Steel yourself for a steal — Ardfield Meadows offers plenty to chew on

There’s a bit of steely backbone to the three-bed semi-d at 34 Ardfield Meadows, Grange, Douglas, Cork: its builders Fleming Construction pioneered their own version of steel-frame construction, and walls with sandwiches of steel and dense insulation winged their way from a massive factory in Ringaskiddy to the four corners of this country, as well as the UK.

Fleming’s patented building method resulted in -warm homes, and 34 Ardfield Meadows is of this type, gas-heated with a C2 BER rating.

New to market with Ian Lyons of Savills and priced at €198,000, it has had a rear extension grafted on with a south-facing aspect, picking up solar gain as well from its two ceiling Veluxes and wide French doors and side panels, virtually the full width of this 8’ by 10’ extra living space (there’s also a utility alongside, with further garden access.)

This high, slope ceilinged extension is linked to the standard 17’ by 11’ kitchen which is kept bright with a side-wall window over the sink. The front of the house has a 17’ deep, but relatively narrow main living room, just under 10’ wide, and is floored with coconut wood, in contrast with the Kempas hardwood used in most of the rest of the ground level. Overhead are three bedrooms, two of them doubles and one with en suite, plus bathroom, with a guest WC under the stairs.

No 34 has off-street parking, easy-keep exterior in brick and dash, with a sunny-aspected enclosed back garden and patio.

VERDICT: The extension’s a bonus over the standard house type.