The hole for the foundations has been dug and partly filled with broken stone (limestone) . It has been compacted and the radon barrier laid and the radon sump put in place. What is a radon sump you ask - well so did I. It channels any radon gas that come up under the house and channels it into a pipe - away from the house. Find out more here ... http://www.fmb.org.uk/publications/masterbuilder/july99/20.asp
Friday, October 29, 2004
Thursday, October 28, 2004
A lot of building products are certified by the IAB - Irish Agrement Board - a bit like the British Standards . A list of all the certified products can be found here. There are a good few waste water treatment plants and radon barriers on the list.
http://www.irishagrementboard.com/index_certs.doc
http://www.irishagrementboard.com/index_certs.doc
Waste Water Treatment for the house
One thing that I will need to get sorted out sooner rather than later is the waste water treatment plant. The new house is in rural area - (no mains sewage) and we have to install a system to treat the waste. This site from the Environmental Protection Agency gives some detail of what we have to do. There are plenty of companies around offering systems that will do what is required. It should be just a matter of choosing the most reliable and lowest overall cost - easier said than done!
I have had a few brochures already and one visit from a supplier. I also need a 10 year maintenance contract (a condition of the planning permission). The costs seem to arount the 4000 to 5000 euro range with "desludging" costs and servicing on top of that. (Possibly 100 to 200 euro annually).
More on this another day....
I have had a few brochures already and one visit from a supplier. I also need a 10 year maintenance contract (a condition of the planning permission). The costs seem to arount the 4000 to 5000 euro range with "desludging" costs and servicing on top of that. (Possibly 100 to 200 euro annually).
More on this another day....
Steel for the Foundation is on site
The steel for the raft foundation arrived a couple of days ago. It cost 1600 euro . The raft will be approx 17 m by 9m . Stone for under the raft has also started arriving and the foundation has been dug out. I have arranged for a roller to be delivered to flatten the stone- hardcore .
The plant hire company that I asked last week about a roller - said they had 3 and there would be no prblem getting one . But ringing at 4pm on the day you want it is probably not a good idea? They were all out. I tried a plant hire company in the next town (same distance) and they had one available and could deliver within the hour and they were cheaper!
The plant hire company that I asked last week about a roller - said they had 3 and there would be no prblem getting one . But ringing at 4pm on the day you want it is probably not a good idea? They were all out. I tried a plant hire company in the next town (same distance) and they had one available and could deliver within the hour and they were cheaper!
Radon Gas - What is Radon Gas ?
Radon Gas - What is Radon Gas ?: "Radon is a naturally occurring Radio-Active Gas caused by the breakdown of Uranium which is found in underground rock.
It is a colourless and odourless gas which disperses in air but it has been shown to be Carcinogenic with risks of contracting lung cancer.
Radon Gas can percolate through the soil and gather under the floors of buildings. It can then seep through cracks/joints in floors or holes around pipework and accumulate in the structure . It may then become trapped in the building and can only be detected by specialist detection equipment.
What is the extent of the problem ?
It is only recently that Radon Gas has been identified as being a hazard to Public Health . Consequently the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland ( R P I I ) undertook a comprehensive survey of Radon in Irish Dwellings. Approximately 11,500 houses were surveyed nationally and the results suggest that approximately 7% of Houses have Radon Concentrations in excess of the Maximum Acceptable Limit .
In July 1999 , based on the Survey results , the R P I I published a map Radon in Irish Buildings which subdivided the country into a grid of squares ( 10km. x 10km.) . Squares were designated High Radon Areas where it was predicted that more than 10% of the houses located therein had excessive levels.
What is being done about it ?
The Building Regulations were altered in 1998 to deal with Radon . Consequently it is mandatory that all new houses be fitted with a means of extracting radon gas. This normally consists of a Radon Collection Sump located in the sub floor and piped through the external walls. Should Radon subsequently be found in High Levels then it can be extracted safely by providing a fan on the pipework.
It is a colourless and odourless gas which disperses in air but it has been shown to be Carcinogenic with risks of contracting lung cancer.
Radon Gas can percolate through the soil and gather under the floors of buildings. It can then seep through cracks/joints in floors or holes around pipework and accumulate in the structure . It may then become trapped in the building and can only be detected by specialist detection equipment.
What is the extent of the problem ?
It is only recently that Radon Gas has been identified as being a hazard to Public Health . Consequently the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland ( R P I I ) undertook a comprehensive survey of Radon in Irish Dwellings. Approximately 11,500 houses were surveyed nationally and the results suggest that approximately 7% of Houses have Radon Concentrations in excess of the Maximum Acceptable Limit .
In July 1999 , based on the Survey results , the R P I I published a map Radon in Irish Buildings which subdivided the country into a grid of squares ( 10km. x 10km.) . Squares were designated High Radon Areas where it was predicted that more than 10% of the houses located therein had excessive levels.
What is being done about it ?
The Building Regulations were altered in 1998 to deal with Radon . Consequently it is mandatory that all new houses be fitted with a means of extracting radon gas. This normally consists of a Radon Collection Sump located in the sub floor and piped through the external walls. Should Radon subsequently be found in High Levels then it can be extracted safely by providing a fan on the pipework.
Ordering some anti radon stuf for the house
The Radon Story from Bradford Uni - explains a bit about radon and it's dangers. I've ordered a radon barrier and a radon sump today from a local builders supplies. It's standard practice in Ireland and probably in many other countries - to install ani radon protection in new houses.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
What Concrete Volume for foundation?
I found this useful calculator that works out the volume of concrete required for a square or rectangular foundation. It looks like it works - I compared it to the quote from the concrete supplier and it seems to be OK
Steel arriving today
23 Oct 2004
Had a phone call this morning to say the steel was on the way for the foundation. I can pay next week sometime - no rush.
The site is still being levelled - but not much will happen now till Tuesday next week. I won't be around till Thursday anyway (going back to England for a few days).
Had a phone call this morning to say the steel was on the way for the foundation. I can pay next week sometime - no rush.
The site is still being levelled - but not much will happen now till Tuesday next week. I won't be around till Thursday anyway (going back to England for a few days).
Friday, October 22, 2004
Planning Permission for our House in Ireland
Once we decided to build the house - we first had to get a design for the house and then submit it to the County Council for permission to build. Working out the house design was a slow iterative process. Trying things out - different room sizes and layouts. Most of the original attempts were for a bungalow - single storey. But the size of the site is quite narrow and we couldn't make it very wide. Also we tried to keep it simple - a rectangle with no bays or anything like that. This was partly to keep cost down and partly just to keep it simple - We ended up with a dormer bungalow design. We had to go upwards to get the space we wanted and keep the outside space too.
Soil tests also had to be done to see how good or bad the percolation was. This is needed because the house is out in a rural area and there is no sewage system - so we will need a septic tank or some sort of waste treatment system. The type of soil has a big part to play in what you end up getting. As it happens our soil is very sandy and water soaks through it very well - too well - so we need a waste treatment system. More about that another day!
The planning permission people got back to us after about 9 or 10 weeks with some requests for further information. We needed letters from the ESB - (electricity supply board) to say they would move the wires above the site if needed. We also needed written permission from the owners of the adjacent fields - allowing us to adjust boundary heights and get onto their land if we needed to do so. A commissioner of oaths had to witness these. If you are applying for planning permission in Ireland - I would advise involving the ESB early on. They were pretty slow in responding and lost letters and forms that I sent and didn't return phone calls.
After the further info was submitted we waited another 5 weeks or so to be told we had permission subject to having a comprehansive landscape plan - plus 18 other conditions to do with boundary walls and distances from roads etc. The whole process took from March 9th 2004 to September 2004. Some people have told us that we were done quickly! It could have been quicker - but then again it could have been worse.
Soil tests also had to be done to see how good or bad the percolation was. This is needed because the house is out in a rural area and there is no sewage system - so we will need a septic tank or some sort of waste treatment system. The type of soil has a big part to play in what you end up getting. As it happens our soil is very sandy and water soaks through it very well - too well - so we need a waste treatment system. More about that another day!
The planning permission people got back to us after about 9 or 10 weeks with some requests for further information. We needed letters from the ESB - (electricity supply board) to say they would move the wires above the site if needed. We also needed written permission from the owners of the adjacent fields - allowing us to adjust boundary heights and get onto their land if we needed to do so. A commissioner of oaths had to witness these. If you are applying for planning permission in Ireland - I would advise involving the ESB early on. They were pretty slow in responding and lost letters and forms that I sent and didn't return phone calls.
After the further info was submitted we waited another 5 weeks or so to be told we had permission subject to having a comprehansive landscape plan - plus 18 other conditions to do with boundary walls and distances from roads etc. The whole process took from March 9th 2004 to September 2004. Some people have told us that we were done quickly! It could have been quicker - but then again it could have been worse.
Rolling rolling rolling Rawhide !
Friday Oct 22 - 5pm
Just been out looking for a roller to Hire. The sort you sit on to roll the hardcore under the foundation. Tried the recommended one - it was hard to find out in a farm about 4 miles away. No luck - the roller was out and not sure when it would be back. No high tech booking system here. Tried a larger company - in the next town and they had 3 available but if I didn't take it by 6pm this evening I couldn't have it till Tuesday (bank Holiday). I check with TC the builder - who said it wasn't needed yet - and to leave it for now. Ah well - I know the price now (150 euro a day delivered) and I know where to go when it's needed.
While I was out I picked up a load of legal forms for the transfer of the land - what a process that is. I suppose everyone has to earn a living - but why do Solicitors take so long about everything?
I'm supposed to meet TC the builder to see how things are going at 6.30 today. Might be difficult with the other half out earning a wage and 4 kids to prepare dinner for.... but I'll give it a go!
Off to England tomorrow - hopefully unless any major problems crop up.
Just been out looking for a roller to Hire. The sort you sit on to roll the hardcore under the foundation. Tried the recommended one - it was hard to find out in a farm about 4 miles away. No luck - the roller was out and not sure when it would be back. No high tech booking system here. Tried a larger company - in the next town and they had 3 available but if I didn't take it by 6pm this evening I couldn't have it till Tuesday (bank Holiday). I check with TC the builder - who said it wasn't needed yet - and to leave it for now. Ah well - I know the price now (150 euro a day delivered) and I know where to go when it's needed.
While I was out I picked up a load of legal forms for the transfer of the land - what a process that is. I suppose everyone has to earn a living - but why do Solicitors take so long about everything?
I'm supposed to meet TC the builder to see how things are going at 6.30 today. Might be difficult with the other half out earning a wage and 4 kids to prepare dinner for.... but I'll give it a go!
Off to England tomorrow - hopefully unless any major problems crop up.
Steel for the foundation
Now - I'm pretty useless when it comes to building - so I'm relying on TC my builder. He is taking care of the build up to roof level . I then have to organise plastering, plumbing, electrics, doors, windoes, kitchen ,painting, tiling, flooring. Having never done any of these myself and not knowing much about any of them I am hopingto learn fast. I don't plan on doing any of the work myself - being a "stay at home dad" means I have a 2 year old to look after all day. I don't think it would be wise/safe etc to have him around a building site! Anyway - I would probably mess it all up. No I'll leave the work to the experts -
Todays lesson was a crash course in steel reinforcement for the raft foundation.
Me and TC - the builder made a trip to a supplier about 10 miles away - We were promised the steel would be ready by Saturday - and pay on delivery. So not a bad hours work really.
Also spoke to a supplier of stone to go under the foundation - they are cheaper then the concrete supplier - and better type of stone (limestone) too. They are ready to deliver as soon as they get the call (but not next Monday - it's a bank holiday here in Ireland) .
We need a roller now to roll this stone as it is delivered . That's a job I must do now as well as sorting out the transfer of the site (legally) to me.
More later or tomorrow...
Todays lesson was a crash course in steel reinforcement for the raft foundation.
Me and TC - the builder made a trip to a supplier about 10 miles away - We were promised the steel would be ready by Saturday - and pay on delivery. So not a bad hours work really.
Also spoke to a supplier of stone to go under the foundation - they are cheaper then the concrete supplier - and better type of stone (limestone) too. They are ready to deliver as soon as they get the call (but not next Monday - it's a bank holiday here in Ireland) .
We need a roller now to roll this stone as it is delivered . That's a job I must do now as well as sorting out the transfer of the site (legally) to me.
More later or tomorrow...
Buying the Materials
Thur Oct 21 2004
Apart from the concrete and blocks - there is plenty more stuff to be ordered . I had a list drawn up by a local builders merchant. I just handed in the house plan and they came back with a full list of exactly what I would need with the price for each item! No charge no obligation to buy. All handwritten. Not sure if you would get that in the UK - but then again I have never tried!
My builder has said that I can still try shopping around and may get some things a bit cheaper - but for convenience it is probably easier to stick with one reliable supplier for the majority of the building materials. So I paid my €2000 euro deposit and can now start ordering materials as I need them. The "office" was a bit of a mess - everything was on paper - no sign of any computerised ordering system here. But you get the personal touch from the main man (Joe). I might get prices for some of the more costly things like roof tiles from some other suppliers. Ireland is booming now for builders and probably for builders suppliers - so there is probably plenty of competition out there - if I look.
Builders merchants are all over the place - and if you have the time you can get cheaper prices by shopping around. But - if you haven't got the time - a recommendation of reliability and speedy delivery is worth listening to.
Apart from the concrete and blocks - there is plenty more stuff to be ordered . I had a list drawn up by a local builders merchant. I just handed in the house plan and they came back with a full list of exactly what I would need with the price for each item! No charge no obligation to buy. All handwritten. Not sure if you would get that in the UK - but then again I have never tried!
My builder has said that I can still try shopping around and may get some things a bit cheaper - but for convenience it is probably easier to stick with one reliable supplier for the majority of the building materials. So I paid my €2000 euro deposit and can now start ordering materials as I need them. The "office" was a bit of a mess - everything was on paper - no sign of any computerised ordering system here. But you get the personal touch from the main man (Joe). I might get prices for some of the more costly things like roof tiles from some other suppliers. Ireland is booming now for builders and probably for builders suppliers - so there is probably plenty of competition out there - if I look.
Builders merchants are all over the place - and if you have the time you can get cheaper prices by shopping around. But - if you haven't got the time - a recommendation of reliability and speedy delivery is worth listening to.
The Frost is all over
Wednesday 20th October 2004
A frosty start to the day - and the digger is still working away. There is a fair bit of soil and stones to be moved. The middle of the half acre site - where the house is going to be - is a small hill about 5 or 6 foot high. It was a bigger hill many years ago - but my grandfather must have dug out the sand gravel for some building work . Just as well - or we would be digging for weeks instead of days! The plan is to spread the hill around the site - we shouldn't need to take any away. It is gradually getting flatter .
A frosty start to the day - and the digger is still working away. There is a fair bit of soil and stones to be moved. The middle of the half acre site - where the house is going to be - is a small hill about 5 or 6 foot high. It was a bigger hill many years ago - but my grandfather must have dug out the sand gravel for some building work . Just as well - or we would be digging for weeks instead of days! The plan is to spread the hill around the site - we shouldn't need to take any away. It is gradually getting flatter .
Ordering concrete
Thurs Oct 21st 2004
The site is geting more level now - but heavy rain has made it very very wet and muddy.
I had to check out the prices of Concrete and concrete blocks today at a local supplier. There are 2 main suppliers around this area - and I am told that prices are very similar - so I went to the one my Builder (TC) recommended. They took the house plans and within half an hour had done a quote for all the concrete and stone and blocks I would need for the foundation - the walls and the driveway. Not too much of a shock either. No need to pay up front- just give a days notice and they will deliver.
The site is geting more level now - but heavy rain has made it very very wet and muddy.
I had to check out the prices of Concrete and concrete blocks today at a local supplier. There are 2 main suppliers around this area - and I am told that prices are very similar - so I went to the one my Builder (TC) recommended. They took the house plans and within half an hour had done a quote for all the concrete and stone and blocks I would need for the foundation - the walls and the driveway. Not too much of a shock either. No need to pay up front- just give a days notice and they will deliver.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
The Digger has arrived
Today was the day that something actually started on the building of our new home in Ireland.
The Digger finally arrived and began levelling the site and preparing it for the construction of the house.
At 2.00 pm this afternoon the first bit of soil was dug - the first small step of many more to come over the next few months.
This house has been in the dreaming and planning stages for about 8 years now. Finally something physical has happened - there is hopefully no going back.
Much more to follow in the coming weeks and months.
The Digger finally arrived and began levelling the site and preparing it for the construction of the house.
At 2.00 pm this afternoon the first bit of soil was dug - the first small step of many more to come over the next few months.
This house has been in the dreaming and planning stages for about 8 years now. Finally something physical has happened - there is hopefully no going back.
Much more to follow in the coming weeks and months.
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