MariaD

Thanks for your reply. I have a few questions regarding your response, and forgive my ignorance in advance if I'm going to ask something silly: What would be the advantage of rendered blockwork compared to applying the render directly on the ICF? Doesn't render normally last 30 years or less? Is brickwork really cheaper than fiber cement or aluminum cladding? My understanding is that fiber cement may cost about £50 per sqm while aluminum is £70 per sqm, including installation. How much do you expect brickwork to cost? How would you anchor the brick wall? Using something like in the video below? If so, wouldn't this method create a lot of thermal bridges and allow water to contact the concrete (which would defeat the purpose of the membrane)? Are there any special precautions you need to take when building brick walls 6-9m high? Don't brick walls require some maintenance, while (from my understanding) fiber cement and aluminum require none?

Hi, I'm researching the best cladding for an ICF structure covered with a membrane. My priorities are in order: 1. Low maintenance 2. Durability (at least 50 years) 3. Ease of installation 4. Pricing 5. Aesthetic From what I've read, fiber cement and aluminum cladding seem to be the best choices. I'm leaning towards fiber cement because it's more affordable and I might prefer its aesthetic (based on what I've seen). Additionally, there shouldn't be any risk of discoloration. I understand that the main downside of fiber cement compared to aluminum is its weight. My questions are: 1. Would the difference in weight significantly impact the stability of the house, require a stronger foundation, or be more prone to loosening from the facade in the future? 2. Have you quoted both options, and what was the actual difference in pricing when labor was included? 3. Is aluminum cladding simpler to install? 4. Would the installation of both be compatible with having wrapped the ICF walls with a membrane? 4. Do you have any real experience with either of these materials that you could share? 5. If you seriously considered them when building your house but opted for something different, what were the reasons? Not sure if it may affect your response, but the house I designed is a 3-storey (the last storey is the attic made livable) with a mono pitch roof. The perimeter is 6.8m x 14.8m, with walls 5.7m high at the back and 9.6m at the front.

Hi, I am looking for information on building a new two-storey house using natural stones for the external (structural) walls. I've read that natural stone may be cheaper than other building materials. My questions are: Do quarries sell blocks made with stone, and how much would they cost? The house would need wall insulation. Would the insulation be added on the inner side? 3. How the walls would be built? I'd imagine stone blocks are quite heavy to handle.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has experience building their houses with HiTherm precast insulated panels. I know they're commonly used in large building projects and not typically for one-off house projects. However, I recently came across a post in a Facebook group where someone shared their experience. According to this person, the cost is comparable to using bricks. The advantages seem to strongly favor this construction method.

Hi everyone, I’m planning to build a detached four-bedroom house in Ireland and would like the attic space to be habitable. I understand that additional fire safety regulations will apply if the attic space exceeds 50 sqm. However, I’m unsure whether the 50 sqm threshold includes the space taken up by the stairs and hallways, or if it only applies to the rooms themselves. Any clarification would be appreciated. Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you for your reply. Will he travel to Waterford City for the sign off?

I have heard stories where soem people had to hire a second engineer expert in ICF because who they hired wasn't. So they paid more.

I'd like for the engineer to sign off on certificate, so if they are not in the same county, it's probable that they won't travel for the sign off.

Hi all, I'm seeking recommendations for a structural engineer expert in ICF in County Waterford or County Kilkenny. Thanks in advance

thanks for the suggestion.

I do not live close to it and I do not have a digger or a mower. And there is a big patch of gorse bushes, I'd say it covers a third of the site.

I've bought a site with a size of 800 sqm. I've been quoted €3000 from a cleaning garden company to cut the weeds and the bushes to ground level and take the waste away. Is that a fair price? If not, what would it be? Thanks in advance.

I will post one pic of the manhole and the map from Irish Water. The green dot on the map is approximately the position of the manhole. The red boundaries is my site. The blue lines the pipes.

There is a manhole just outside of the border of the site. I have used welding rods to locate the pipe, but I am not very convinced it works.

I did that, they gave me the map, but at the same time they were not sure of the position. That is why, before going to an engineer, I wanted to locate the pipe. Can the land surveyor locate it though as an additional service?