In Ireland’s fast-moving property market, the word “renovated” gets thrown around a lot. New windows, a fresh render, modern floors, and shiny fittings are often enough to sell a home at a premium. But are we really improving our housing stock — or just painting over the cracks?
When renovating old homes or constructing new ones, two terms often come up in building science: breathability and airtightness. While they may sound like opposites, they actually work together to create healthy, efficient, and durable buildings. Let’s break them down in simple terms. What is Breathability? In the context of buildings, breathability refers to a …
At Summit Matters Ltd, we believe that quality craftsmanship isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity. As specialists in derelict home renovations, we understand that every project is an investment, not just in a property, but in its future value, safety, and longevity. That’s why we stand by our principle: We’d rather explain the price of …
Read more “Let’s have a conversation about the difference between Price & Cost”
In Ireland, garden structures like sheds, home offices, or studios can be built without planning permission under exempted development rules—but they cannot be considered habitable spaces without proper approvals. Here’s a breakdown: What is Allowed Under Exempted Development for Garden Structures? You can construct a garden structure without planning permission if it meets these key …
Read more “Can Garden Structures such as a home office be used as a living space?”
Renovating an old or derelict home is an exciting challenge, but it’s also full of hidden risks. Whether you’re restoring a period property or upgrading a fixer-upper, making the wrong choices can lead to delays, budget overruns, and safety hazards. To help you plan your project wisely, here are seven of the most common home …
Read more “7 Common Renovation Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)”
What do the Key Changes to Part L of the Irish Building Regulations Mean for Homeowners & Renovation Works The latest proposed changes to Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy – Dwellings) of the Irish Building Regulations focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in both new and existing homes. These updates …
Read more “Proposed Changes to Part L of the Irish Building Regulations: What does it mean?”
It’s been a crazy year! We have seen a HUGE influx in the level of interest in renovating Derelict & Vacant Homes in Ireland. Driven primarily by the Government Grant scheme, we hope some of the projects are originating from a desire to restore old properties and to see a revival of traditional skills. Here …
Read more “What can we forecast for 2025 in the derelict & vacant homes market?”
In this, the last post in our current series of three regarding Irish Building Regulations, we want to take a peek at some projects where the scope of works *may* be exempt from compliance. While Irish Building Regulations apply to most home renovation projects, certain works may be exempt from requiring full compliance or may …
Read more “Exemptions from Irish Building Regulations for Home Renovations”
TLDR; If you have condensation issues, throw your windows open in the morning. Vent your house and avoid creating thermal bridging. Talk to us. Complaints and queries about condensation in buildings come in waves. Usually preceeded by a change in the weather.
Following from our recent post regarding the need for compliance with Irish Building Regulations in all your home renovation projects, we have several queries about “what if I’m just DIYing the project?” Sorry to disappoint, however, there are no exceptions (there are some exemptions – post to follow). Even DIY work must be up to …
Read more “What are likely Penalties for Non-Compliance with Irish Building Regulations?”
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