The Selfbuild Podcast

Cathal Keane of Graf and John Brennan of Molloy chat about on-site wastewater treatment system costs and rainwater harvesting tanks: ·      Retrofit of wastewater systems: upgrade cost examples·      What determines the cost of the system·      New build cost of systems, how much space you need·      What is a percolation test and what’s involved·      Wastewater tank installation process·      Tank types and pros and cons·      Rainwater harvesting tanks: benefits and system sizing·      Rainwater harvesting tank costs·      Maintenance on both wastewater and rainwater systems Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Modern methods of construction mass timber and ICF are two options for those looking for quick, good quality builds. Self-build expert John Corless chats to Danius Prakapavicius of iDomus Brian Duffy of Amvic about:·      What is mass timber construction? Layers and how it’s finished internally and externally, pros and cons. ·      What is Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF)? Layers and how it’s finished internally and externally, pros and cons. ·      Design limitations and how to build with modern methods cost effectively.·      How quotes are put together, sequence of works for both.·      How much do they cost compared to traditional block build, materials and labour.·      Structural integrity of systems versus traditional block build.·      Impact resistance and power washing.·      Working with structural engineers.·      John’s thoughts on 3D printing houses.·      Major benefits to building the house off site.·      Time and labour savings compared with traditional methods.This episode was recorded at Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Leinster 2025.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a podcast recorded at Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Leinster 2025, self-build expert John Corless shares what to look out for when assessing your floor plans, including:·      How to interrogate your floor plans·      Ensuring the different rooms and spaces work well together·      House size: typical sizes and how to evaluate what you need·      Corridors and door placement·      Width of stairs and hallways·      Quality of light and how far natural light will travel from a window·      Dealing with dark corridors·      Window placement·      The rule of thumb for window sizes ·      Plant rooms: where and how big ·      What to include in all floor plansThis podcast is a heavily edited excerpt from John’s floorplans chat at the show. John will be at the next Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live events with his talk that walks you through real floor plan examples.There he will explain the above concepts and more, including dealing with light in open plan areas, utility rooms, solutions for natural light, as well as bedroom design including privacy, where to place the bed, proximity to other rooms, ensuites and dressing room sizes… And are balconies a good idea? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The passive house methodology has become the go-to standard for build a new home, a renovate one, to be energy efficient; Seán McKenna of the Passive House Association and South West College chats to construction expert John Corless about: ·      How much more passive houses cost than building regs compliant homes·      The five passive house principles·      What to do for ventilation in the case of a renovation project ·      What happens to ventilation in the case of power cuts·      Easy wins when retrofitting·      Upgrading with EnerPhit·      Dangers of insulating internal walls·      Period home renovation tips·      Double vs triple glazing, issues with roof windows·      Do you reduce window spec to reduce solar gain?·      New builds: how to distribute solar gains around the house·      How to cut costs without cutting corners: achieving space efficiency Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Construction expert John Corless and builder/estimator DJ Rasdale chat about the current state of play in Ireland for build costs at Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Leinster 2025, including:-         How much it costs for self-builders to build a house in Ireland-         Indicative cost per sqft for new build and for renovation-         Material costs and labour costs today-         Cost of build types: which is most expensive-         Cheapest designs-         Direct labour vs builder pitfalls and savings, project manager route-         How VAT comes into build costs-         Quality management-         Standard Contract: what it is, pitfalls-         Builder’s finish vs turnkey, what to expect to have finished in each-         Cost overruns: should they happen?-         Role of a quantity surveyor: benefits, how much do they cost-         Professional fees: percentage to budget for-         Overall cost percentages Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek McIntyre of JML SIPS chats about the modern building methods that is Structural Insulated Panels:Are SIPS worth investing in? How much does it cost?What is it and what are the two main types?How are roofs built with SIPS - process and benefits.The DIY options of installing SIPS yourselfAirtightness and insulation benefitsEnvironmental credentialsHow it compares with blockwork, timber frame and ICFProcess of getting a SIPS home built from start to finishCurrent lead timesCertificationThis podcast was recorded at Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Ulster 2024; for show dates this year go to live.selfbuild.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chartered surveyor Keith Kelliher chats to Cathal Keane of Graf who’s just finished building his own home, and to quantity surveyor Jimmy Walsh of Modern Eco Projects, to uncover the hidden costs of a self-build, including:- Costs associated to being gifted land- Site suitability report, cost of the test and watchpoints, how long they are valid for- Average cost of an onsite wastewater treatment system on a self-build, average maintenance costs- Solicitor fees- Development contribution fees- Site clearance and scaffolding costs- Service costs, how to get connected and how much, watchpoints- Issues with lead times for electricity connections- Insurance costs- Difference between direct labour and hiring a builder- Costs of running the site- Professional fees and who to hire at an early stage- Sequence of works and planning ahead- Plumbing package costs- Planning permission tips and typical conditions- Next steps after planning, where to start- Grants available- Cost-design pendulum and the need for accurate costings- Assigned certifier - what it is and what cost - opt in versus opt out and how it works with mortgages- Health and safety - roles of PSDS and PSCS - and who to assign those roles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 4 of a four part series about build costs in Ireland, quantity surveyor Keith Kelliher explains how to budget for your build and what pitfalls to avoid, including:Why the most common budget buster is not having a budget in the first placeHow to deal with price increases for materials when self-buildingRate of inflation on materials 4 per cent per yearCan ground conditions be budgeted for? Worst case scenarios.Most common budget busters: lighting and electrics, how much each electrical point will set you back, how many do you need?Benefits of quantifying each elementPre-existing services, how to prevent nasty surprisesPC Sums not being realistic, e.g. windows including costing estimatesWhere windows are coming from and how they're designed, knock-on effects with blindsWhere money goes into windows, ironmongery costsKitchen costs, how the add-ons workBathroom costs, where to spend and where not to spendWhich trades are more expensiveStaircase and carpentry costsWill modular homes save you money?Benefits of employing a quantity surveyorBenefits of employing an architectural designer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 3 of a four part series about build costs in Ireland, quantity surveyor Keith Kelliher sheds light on how much you can expect to pay for your new bathroom in Ireland today, including:Common things people forget to budget forWhere people are spending unnecessarilyImporting from abroad: Pros and cons and what savings can really be madeTiler costsWall hung toilets for where, and what to considerBespoke trays and glass – are they worth the moneyPump requirements Choice of floor finishes: costs for different types and how to saveHow tile shapes affect cost, patterns and reducing wasteImportance of waterproofing and is timber ok on the floor outside the shower area?Saving money on bathrooms: sanitaryware choices for each bathroom typeLowdown on wetroomsHow to budget for the bathroom effectively Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 2 of a four part series about build costs in Ireland, quantity surveyor Keith Kelliher sheds light on how much you can expect to pay for your new kitchen in Ireland today, including:Cost components and how they can bust the budgetCommon things people forget to budget forProduct options, weighing durability vs costWhat you can expect to pay for a solid wood kitchenWays to reduce cost on materials usedCountertop options with costingsWorktops: vinyl/laminate vs wood vs stone vs quartz comparisonIssues with stone and other heavy materials as countertopsCost of appliances and other add-ons to the kitchenPros and cons of hot water tapsDowndraught extractor fans pros and consCan you use MVHR instead of extractor fansCost of finishes around the kitchenIronmongery costs and how they can bust the budgetCost of electrical points and lightingServices to the islandBenefits of sink in the islandHow to budget for the kitchen effectivelyPC Sums: what are they and how they work for kitchens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 1 of a four part series about build costs in Ireland, quantity surveyor Keith Kelliher sheds light on how much you can expect to pay for your windows and doors including:·      Why is one house 50k and another 15k for the windows and doors?·      Types of windows and doors products available to self-builders in Ireland·      How windows and doors are costed·      Costs per sqm for different types·      Costs off the shelf versus bespoke·      Regs for fire doors plus notes on costs·      Ironmongery costs·      Watchpoints for windows and doors·      Dangers of costing a house based on averages Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Belfast 2024, Michael O'Donnell of Solarfix NI and Suzie McKee of Start Solar joined us to chat about photovoltaic (PV) panels, including:What are PV panelsHow they workWhat are the componentsWhat can go wrong on themHow much do they costWhat's the paybackHow to best use themShould you get a battery? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Belfast 2024, DJ Rasdale of Build Cost Estimations runs through a real life example of costing a build from start to finish, and provides an update on how much it costs to build a house in Ireland today, including:·      Labour and material costs as of September 2024·      Cost estimations: how they’re put together·      Details of a costed project in NI·      Direct labour versus main contractor: how much can you save?·      Project details: issues with foundations and how much they set the project back·      Variations during the build, PC Sums·      Kitchen costs, ways contractor saved money on the project·      Budget busters and best value-for-money ways to cost a project·      Traditional (concrete blockwork) vs timber frame vs ICF vs SIPs: how they compare cost wise·      Heat pump with underfloor heating costs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A snapshot of what to expect at Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Belfast 2024, including testimonials from self-builders who attended the event and special offers from a few of the 150+ companies exhibiting at the show; clips from: Kitchen Pod, Breedon Tiles, 3DNA, SolarFix, Viltra, NIE Networks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bathroom consultant Gareth Holland chats about how to go about your renovation or new build project, including:·        How much to budget for your bathroom for a good finish·        Dangers of buying online·        Where to start when renovating a bathroom·        Where to start with a new build·        What to bring on your initial consultation·        Typical design constraints·        Shower choices·        How bathroom suppliers liaise with trades·        Sequence of works·        Considerations for a wetroom and bath in a small bathroom·        Storage solutions for small bathrooms·        Size of small downstairs bathrooms with design ideas for wow factor·        Which bathroom is worth investing the most in?·        New build bathrooms: budgeting tips·        Tiling trends for 2024·        Trends and making brassware work·        Timeframe to create recessed shelves (niches) in stud walls, benefits·        Futureproofing and typical bathroom lifetime·        Typical lead times·        Maintenance for taps Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Acheson of Internorm chats about window and door design, including:How to compare windowsHow much self-builders are spending on windows and doorsHow to save money on your window and door designU-values explained in detailThe case for triple glazed windowsAluclad options: uPVC vs timberWindow replacement: what you need to considerTrickle vents in windows: pros and consHow quotes for windows are put togetherMitigation for overheating with window design, including low-g glassShading devices pros and cons, from brise soleil to blinds and curtainsLift and slide vs bifold doors: pros and cons, design limitationsDoor types, how they're builtHow to compare doors from different suppliersPrice points for doors and hardwareChoice of front doors vs other entry pointsSolutions for coastal locationsRetrofitting new external doors, watchpointsLead times, factory holidaysTimeframe for ordering windows depending on the building methodTroubleshooting with product issuesTroubleshooting installation issues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig Jones of Land Options Ireland chats about how much it costs to build a house in Ireland today, including:Budgeting for your build: why a cost per sqm is the best place to start - and what the next steps areThe typical budget busters on a buildHow to check if the site won't cost a fortune to build onHow much reports costHow much to set aside for architect, engineer and quantity surveyorPreliminaries: what are they and how much will they set you backCosts per sqm as of mid-2024What's the cheapest building method and will we be building with blockwork in 20 years' time?What is value engineering and how does it workWhat's the most cost efficient way to build Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Finn, AKA Pete the builder, of RTÉ's Home Rescue and advisory firm Let's Talk Homes joins tiny house builder Paul Lawford of smallchange.ie to chat about the process of building your home in Ireland today with cost saving tips, including:Once the house has been designed, planning permission has been approved, Health & Safety has been done on the design, what are the next steps?What is the first thing to happen on site - what needs to be organised before you can start on the buildOverview of the steps from foundations to roof finishes on a traditional buildThe process of building a tiny houseWays to save during the buildHow to prepare for the building stage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonny Orr of Daniel George Kitchens and Caroline O'Neill of Digg Mama chat about Caroline’s kitchen design journey including how she went about it and what steps she would recommend self-builders taking. The chat also focused on:·        Main things to consider when designing a kitchen; common mistakes to avoid.·        Best time to involve kitchen designers and do they do 3D renders? ·        How much do kitchens cost and where can you save money?·        Downdraft extractors vs traditional hood, which is best?·        Lighting tips including task lighting when using an in-hob extractor and whether to include lighting in all units.·        Hardwearing materials and colours, how to make sure the kitchen won’t go out of fashion.·        Not thinking of putting in an oven, is that a bad idea? If I plan to have a pantry, do I need less cupboards?·        Design tips for islands and peninsulas (breakfast bars) in the kitchen layout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Kinloch of SONAS Bathrooms and Darrel McCauley of Spectrum Bathrooms joined us at Selfbuild Live Belfast to talk about what’s trending in bathroom designs and how to get the style on a budget, includingColours and style in general: what’s on trend, e.g. is barbiecore a thing in bathrooms? What are the classics?General budget saving advice: consider number of bathrooms, size? How about renovations, how to save with existing bathroom upgrade?Sanitaryware: what’s on trend, e.g. wall hung basin/toilet and standing bath, and how to save and still get the lookFittings: what’s on trend, e.g. is gold still fashionable, and how to save and still get the lookRadiators: what’s on trend and how to save, e.g. output?Mirrors: what’s on trend, is it still LED and Bluetooth mirrors, and hacks to save.What are the other big ticket items in the bathroom and how can self-builders save? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.