings Jacqueline Manley MIEI, Civil, Structural, Architectural, Planning. Email: jmanley@eircom.net BER and air pressure test Collins Energy Consultants, Charleville, Co Cork, www.collinsenergy.ie, mobile 087 2254886 Block Layer Eamon Fuller, email eamonjfuller@gmail.com, mobile 086 2672896 Plasterer McAuliffe Bros, mobile 086 8138662 or 0868258446 Electrician A & J O Callaghan Electrical, Buttevant, Co Cork, mobile 086 2672899, email jasonocallaghan48@gmail.com Plumber and installer for underfloor heating Kevin O’ Donoghue & Co., mobile 087 2132640 External windows and doors Munster Joinery, Ballydesmond, Co Cork, www.munsterjoinery.ie Internal doors, handles and hinges Ryans Doors & Floors, Cork, www.ryansdoorsandfloors.com Kitchen, utility and Neff electrical appliances Celtic Interiors, Douglas, Cork, www.celticinteriors.com Ground source heat pump Alternative Heating & Cooling Ltd., Skibbereen, Co Cork, www.ahac.ie
Heat recovery ventilation Proair from Munster HRV, Cashel, Co Tipperary, www.munsterhrv.com Central vacuum system Cyclovac Ireland, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, www.cyclovac.ie Lighting plan David Cahill, Lighting and Living, email info@davidcahill.net, mobile 0862674667 Light fittings and sockets Lightplan Electrical Distributors, Cork, www.lightplan.ie Colour consultant and interior designer (painting / bathroom tiling) Barbara Hanan, Crosshaven, Co Cork, email barbarahanan@gmail.com, mobile 087 2508109 Curtains and blinds Catherine Troy Interior Design, Midleton, Co Cork, www.catherinetroydesign.ie, mobile 087 2103727. Stoves Cork Stoves & Gas Fires, Cork, www.corkstoves.ie Exterior glass rail Cork Glass Centre, Cork, www.corkglass.ie Fireplaces, kitchen island, worktops and ensuite bathroom shelves Elm Marble & Granite, Foynes, Co Limerick, www.elmfireplaces.com Wastewater treatment plant W&M Kiely Ltd., Blarney, Co Cork, www.wmkiely.ie
Patio slabs Kilwaughter Cork Ltd., Ovens, Co Cork. www.kilwaughter.com Roof slates Killoran Slate, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, www.killoranslate.ie Tiles and timber floors JMR Centre Ltd., Mallow, Co Cork, www.jmrcentre.ie Bathroom fittings MD O’ Shea, Ballincollig, Co Cork, www.mdoshea.ie, tel. 021 4810200 and Irish International Trading Corporation, Cork, tel. 021 4705800. Internal and external painting (second contractor) Apex Painting Ltd., Clonheen, Co Cork, eugene@apexpainting.ie, mobile 087 2544429. Driveway surface and drainage RCM Tarmacadam Ltd, Enniskeane, Co Cork, mobile JJ McCarthy 087 1201002 Garden design Planting design and Stonework Dominick Cullinane, Glounthaune, Co Cork, www.dcgardendesigns.ie, mobile 085 7820736 Stone mason Ger Harrington, mobile 087 2759380
ROI calling NI: prefix with 048 NI calling ROI: prefix with 00353(0) www.SelfBuild.ie
39