Selfbuild Winter 2020 Preview

EXTENSIONS RENOVATIONS NEW HOMES INTERIORS GARDENS

Selfbuild SELFBUILD.IE

WINTER 2020 £3.75 / €3.99

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ISSN 2515-5369

P ROJ ECTS IN: . D OWN .C OR K . D ONEGAL . K ILDARE AND M ORE ...

Dream it . Do it . Live it

STYLE YOUR HOUSE

YOUR 32 PAGE GUIDE TO THE PERFECT EXTERIOR FINISHES FOR YOUR HOME ALL IRELAND BEST SELLING MAGAZINE FOR SELF-BUILDERS AND HOME IMPROVERS

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EDITOR'S LETTER

Astrid Madsen - Editor astrid.madsen@selfbuild.ie

he pandemic is forcing us to re-evaluate pretty much everything.

But in the construction sector, the adaptation has not been in any way drastic, especially when it comes to what’s being referred to as our throwaway culture.

Unfortunately, there is still no push from industry or government to use recycled, repurposed or low embodied energy materials on new builds. And the waste pile keeps growing.

The building regulations understandably want materials to be certified, but this has the knock-on effect

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of engineers (and other specifiers) nearly always recommending buying new.

An interesting alternative is the decade-old One Planet initiative from Wales which takes a fresh look at what it really means to build an eco house.

There you can get planning permission in the open countryside if the house is unobtrusive, has good lifecycle credentials (a concept we have yet to embrace here) and your entire way of life is selfsustaining, from food to transport.

Check out my.uplift. ie/p/oneplanet for more information.

EXTENSIONS RENOVATIONS NEW HOMES INTERIORS GARDENS

Selfbuild WINTER 2020 £3.75 / €3.99

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P ROJE C TS I N: .DOWN .C OR K .DO NE GAL .KI L DAR E AND MO R E ...

This edition we delve into the exterior styling options that are open to you, from contemporary to period properties, and the materials that will help you achieve the look you’re after.

External Style Guide

COVER PHOTO Paul Lindsay

SELFBUILD.IE

99 Selfbuild Guide

Dream it . Do it . Live it

STYLE YOUR HOUSE YO U R 3 2 PAG E G U I DE TO T H E P E R F E C T E XT E R I O R F I N I S H ES FO R YO U R H O M E

ALL IRELAND BEST SELLING MAGAZINE FOR SELF-BUILDERS AND HOME IMPROVERS

EDITOR Astrid Madsen astrid.madsen@selfbuild.ie

MARKETING Calum Lennon calum.lennon@selfbuild.ie SUBSCRIPTIONS Becca.Wilgar becca.wilgar@selfbuild.ie BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Niamh Whelan niamh.whelan@selfbuild.ie ADVERTISING SALES David Corry david.corry@selfbuild.ie

Maria Varela maria.varela@selfbuild.ie

100 Overview

124 Landscaping

ACCOUNTS Karen Kelly karen.kelly@selfbuild.ie

102 Inspiration

128 PROJECT:

Building the dream

SALES DIRECTOR Mark Duffin mark.duffin@selfbuild.ie MANAGING DIRECTOR Brian Corry brian.corry@selfbuild.ie

DESIGN Myles McCann myles.mccann@selfbuild.ie

Nicola Delacour-Dunne nicola.delacour@selfbuild.ie

CHAIRMAN Clive Corry clive.corry@selfbuild.ie

Shannon Quinn shannon.quinn@selfbuild.ie

Lisa Killen lisa.killen@selfbuild.ie

DISTRIBUTION EM News Distribution Ltd

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions nor for the accuracy of information reproduced. Where opinions may be given, these are personal and based upon the best information to hand.

At all times readers are advised to seek the appropriate professional advice. Copyright: all rights reserved.

4 / SE L F B U ILD / W I N T E R 2020

108 Roof finishes 112

Wall finishes

118

Front and back doors

120 Windows

CONTENTS

Projects Learn from other self-builders all over the island of Ireland who have built new or renovated their home.

26 A hands-on approach

From design vision to final finish, first-time selfbuilders Nicole and Colin McKee of Co Down rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in. The result? A dream home they can’t ever imagine leaving.

38 Family first

Co Cork’s Ambrose Lynott built not just a family home but a legacy. He shares how he did it and what other handson self-builders need to know before taking the plunge.

26 50 If I can do it…

Advice 77 Ask the expert

This issue we look at whether centralised ventilation systems can both heat and cool your home, and whether heat pumps can also play their role in reducing indoor temperatures in the summer. Plus how does an airtightness membrane control moisture?

79 First and second fix

Shedding light on the construction industry’s most used terms to define the key stages of your self-build project.

82 Tendering guide

If you appoint a main contractor, chances are you will ask a number of builders to give you a quotation for the job. That process is called tendering, and here we run

through how it works.

87 Tradesmen

A list of the most common trades you will hire on your self-build project: who they are, how they are paid and what to expect of them – and what they will expect of you in return.

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Jane Williams never dreamed she could tackle a major renovation project. That is, until she came across an opportunity too good to pass up in Co Down.

62 Cast in concrete

This Co Donegal renovation project, which upgraded the entire energy efficiency of the building, is the result of hard work and DIY determination.

91 Bare root plants

Winter is the ideal season to plant bare root shrubs and trees. Find out how, and why it makes sense to get your hands dirty.

95 Energy efficiency in NI The building regulations for energy in NI have fallen behind as compared to ROI and mainland UK. We ask when will they finally be updated, and does it matter if they are?

38 SELFBUILD: THE ALL-IRELAND All articles equally cover the 32 counties; when we refer to the Republic of Ireland the abbreviation is ROI. For Northern Ireland it’s NI. WI NT ER 2020 / S EL F BU IL D / 5

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NEWS . ANALYSIS . PRODUCTS . REVIEWS

Sb+ Welcome to the Selfbuild Virtual!

As the coronavirus put a hamper on live events, Selfbuild has launched an exclusive online-only series of content weekends. he October 2020 Selfbuild Virtual event brought three theatres and 25 speakers to the comfort of your home.

The Selfbuild Bootcamp sponsored by Cedral walked through everything you need to know about the process of building your own home in Ireland.

The Velux Theatre, Xtratherm Theatre and the Grant Theatre, meanwhile, delved into topics such as boilers and heat pumps, insulation and airtightness, windows and doors, kitchens and bathrooms and everything in between.

The event took place on October the 24th and 25th, with the next one slated for January. Just sign up on selfbuild.ie – it’s free to attend, so if you’ve missed the

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inaugural event you can always catch up on the other side of Christmas.

To speak with exhibitors who took part, and many more besides, check out our virtual exhibition hall that’s open 24/7 – more details on page 18.

The other big announcement is that Selfbuild is busy creating a members-only platform designed for self-builders and home improvers.

It will not only guide you every step of the way on your project, in chronological order, it will also bring the self-build resources you need in the one place, and keep you up to speed with the latest developments in the world of selfbuilding and home improving. More details in the next edition.

House without planning to be razed A couple in Co Meath have agreed to vacate their home of 14 years to make way for bulldozers. Following a lengthy legal battle with Meath County Council, they have agreed to leave the house in two years’ time so the authorities can demolish it.

The 588sqm house was self-built after the couple failed to get planning permission for a 283sqm dormer bungalow for them and their three children.

They applied for retention but were turned down, which is when the council initiated enforcement proceedings to demolish the house.

Fire hits self-build site A confirmed arson attack in Co Tyrone destroyed a family’s new build home just months before they were due to move in, causing tens of thousands of pounds in damage.

As of September 2020, the police was still hunting for the arsonists who targeted the house in August, when it was up to roof level. Anyone with information can contact psni.police.uk/makeareport quoting reference number 441 of 15/08/20.

The house will now have to be demolished and a fundraising initiative was set up to help the couple start again on justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ laura-mccallion-1.

W INT ER 2020 / S EL F BU IL D / 7

NEWS

Supports for self-builders extended ROI’s Budget 2021 extended both the Help to Buy scheme and stamp duty refunds for one year. he Help to Buy Incentive, the tax refund introduced in ROI in 2016, is now open to applicants up to the 31st of December 2021.

The scheme which helps first time selfbuilders, and first time buyers of a new home, put down a deposit to secure a mortgage, was due to expire at the end of 2020.

Help to Buy allows self-builders to claim up to €30,000 or 10 per cent of the house value when completed, whichever is the lesser, in a tax refund. These amounts were increased in July from €20,000, or 5 per cent of the valuation.

ROI’s July stimulus plan also announced a cut on Value Added Tax, or the tax on goods.

Building materials you buy through the builder will continue to benefit from the reduced 13.5 per cent VAT rate, but any goods you buy yourself from the shops (including builder’s merchants) will now have a temporarily reduced VAT rate of 21 per cent.

The cut will be in place for six months, from September 2020 to February 2021, at which point the VAT rate will return to 23 per cent.

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Stamp duty

Stamp duty, which is the tax levied on property (house or land) transactions, currently applies at a 7.5 per cent rate on non-residential land in ROI. Revenue introduced a refund in 2017 to bring the effective rate down to a minimum of 2 per cent when the land is converted for residential use. The stamp duty rate for residential

property stands at 1 per cent.

For one-off houses the rebate only applies to one acre of land and you must build on at least 75 per cent of the area of the site.

This relief was due to expire and has been extended for a year, in that you had to start building by the end of 2021 to qualify. Now you have until the end of 2022 to start, with a completion date of 30 June 2025 at the latest.

The Department of Housing recommended scrapping the scheme for self-builders and restyling it to encourage apartment complexes on brownfield sites in city centres. The Department of Finance, however, argued the “provision of housing is not solely an urban issue” and that the scheme should continue to apply to all forms of housing, including once off houses, a position that was adopted for the budget.

According to Revenue figures, as of the end of September 2020, even though 92 per cent of the stamp duty relief applications were for selfbuilds they only represented 25 per cent of the total amount refunded.

Meanwhile the UK government’s Plan for Jobs, as reported in the previous edition of Selfbuild, also cut stamp duty in NI. It currently does not apply to transactions below £125,000 and the change will increase the threshold to £500,000, temporarily until 31st March 2021.

Delay on locals only, wastewater rules The coronavirus has not only impacted the economy, it also slowed down the wheels of bureaucracy. The locals only requirements, ubiquitous in ROI County Development Plans, remain untouched.

In simple terms, locals only rules ring fence development in the open countryside only to people who are from the area.

And the promise to make changes to the Code of Practice for wastewater systems – which would make it easier to build on a larger number of sites in ROI – have also been put on the long finger.

Both press offices, for the Department of Housing and the Environmental Protection Agency respectively, tell Selfbuild they expect some movement “later this year” or “before the end of the year”.

Meanwhile, figures show that the new homes market remains strong, with location still king. That’s according to the latest myhome.ie report, as covered in the Irish Examiner.

Photography: Marie-Louise Halpenny

Eye candy The RIAI’s 2020 Awards crowned Culligan Architects and A2 Architects in the Living category.

The Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland recognised a project in Co Dublin and another in Co Galway at this year’s RIAI Architecture Awards, which were announced on their website as Selfbuild went to print.

8 / S E L F B U ILD / W I N T E R 2020

A2 Architects’ In, On and Over the Earth project

NEWS

Easy energy upgrades One Stop Shop energy upgrades are now a reality for ROI homeowners, with the pilot Deep Retrofit project repackaged into the National Home Retrofit scheme.

The catch is the maximum grant amount has fallen from 50 per cent to 35 per cent.

2021 date for feed-in tariff The Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications has confirmed to Selfbuild it still plans to roll out a method of paying homeowners for electricity they export to the grid by the end of 2021, as part of the commitments made under the Climate Action Plan.

“The proposed support mechanism will be outlined in a public consultation in the coming months,” said a spokesperson for the Department in October 2020. “A suitable support payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all micro-generators by 2021 in line with the transposition of EU Directive 2018/2001into Irish law.”

Local wood supplies drying up he National Home Retrofit scheme, launched in ROI on September 25th 2020 and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), offers a One Stop Shop solution to homeowners who want to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home – thereby reducing their energy bills and increasing indoor air quality.

As with the deep retrofit pilot scheme, homeowners will have to club together to benefit from economies of scale to make the renovation project as cost effective as possible.

The SEAI tells Selfbuild that if a homeowner would like to avail of this scheme they should contact a project co-ordinator to register their interest: on seai.ie/grants/community-grants/ project-coordinator/. A similar list will be published on the National Home Retrofit web page, seai.ie/grants/national-homeretrofit.

As with the deep retrofit scheme, the National Home Retrofit grant will allow homeowners to upgrade the entirety of their

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home in a cohesive manner, as opposed to availing of a single grant under the Better Energy Homes scheme to upgrade say, the insulation in one part of the house and not another.

The aim is to get to at least a B2 building energy rating, and as with the Better Energy Homes grants the house must have been built before 2006. The maximum grant amount for homeowners is 35 per cent of the building works.

In parallel, An Post launched a new retrofit loan to deliver financial advice and support.

An Post will not only give you the loan to get the work done, it will manage the entire application process for you, so you do not need to register your interest with an SEAI approved National Home Retrofit provider.

An Post has teamed up with SSE Airtricity for technical advice, project management services, access to retrofit subcontractors and quality assurance knowledge to deliver the upgrade on the ground. Find out more on anpost.com/green-hub

Self-builders could be faced with higher timber bills for everything from rafters to pallets.

A large number of tree felling operations have ground to a halt in ROI because of the appeal mechanism in place for such projects.

The Irish Times reports the chief executive of Coillte, Imelda Hurley, warned the industry was at “breaking point” with thousands of jobs at “imminent risk”.

The Irish Independent says price hikes on timber are due to the higher cost of timber sourced in ROI and the high cost of imports.

Brooks Timber, the paper said, had increased prices by 5 per cent in August and by €10/sqm from end of September, while rival TJ O’Mahony told the paper its stores are struggling to source Irish wall plate, a core 100x75 (4”x3”) component for supporting roof structures.

The coronavirus-related reprieve on Irish wood stocks, when stocks briefly increased because of building sites going quiet, was temporary.

W INT ER 2020 / S EL F BU IL D / 9

Grant’s renewable heating technologies are the ideal choice for new build homes

As more professionals, couples and families across Ireland consider building their own homes, demand for innovative, sustainable, and renewable heating technologies continues to increase. Grant understands the importance of choosing the right heating system for a new build home which suits the requirements of the property and those who will live within it. The needs of every new build home will be different but two common priorities are reliability and efficiency, which can help keep heating bills down whilst delivering maximum comfort.

It is important to start planning

the heating system from the out-set of a new build project and to give consideration to current and future heating requirements, room layout and preference of radiators, underfloor heating, or both to heat the individual rooms, as these can affect the choice of heat source that drives the system.

With a growing focus on sustainability, carbon reduction and reducing environmental impact, incorporating renewable energy sources into the home heating design is important and can help to future-proof the home. This is an important reason along with ensuring building standards compliance why more homeowners are having their bespoke heating systems designed by Grant’s technical specialists.

Grant offers a free of charge Home Heating Design Service to those undertaking new build projects, which is helping homeowners optimise their

Aerona3 R32 10kW air to water air source heat pump

heating investment, and achieve longterm financial and carbon savings.

These benefits are delivered by a smart heating system, designed with the unique needs of both the homeowner and the property in mind and featuring correctly sized heating technologies to maximise efficiencies throughout.

Using planning drawings, the Grant team will carry out room by room heat loss calculations in line with SR:50 requirements. This information provides the heat load requirement for each room and helps to prove compliance with Part L of the building regulations.

Once heat loss calculations are finalised and the heat load for each room within the property is known, correctly sized heating products are specified.

Grant prides itself on providing a diverse range of highly efficient and reliable sustainable heating

Heating homes in Ireland for over 40 years, Grant is the name

Think Heating.

Think Grant.

All Grant products are available from plumbing and heating merchants throughout Ireland.

technologies, which have been developed to deliver domestic heat and hot water to homes as efficiently as possible.

Delivering discreet, high-quality home heating, the Grant Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pump range has an ErP rating of A+++ and is available in outputs of 6kW, 10kW, 13kW and 17kW. The Aerona3 has quickly become a popular choice amongst those working on new build projects due to its cleaner, more environmentally friendly performance, and its ability to lower a home’s overall carbon footprint, which will ultimately help self-builders achieve required building standards in the Republic of Ireland.

If building a new home in Northern Ireland, homeowners can also consider a highly efficient Grant Vortex condensing oil boiler. Grant

has ensured the Vortex condensing oil boiler range is compatible with biofuel, therefore installing this award-winning condensing oil boiler within a new build home can help to future-proof the property.

This adaptability means that homeowners can feel reassured when they install a Grant Vortex condensing oil boiler in their new build home, that it will be suitable for use with future biofuel blends* whilst still providing the reliability and efficiency synonymous with Grant, and helping to move to a low carbon future.

Whether building a new home in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, Grant has the heating solution to suit the requirements of the property and help homeowners on the journey towards a zero-carbon future. *depending on type of biofuel and % blend eg: HVO, FAME.

How to avail of Grant’s Home Heating Design Service 1. Send planning drawings, a contact number and your preference of underfloor heating, radiators or both to heatpump@grantengineering.ie 2. Grant technical specialists will be in touch to discuss your requirements 3. Full property specifications with recommended Grant products will be provided For further information visit www.grant.eu

Vortex condensing oil boiler

you can trust for outstanding performance and reliability.

Contact the Grant Technical Team on 057 9126967 (Republic of Ireland) or 0800 0443264 (Northern Ireland) For further information visit www.grant.eu Your can also follow Grant online @grant_IRL and @mygrantni

GrantIRL and MyGrantNI and

@mygrantIRL and @mygrantNI

We design heat pump systems to suit each building and the needs of each client. Maximising performance, comfort, efficiency and lifespan of each system is our priority.

Whether you are renovating or building your property, MasterTherm will provide the best sustainable solution from planning, installation, commissioning and maintenance and online monitoring. Contact our sales team or contact our website for full information on our products and services.

Our most popular heat pump systems: l Air-Water monobloc Compact heat pumps 2–22 kW heat output in single phase version. l Air-Water Split and indoor split heat pumps.

Ideal for coastal areas. l Air-Water Split Combi with integrated domestic hot water tanks. l Ground and water source inverter heat pumps 1–90 kW heat output

www.MasterTherm.ie info@mastertherm.ie Tel: 01-8991721

NEWS

Low energy family home bags award This Co Kildare home won Best Retrofit at the Energy Efficiency Awards hosted by the German-Irish Chamber of Commerce. he awards ceremony, held in October virtually, aimed to recognise German companies that have successfully implemented innovative energy efficient technologies in Irish buildings.

Lunos, a German company that manufactures decentralised ventilation systems, represented this project in the awards.

The building is a 300-year-old farmhouse bought in 2009 that was upgraded from a G

Images by Thomasz Juszczak from Imageworks

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building energy rating to an A rating.

The renovation and extension project, completed in 2016, includes the addition of an 18kW air source heat pump and a tailored decentralised ventilation system with heat recovery.

The heat pump supplier estimates the energy bills to be less than â‚Ź700 per year, and the final efficiency rate of the ventilation system is 85 per cent, as per Passive House Institute calculations.

WINT ER 2020 / S EL F BU IL D /13

When Self Build becomes a Team Effort Xtratherm Technical is now offering you free, friendly 1-2-1 advice as part of our Xi Platinum Service.

Our tech team have been involved in Self Build for over 30 years and have discussed every issue that you’re now asking yourself. What insulation? Passive or NZEB? Passive Foundations? How Airtight? What renewables? Can I have a stove? Can I add a cat flap?

We’ll look at your plans, do the calcs, and complete a DEAP Energy calculation for you as guidance. Then in your time, by phone or online, we’ll discuss ways of achieving an affordable ‘A’ Rated home that suits you.

There’s 8 of us, all technical, all local and all friendly to chat to – and we’ve been involved with more self build projects than most. If you speak to Francis, don’t ask about the cat flap – he’s a doggie person.

Xtratherm’s free, friendly 1-2-1 Self Build Advice Service - Let’s Keep Talking.

Contact the team who can help you with your project +353 (0) 46 906 6050

xtratherm.ie

C O M PA N Y N E W S

Magic ingredients Constantly whipping up new kitchen design recipes is Newry based Blackthorn Kitchens, a family run business which began as a furniture workshop over 25 years ago.

The latest addition to their showroom, influenced by the ethos and architecture of Le Corbusier and Gropius, is an in-frame, solid wood kitchen hand painted in Farrow and Ball’s vibrant Citron and muted Sulking Room Pink.

The kitchen was designed with sustainable living in mind, including the adjustable shelving in the larder to accommodate for an assortment of refill containers, the extensive storage capacity for stowing bulk-bought or batch-made kitchen staples, and Narnia Doors which are full height doors leading to a walkin larder but look just like a tall cabinet set into the wall.

The primary cabinets in the base units are drawers which offer efficient and accessible storage. Plank shelves on painted corbels are used in place of wall cabinets to give an open feeling to the kitchen layout and are perfect for growing an indoor kitchen garden.

The new normal

The coronavirus has accelerated the trend towards online shopping and despite the construction industry being notorious for being slow to adapt to change, online merchants have also benefited from this shift.

Setanta Building Products is one such

company, an online Builder’s Merchant with a difference. Their service is not just Pick and Click but you can actually talk to somebody, about your building needs and perhaps even negotiate a discount.

In these days of minimising contact for health reasons, Setanta’s ordering process usually involves picking up the phone, agreeing to a competitive price, paying using your credit card or Pay Pal and have quality materials delivered to your door, in many cases the next day.

Based in Dublin and in business for 20 years, Setanta Building Products’ expanding range of products all carry a manufacturer’s guarantee, including roofing products such as the high quality Fakro skylights, roofing felt and light tunnels.

Log on to buildingproducts.ie to view the full range.

Free flowing

Blackthorn Furniture Ltd, 16 Ashtree Enterprise Park, Rathfriland Rd, Newry, Co Down, BT34 1BY, tel. 028/048 3025 1628, blackthornkitchens.com

Blackthorn Kitchen’s latest addition to the showroom showcases wenge-stained ash island with Dekton (Enzo) worktop, soft close handless drawers, brushed satin brass handles by Crofts and Assinder, taps

by Perrin and Row Titan with rinse in Pewter, and stainless steel sink by Franke Kubus. The other worktop is Dekton (Kelya).

Riding the tide of home improvement and new build activity is Alpha Flow Screeds, an NI based supplier of hemihydrate liquid screeds.

The company recently opened a new office in Cookstown and expanded its fleet of mobile screed factories to a total of four, to quickly and efficiently service projects all over the island of Ireland.

Alpha Flow Screeds also supplies Energystore Thermal Lightweight Aggregate, which is a poured floor insulation made up of a mix of graphite EPS beads, cement and a special additive to ensure uniform density.

The insulation pour is directly over the subfloor and covers all spaces and gaps, (as opposed to the traditional process of cutting insulation boards around first fix pipes), speeding up the build schedule. It is a cost effective alternative to the tedious process of laying insulation boards over subfloors.

Additional advantages include the fact that it is not subject to settlement, which happens where multiple layers of boards are used over an uneven subfloor. alphaflowscreeds.com WIN T ER 2020 / S EL F BU IL D / 15

C O M PA N Y N E W S

Fireside allure meets industrial chic One of the benefits of investing in a high quality appliance is that it adds to your home’s interior design scheme. And stoves are no exceptions.

Case in point is the new Vogue 700 Inset woodburning fire from Stovax. With landscape proportions, cast iron door and grate, and subtle contours echoed across the build of its exterior, the Vogue 700 is more than just a fire – it’s a designer centrepiece.

Featuring a state-of-the-art combustion system, the Vogue 700 Inset is also fully

New era

Ecodesign compliant, reducing emissions to a minimum – a result of Stovax’s decades of quality craftsmanship and expert fire design.

A single air control makes for easy operation, with a discreet door handle that has been ergonomically engineered for both function and aesthetics. And with its built-in smoke control kit, this appliance is ready to burn wood in urban settings.

Find out more from your local stockist: stovax.com/retailers Quinn Building Products, which provides a wide range of building materials including insulation, cement, roof tiles, aircrete blocks and associated quarry products, is rebranding to Mannok. Self Build with Quinn will also move to a Mannok brand and continue to offer the same self-build solutions.

Mannok derives from Fear Manach, meaning man/people of Manach, reflecting the company’s roots in the Fermanagh and Cavan region.

The new logo, the company says, combines strength with simplicity: “Dynamic shapes combine to form a unique ‘M’, reflecting the different elements of our organisation that work together to create something more than the sum of its parts.”

“The colours contain a strong green element – in keeping with our commitment to the environment, and our promise to be environmental leaders within our sector.”

New self-build guide To help ROI self-builders navigate the Planning and Development Regulations, the Building Control Regulations, and to guide them through the journey of a project from initial concept through to completion, Killarney-based award-winning architectural practice healycornelius design ltd. has published a new graphical handbook titled A Journey Guide to Creating Your Dream Home.

The guide was published in response to enquiries from self-builders, which ranged from how to get started with a construction project to detailed questions on specific requirements, such as Health and Safety obligations and exempted development – a topic that is covered in the guide through easy to follow graphical examples.

“For anyone considering a construction project, be that a small extension or a new build home, it is important to have a general 1 6 / S E LF B U ILD / W I N T E R 2020

understanding of all these topics,” explains healycornelius design’s managing director Niall Healy MCIAT MCABE. The guide is available for free on healycornelius.com and can be accessed through Selfbuild+. Hard copies are also available for purchase, €24.99 plus P+P.

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Customer Service

HOME HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT ARE YOU BUILDING OR REFURBISHING?

There has probably never been a time when we have depended on our homes more completely than we do now.

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OUR SIGNATURE PRODUCTS

Contact our sales team or visit our website for more information on our full product range.

 Installation

Full technical support is available and RTU provides a Supply and Fit service using only approved layers.

028 9085 1441 sales@rtu.co.uk www.rtu.co.uk 

NEWS

Find a supplier

Launching this winter is the Supplier Hub, a virtual exhibition hall open 24/7. Here you will find Ireland’s leading suppliers of self-build products and services.

hether you’re looking for an architectural designer to get the process started or are looking for something specific like windows and doors, this is the place to find them all.

The floor plan is organised as you would find it at our Selfbuild Live events – just browse through the categories and get advice, information and quotations from the companies that will turn your self-build dream into reality.

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The floor plan is organised in the following categories.

Windows and Doors Vertical windows, from sliding slash to tilt and turn, roof lights/skylights, bifold doors, sliders, French/patio doors, as well as all of your external door options, from timber and uPVC to composite.

Plus all of the accessories you will need to dress them, including curtains and blinds.

Building Supplies Builder’s merchants, DIY stores and other specialist suppliers of building materials.

Lifts and Access Attic/loft ladders/ stairs, elevators, stair lifts and mobility aids such as ramps and rails.

Finance Mortgages and other financial products.

Heating and Renewables All of the systems that provide heating and hot water, from boilers to heat pumps as well as solar systems. Plus heating controls.

Kitchens Companies that will design, supply and/or fit your kitchen, as well as those who supply appliances and other kitchen essentials.

Bathrooms Companies that will design, supply and/or fit your bathroom.

Ventilation All of the systems that provide centralised and decentralised ventilation, from heat recovery ventilation to natural ventilation and everything in between. Plus central vacuum systems.

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Architectural Designers The practices that will design and/or supervise your self-build project.

Project Planning The professionals you will consult at the very start, alongside your architectural designer, including: quantity surveyors, planning consultants, building surveyors and insurance and warranty suppliers.

Security and Home Automation Automated garage doors, electric gates as well as centralised security systems, from safes to CCTV and smart doorbells, music and TV, lighting, as well as controls for dressings such as blinds.

Building Contractors The companies that will build your home for you.

Roofing Companies that supply and/or fit roof coverings, from natural slate and metal to fibre cement and clay alternatives.

Internal Finishes This category has to do with the finishing touches, from floor and wall coverings to furniture, lighting and internal doors, as well as interior designers who will advise you through the process.

screeds.

Poured Concrete and Screed Any work that requires a cement truck, from foundations to subfloors and

Power and Technology Everything that has to do with power generation: whether you need to connect to power or generate it at home from photovoltaics (PV) or other means (wind, river). Plus battery storage and electric vehicles.

Stone and External Finishes External wall finishes including renders, stone facings, wood panelling, fibre cement, composites and more.

Garden and Outdoor Living Garden rooms as well as outdoor products, from paving, concrete, tarmac and composite floor finishes to decking and planting.

Insulation and Airtightness Companies that will supply and/or fit insulation and airtightness products to make your home energy efficient.

Environmental Systems include on site wastewater systems, which deal with your foul water, and rainwater systems, which collect rainwater for reuse in the garden and/or home.

Building Systems This category includes the companies that will build your home with their own specialist systems, from insulating concrete formwork (ICF) to engineered timber.

Oftentimes these methods are only used for one part of the house structure, e.g. walls.

NEWS

Log on to selfbuild.ie to Find a Supplier by company name or category. Each listing contains all the information you need about the product ranges including images, videos, brochures, and more.

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SUPPLIER HUB

ROOFING

DOORS

Thrutone Endurance Smooth

Cedral – the new home of Tegral’s residential products – is Ireland’s leading supplier of roofing and cladding materials. Irish made for Irish weather, Cedral’s fibre cement slates range includes Thrutone Endurance and Rivendale, Ireland’s strongest slates, which offer a variety of finishes, textures, colours and shapes for maximum design scope.

Cedral also supplies a range of natural slates and all the roofing components and accessories to ensure a perfect, long lasting roof.

Cedral slates come with excellent guarantees too for added peace of mind.

Thrutone Endurance slates

Rivendale slates

About the company Based in Athy, Co. Kildare Cedral is a proud Guaranteed Irish member. Committed to building more beautiful worlds, Cedral is dedicated to sustainability and is on hand to help you build your dream home.

Gorey Interior Doors supplies and fits high quality and affordable wrapped MDF Doors. The Erkado door construction is a rebated door and door frame, with a seal on the inner rebate, cushioning the closing of the door, which allows for a gentle close. On the inside of the door, there are three chrome hinges, which offers a stylish finish. As well as their excellent quality, the doors also prove extremely affordable as they are supplied and fitted, including the door handle, architrave and hinges. These doors complement all homes, be it in an existing home or the modern style of new builds.

About the company Established in 2018 Gorey Interior Doors supplies and fits doors across Leinster, and is the Irish distributor for Erkado doors, a door kit system that boasts sleek finishes with many modern styles. Visit the showroom or book your house visit as early as possible, as lead times may take eight weeks.

Cedral

Gorey Interior Doors

+353 (0) 59 8631316

+353 85 761 1428

cedral.ie

goreyinteriordoors.ie

SUPPLIER HUB

DESIGN

HEATING

Grant Aerona³ R32 10kW air to water air source heat pump

Offering high quality, reliable heating technologies and free of charge home heating design, Grant is a firm favourite with self-builders throughout Ireland. In addition to providing cost effective heating solutions which can help reduce carbon emissions, Grant’s home heating design service can help ensure compliance on all heating requirements for new build homes.

Products include the A+++ rated Grant Aerona³ R32 air to water air source heat pumps, Grant Vortex condensing oil boilers, Grant Uflex underfloor heating, Grant Pre-plumbed cylinders, Grant Afinia aluminium & Grant Solo fan convector radiators.

Typical 6kW Grant heating system

Whether building, extending or improving your home, healycornelius design ltd. is an architectural practice that offers design services as well as advice and supervision during the construction process.

Services include Dimensional Surveys, Building Condition (Pre-Purchase) Surveys, Concept and Sketch Designs, Budget Cost Plans, Architectural Interior Design, Home Designs for Planning Applications, Technical Design for Construction, Design and Assigned Certifier roles, Health and Safety (PSDP), Tendering to obtain a competitive market price and Contract Administration during the course of construction to Completion and Handover.

Grant Afinia aluminium 5 panel vertical radiator

About the company

About the company

Grant is Ireland’s leading manufacturer of heating technologies and has been providing efficient and reliable heating solutions for over 40 years.

healycornelius design ltd. is an award-winning CIAT Chartered Practice, who have built a reputation for creating buildings which use space, materials, and light in an imaginative manner, while maintaining an emphasis on energy efficiency and budget.

Grant Engineering

healycornelius design ltd.

057 9126967

+353(0) 21 234 8421

grantengineering.ie

healycornelius.com

SUPPLIER HUB

WINDOWS

ENERGY

Patrick Allen & Associates Architects

KB Solar specialises in the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels designed to generate electrical power from daylight and reduce your energy bills. Part of KB Electrical, KB Solar offers solar panel installations at affordable prices as well as PV maintenance services. The company can process SEAI grants, is an NICEIC approved contractor, and is SparkSafe certified.

Ready to build your own home? Roof window specialist VELUX®️ has loads of great advice for making your bespoke home dreams a reality. With expert insights into the whole process, from how to plan your project, how to choose the right professionals for the job, to the nuts and bolts of the self build journey and inspiring case studies - they’ve got you covered! Discover how VELUX®️ can help fill your new home with daylight.

Hive Architects Studio Ltd

Patrick Allen & Associates Architects

About the company With over 25 years’ experience working as electricians in the domestic and commercial sectors, KB Solar can help you save up to 70% off your electricity bills, improve your energy rating, and heat your hot water for free. All by installing solar PV panels, which qualify for a grant of up to €3,000. Contact KB Solar for a free no obligation survey.

KB Solar

About the company For over 75 years, VELUX Group, have created better indoor environments by bringing daylight and fresh air into homes all over the world.

VELUX

087 995 7351 / 0044 779 857 6539 kbelectrical.co.uk sales@kbelectrical.co.uk

www.velux.ie/self-build

SUPPLIER HUB

WASTEWATER SYSTEMS

Wastewater Solutions takes care of your wastewater needs from start to finish including: EPA site suitability assessments, planning, design, installation, supervision, certification, and lifetime maintenance. Wastewater Solutions’ technical team is able to solve any issues that may arise and provide a custom solution for every site, in line with the latest regulatory changes.

Specialist distributors for the Premier Tech range of innovative products.

INSULATION

Xtratherm’s Platinum Service for Self Builders gives you the highest level of support from design stage to delivery of real performance on site through the assurance of a validation process from calculation to installation. This service includes: � Free, Friendly 1-2-1 advice for Self Builders � Certified U-value Calculations/Condensation Risk Analysis � Off plan BER/ SAP Calculation consultation service in association with your project energy assessor � Fabric performance specifications to achieve ‘A’ rated building � Pre-design assessment of details & Y-value performance � Pre-tender Xtratherm Specification Check � Access to online and installation training � Installation validation process with install team To register, please visit xtratherm.ie/platinum-service-for-self-builders The Platinum Service for Self Builders can be availed of on projects where at least one other Xi product is used along with a cavity wall system within the range achieving a U-value of <0.15 W/m²K.

About the company Wastewater Solutions is a leading supplier of premium quality wastewater products catering to the domestic, commercial, and municipal industries, and is a member of the Irish Water Treatment Association, a trade body involved in writing of policies and legislation for the wastewater industry.

Wastewater Solutions

About the company Xtratherm is one of the largest Irish manufacturers and suppliers of insulation. Our Technical Team have been involved in Self Build projects for over 30 years and have discussed every issue that you’re now asking as a Self Builder.

Xtratherm

+353 (0)21 4206063 wastewatersolutions.ie info@wastewatersolutions.ie Unit 615 Harbour Point Business Park Little Island, Cork

+353 (0)46 906 6050 xtratherm.ie

THE DOUBLE AWARD WINNING UK & IRELAND BATHROOM RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2019

Infinite customisation options available.

Exclusive to Soaks Bathrooms.

MON - SAT: 9.30AM - 5PM, THURS: 9.30AM - 8PM / 5 - 7 APOLLO RD, BELFAST, BT12 6HP / TEL: (028) 9068 1121 / WWW.SOAKSBATHROOMS.COM

Projects WINTER 2020

RENOVATIONS . EXTENSIONS

NEW BUILDS

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A hands-on approach

With the help of family and friends, it’s possible to hire all the trades yourself – even if it’s the first time you’re self-building.

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Family first Know-how and determination came together to create this perfect family home.

Cast in concrete

An extension project with a cast concrete wall, moulded by planks of sand blasted Douglas fir.

If I can do it…

A renovation and extension project that connects the garden to the house.

See your home featured in Selfbuild magazine by emailing info@selfbuild.ie More photos of these projects available on selfbuild.ie WIN T ER 2020 / S EL F BU IL D / 25