New Builds | Building to new Energy Rating Standards | Building a Passive house

New builds, especially these aspiring to achieve an A+ or a passive house energy rating require careful planning and meticulous implementation.

ECO BUILDERS Dublin offer complete project and site management  on all new builds. We take care of the entire project from groundwork to finished painting. This means you don't have to deal with several different sub-contractors, only with your architect and us.

We look after all the sub-contractors and material suppliers providing you with full project management and peace of mind.

We only work with reliable and qualified tradespeople, people who have proven themselves over the years, so you can be assured that your new home will be completed on time, within budget and according to your specifications.

We are fully insured and bonded and our qualifications have been certified by SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland) and NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland). We only use NSAI-approved materials, as our reputation for quality workmanship is worth far more to us than a small gain in profit by using sub-standard materials.

 

New Builds - Building process

After you find a suitable site, assess its ground conditions and design your dream home, you will need to have your plans approved by the Local Authorities. All new builds in Ireland require a Full Planning Permission.

Full Planning Permission means that the planning Authority has given permission to construct the building as per submitted  design and specification. Once you receive a planning permission, you will have to either build the property as approved, or seek a new approval for any changes you want to make.

You can find more about planning permission here...

Once the plans are approved and you have selected a contractor, the new builds construction progresses through the following stages:

• Site Clearance
• Foundations
• Ground Floor Structure
• Drains/Pipes
• DPC/Radon
• Ground Floor
• Floor Structure
• Wall Structure
• Cills & Lintels
• Roof Structure
• Chasing
• External Doors & Windows
• External Wall Finishes
• First Fixes
• Interior Joinery
• Interior Plastering
• Second Fixes
• Snag List
• Decorating
• Site cleanup

Depending on the size of your home and the complexity of the design, the construction will take between 3 months to a year. Shorter time frames can be achieved if you use a pre-fabricated house kit, decide on a timber-frame house or choose a simple design.

New builds - Cost of construction

Irish Association of Self Builders published a handy guide to the breakdown of total project costs for new builds. The figures below, quoted in the guide, show the approximate percentage of the total cost of a new home through each stage of the build. This is based on an average detached, two storey home.

Site Clearance  3% Foundation  9% External Walls 17% Roof  9% Windows and External Doors  7% Upper Floor 2% Stairs 1% Internal Walls 2.5% Internal Doors 2.5% Floor Finishes 4% Wall Finishes 5% Ceiling Finishes 2% Heating 6% Electrical Installation 4% Water Installation (Cold/Warm) 2% Waste & Sanitary 7% Kitchen 5% Built In Cupboards 1% Professional Fees 11%

Of course every project is different in the type of construction, construction methods used, the material used and the quality required, so use the above breakdown of costs only as a general guideline.

 

New builds -  Building a passive house

Escalating cost of fossil fuels demand all new builds to be constructed according to new, energy saving standards. The ultimate objective is to build a house that so energy efficient that its cost of heating is zero or almost zero. This kind of house is called a passive house.

If you are thinking about building a new home, especially if you are considering building a passive house, GIVE US A CALL.

ECO Builders Dublin  are  one of the few Irish building contractors who have first-hand experience in building a passive house. We will be more than happy to give you a few ideas and a FREE estimate.