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#Property Advice

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The same SEAI grant cannot be applied for twice for the same property. If, for example, a previous owner had the attic insulated using an SEAI grant, the standard individual SEAI grant is off the table. File pictures</p>

home and gardens

Home Q&A: If I move house, can I apply for another SEAI grant?

The same SEAI grant cannot be applied for twice for the same property

<p>We recently did a significant retrofit on our 1980s-built semi-detached home — qualifying for a cheaper green mortgage was half the reason we took on the retrofit</p>

residential

New BER system explained: What it means for homeowners chasing green mortgages

<p>Róisín Lafferty sits on a white bouclé Bryan O’Sullivan croissant sofa in her gallery at her studio at 23 Fitzwilliam Square South, Dublin. Pictures: Barbara Corsico</p>

home and gardens

Look inside the Georgian townhouse with the art of sparking conversations

Close up photo of Sharp gaze of a cat's eyes confined within an iron cage, peering out into the world from behind the iron bars.

home and gardens

Home Q&A: How GPS trackers can keep our pets safe and healthy

Jennifer Sheahan: Most people would rather repair an item than get rid of it and find a replacement

home and gardens

Jennifer Sheahan: Most people would rather repair an item than get rid of it and find a replacement

Majella Galvin: Is buying a protected structure worth it?

residential

Majella Galvin: Is buying a protected structure worth it?

Brick garden house covered in lush green ivy and surrounded by vibrant plants in a suburban setting, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire,

Home Q&A: How tall can the fencing outside the front of my property be?

We live on a busy road in a town

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Central vacuum series

Inspect a gadget – which high-tech household additions are worth the spend and which aren’t?

Hi Brigid, My partner and I are hoping to buy our first home in the next year or so.

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

The best solar outdoor lighting that will shine brightly season after season

The best solar outdoor lighting that will shine brightly season after season

Solar and wireless USB-charged outdoor lighting offers unique creative freedom around our patios, driveways and landscaping.

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Small downtown Toronto urban back yard garden in summer.

Home Q&A: How to create a good relationship with your neighbours

There are many practical ways to regulate these relationships over the garden fence and be the best of friends this summer

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Cozy Pastel Colored Bathroom with Marble Bathtub

Jennifer Sheahan: How to grout and regrout your tiles

It can be confidence-building to tackle basic home maintenance and repairs when required — and you save yourself some cash

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Mother, father and son family sitting together at Sunroom in cozy armchairs and reading books, using laptop or browsing a smartp

Kieran McCarthy: Is a modern sunroom a good addition or an energy drain on the house?

Given that you are designing a new home on a blank canvas, I would urge you to design a modern lounge.

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

Outdoor sitting area fire pit in a chilly New York backyard in the fall. Enjoy landscaping, foliage and beauty while staying war

Home Q&A: The sustainable way to enjoy a fire pit or chiminea in your garden this summer

If you fancy the ultimate nostalgia experience, a fire pit, fire basket or a chiminea can perform multiple duties

Sat, 30 May, 2026

Home interior

Jennifer Sheahan: Tiling is an art, but here's how to do it yourself

It's still worth hiring a tiler, especially with anything outside standard-format tiles or for clean mitred edges, but sometimes that's not an option

Wed, 27 May, 2026

Real estate professionals inspecting home under renovation

Majella Galvin: Should I sell while the garden looks great or wait til renovations are finished?

A detailed look at the importance of selling when the time is right

Mon, 25 May, 2026

contractor chatting to architect

Get the best from home-building pros and tradespeople when renovating or extending

Most building contractors and tradespeople are well-qualified, organised, hard-working — and in high demand, writes Kya deLongchamps

Fri, 22 May, 2026

two engineers, a man and a woman in white helmets and green protective vests

Home Q&A: How to spot a rogue trader or cowboy builder

'There are two general types of bandits riding the plains in shiny vans, happy to rustle your wallet'

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Restoring an old house

Home Q&A: Should I stay in the house during our extension and deep-energy renovation?

'If it is possible for you to live at home during the renovation, remember building work creates two things in abundance — noise and dust'

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Baz Ashmawy shares his recipe for a kitchen revamp

Baz Ashmawy shares his recipe for a kitchen revamp

Currently mid-renovation, the TV and radio host talks about the practicalities, and finding inspiration by scrolling socials and from showroom visits

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Peter Dowdall: What to see and do at Mallow Home & Garden Festival this weekend

Peter Dowdall: What to see and do at Mallow Home & Garden Festival this weekend

'Long before social media, gardeners swapped plants and advice over fences. Festivals like Mallow continue that tradition on a larger scale'

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Architect sketching a remodeling plan with her clients

Kieran McCarthy: Do I need an interior designer and why?

Kieran McCarthy breaks down the benefits of having an interior designer in the home building process

Mon, 18 May, 2026

black wooden garden house in wild overgrown garden

Home Q&A: How to paint, stain and maintain a modular wood building

Every three to five years, backyard wood buildings (residential or otherwise) will require light repair, sanding, and painting or staining

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Two female friends are enjoying some relaxing time together, sitting at table on porch of traditional wooden chalet in mountain

Home Q&A: Should I include a deck with an overhang on my timber-framed cabin?

A deck with an overhang or some type of porch protection offers shelter as well as no-fuss flooring on which to leave boots, bikes and more

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Jennifer Sheahan: How to reseal your bath or shower

Jennifer Sheahan: How to reseal your bath or shower

Resealing your bath or shower may not be glamorous, but it is far more manageable than it looks

Wed, 13 May, 2026

Brigid Browne: Will it be 'easy money' to rent a modular home in our garden to students?

Brigid Browne: Will it be 'easy money' to rent a modular home in our garden to students?

Many people assume student tenants have fewer rights, but this is not always the case

Mon, 11 May, 2026

A model house and a compass. Home diagnosis, feng shui, and floor plan images.

Kieran McCarthy: Choose light, choose sunshine, choose good design

How your home aligns with the sun can have a huge affect on the experience living there

Mon, 04 May, 2026

Female legal advisor lawyer helping her client with her legal issues in the office

Property advice: Does my divorce mean that I have to sell the family home?

Property advice — does a separation mean we have to sell the family home?

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

Precise measurements - Land Surveyor

Brigid Browne: How do I resolve a boundary line dispute with my neighbour?

A neighbour says our boundary encroaches onto his land — is there an easy way of addressing this?

Mon, 13 Apr, 2026

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen and Living Room Interior Design

Kieran McCarthy: Why 'open plan fatigue' is real — and how to design intrigue back into your home

From strategic 'nooks' to the nifty magic of pocket doors, open-plan spaces are all about balancing flow with a little bit of privacy

Mon, 06 Apr, 2026

Client looking at a house brochure at a real estate showing

I'm looking for my first home and I've found it overwhelming. What should I be focusing on?

I'm ready to buy... but where do I start?

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026

Home Q&A: Porcelain and ceramic tile style for every room

Home Q&A: Porcelain and ceramic tile style for every room

Kya deLongchamps guides you on how to know when to choose porcelain or ceramic tiles

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Jennifer Sheahan: Custom joinery and built-in furniture can transform your home

Jennifer Sheahan: Custom joinery and built-in furniture can transform your home

Jennifer Sheahan shares how to know when it's worth investing in custom joinery and built-in furniture

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

Couple admiring the view from the living room of their house.

Home Q&A: Your guide to replacing windows, and grants available to help pay for it

Kya deLongchamps advises on whether you should replace your windows and what funding is available towards costs

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Thoughtful Woman At The Window

Property advice: Is there any merit to spending money on triple glazed windows?

With options including double and triple glazing as well as wood, aluminium or aluclad frames — how do I choose what kind of windows to use on my new extension?

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

Interior designer Sara Cosgrove's recipe for the perfect kitchen

Interior designer Sara Cosgrove's recipe for the perfect kitchen

Home Editor Eve Kelliher discovers what the pros consider to be the smartest ingredients for renovation success in the hub of the house

Fri, 20 Mar, 2026

electric house rewire

What are the pros and cons of a phased retrofit?

Transitioning a 1950s semi-detached home into a modern, energy-efficient space is a marathon, not a sprint — but there are some elements such as rewiring where it's better to get the job done in one go...

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

Living Area in a Modern Luxury Home

Home Q&A: How smart spending in a renovation saves you money

Plan wisely when renovating so you you're not doubling your outlay down the line, writes Jennifer Sheahan

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Beautiful garden with ornamental grasses

Garden Q&A: Is it too late to cut back grasses and perennials in March?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Architect explaining home renovation project to couple in showroom

Kieran McCarthy: How to start planning a house extension

Confused about when to contact an architect, and if you need a quantity surveyor, and when to contact builders for quotes?

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Close-up Of Engineer Hand Drawing Plan On Blue Print with architect equipment,architectural plan, sketching a construction proje

My builder said my extension didn't need planning. Will this jeopardise my house sale?

Here are the steps needed if you're 'in a chain' and an issue arises with one part of the process

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

External wall insulation panels installed on house in england uk

How to combat cold and damp in a 1970s bungalow

Outside of the cost, the biggest downside with drylining is the upheaval in your home

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

joinery team fitting a kitchen

When in your home build can you start thinking about kitchens, bathrooms and electrics

Advice from expert builder Kieran McCarthy

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Child room full of colors

How to future-proof your home design for every family stage

Many homes designed around temporary family stages, like young children, eventually become less functional, underscoring the importance of architects designing for future adaptability.

Sun, 25 Jan, 2026

Worker Spraying Blown Fiberglass Insulation between Attic Trusses

What are the choices when it comes to a home energy upgrade?

Should I go with the heat-pump upgrade or solar?

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Bungalows

Kieran McCarthy: Is a dormer bungalow much more expensive than a bungalow?

Most engineers will design the same foundations for a bungalow as for a two-storey house, even though there is clearly less weight per metre of foundation

Sun, 13 Jul, 2025

Exterior of rural Irish cottage

Kieran McCarthy: Does your home's design affect building costs?

This is an excellent question, and it brings to the surface many key design and budget considerations that may not be apparent at the start

Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

Kieran McCarthy: Is electric heating the solution for your home?

Kieran McCarthy: Is electric heating the solution for your home?

Builder Advice: There is a wide range of electric powered options when replacing an old oil-fired central heating system

Tue, 20 May, 2025

Kieran McCarthy: 'How do I convert my garage into a living space?'

S Kieran McCarthy: Is electric heating the solution for your home?

Builder Advice: There is a wide range of electric powered options when replacing an old oil-fired central heating system

Tue, 20 May, 2025