Planning your House Extension in Dublin or Kildare

For those of you who are contemplating adding an extension to your home, whether to add value to your property or to add extra space for a growing family, there are a number of factors you should first consider. The first of these factors is planning permission. In this article we are going to address a number of questions that we have heard from clients over the years, the first being ‘what kind of extension can we build without planning permission?’ In Ireland, the laws governing planning permission for extensions are quite lenient in comparison to the UK or other countries in mainland Europe. Building an extension to your home in Dublin or Kildare without planning permission. The following builds do not require planning permission: A rear extension less than 40 square metres, that lies within the existing height of the house. This of course only applies if it is the first extension to the rear of your home and is a single storey extension. As long as your extension does not reduce the size of the garden/patio/yard or open space to the rear of your property to less than 25 square metres, you will not require planning permission. The rear extension does not exceed the height of the original building. You are not overlooking or infringing upon the privacy, view or light of your surrounding neighbours. Extensions to the front of the house (porch extensions), which are less than 2 square metres floor size and are situated at least 2 metres from any public road or footpath. In all instances, it is imperative that you first check with...

Garden Decking: Making the most of your outdoor space

Garden decking is akin to having another room in your house. And what a room it can be! It is so important, especially for those of us that don’t live in the sunniest of climes, to get the maximum from our limited supply of Vitamin D. I should also mention how vital it is for all the family to socialise and spend time in the garden in celebration. We can take full advantage of this and involve our creative side to boot while laying in our hammock, sipping on mojitos or catching the last few rays of the sun. Here are some factors SureHome recommends you consider before planning your “staycation” of long summer evenings and barbecue cookouts: Spatial Optimisation of the garden: The amount of space available will determine the size and shape of your decking area. For small houses and gardens a more bespoke approach may be advantageous when considering access points such as your back door or garden gate. Decking can be built around or over your existing steps. Shape: The shape of your decking may depend on the actual area you want to cover. Maybe you are covering an old flower bed or simply covering some dead space. SureHome Services decking can be manufactured in plain rectangular or square slats or they can be manufactured in other more unusual shapes ranging from ‘L’ shaped to octagonal. Consider handrails and steps when you plan what shape your deck will take. Functionality & Access: Maybe you want your deck to open up through patio doors (preferably your doors open inwards or maybe you have a sliding door)!...

Adding value to your home with SureHome Services

Here at SureHome.ie we firmly believe that small changes to your home can add not just monetary value, but can truly add to your home environment. Below, we discuss some of our more requested services & how they can benefit those who are looking to make the most of their current space. 1. Under-floor heating: A luxury that for some years remained out of reach for the everyday Irish homeowner, these days under-floor heating can be installed for a reasonable price and the systems can easily run on water or electricity. 2. Add some colour by hiring our professional painters: Quite often, the easiest and most cost effective way to improve the appearance of your home is a good professional paint job. Here at SureHome Services we know all the simple tricks that can be used to brighten a room, such as using different hues of white rather than coating all the walls in the same tone. Should you wish to enquire about interior or exterior painting projects, please feel free to get in touch with a member of the team here at any time. 3. Lighting: By using contempory lighting effects, an interior space can appear more spacious and can add to the mood and ambience of a room with the simple flick of a switch. Using lighting to highlight features internally and externally is also a great idea. Professionally installed lighting can also be used to draw attention to a central fireplace, original architectural features, artwork or an otherwise dark area. 4. The front door: First impressions most certainly make a lasting impression, and no more so...

Garage Conversions at SureHome

As our lives get more hectic and our accumulated possessions pile up around us, we sometimes face the dilemma of dumping some of our treasured memories or biting the bullet and making more space. Here at SureHome Services we offer the perfect solution to your space problems - A Garage Conversion! Most homes in Ireland these days have a minimum of one car, which is often parked on the street or in the front driveway, mainly because it will take up all the garage space and leave little or no room for items which need indoor storage. We believe that converting your garage to a living or working space will also add value to your home, and many garages will easily accommodate two small rooms. Converted garages can be used for a number of purposes such as, a utility and laundry room, home office, extra bathroom or simply for extra storage. Families with young children will quite often also require more space and the garage can make an ideal playroom or classroom area for your children to learn and play. Converting  a  garage from a dark, cold, oftentimes  underutilised space can have many benefits and will be more cost effective in the long run than a renovation or an extension to your existing property. Planning permission is also unnecessary as long as the structure of the building is left unaltered. More money saved.  At SureHome Services we always endeavour to save you money where possible, without ever compromising the high quality workmanship we provide. What’s involved in converting your garage into an extra living space?  Firstly, many home owners will require access from another ground floor  room, so this will...

Shopfitting with SureHome.ie

SureHome Services has been providing shopfitting services throughout Dublin and Leinster for almost 15 years and will be happy to speak with you about any queries you may have regarding the fitout of your new store, restaurant or office. Below are a list of considerations you should address when deciding on the layout and fitting of your new unit. Budget Good planning and consultation can significantly reduce the cost of fitting your new retail unit, store or restaurant. We can provide you with a cost based on detailed drawings provided by you or your designer or alternatively can give you a quote after meeting with you onsite and walking through your design choices. Our quote will be made up of labour, display fittings, materials and any other extra’s required so you know exactly how much your spend will amount to. To request a quotation for shopfitting in Dublin or the Leinster area, please feel free to get in touch any time. Timescale of Project The timescale of your project will depend highly on good communication. We always provide our clients with a fixed delivery date and we stick to it! Our aim is to give you the business owner the confidence to plan your grand opening without having to worry about delays or project setbacks. Be Prepared Do you need us to provide any specialist metal work such as bespoke shelving or staircases? Do you require us to source security options for your premises? Do you have detailed drawings? Do you require signage to be organised? Do you have an opening date in mind? Do you require electrical and...
Why Building a Home Extension is the Right Choice for You.

Why Building a Home Extension is the Right Choice for You.

Here at SureHome Services we speak with a lot of clients who have questions about building an extension in Dublin or Leinster. Is it worth it? Does it add value to their home? Is the build expensive? Will building a home extension interfere with the daily running of the home? In this blog post, we hope to give you as much information as we possibly can about building a home extension and hope you find the information beneficial. Should you have any specific queries about your own home build, please do feel free to get in touch with a member of the SureHome team who will be happy to address any queries you may have. Can a home extension add value to your home? This is one of the most common queries we come across when dealing with potential customers, and the answer is simple. Yes, a well-built home extension can add value to any domestic residence, more so if the new space provides extra rooms such as bathrooms or bedrooms to the house. An extension built to convert a small kitchen area into a large eating and living area can also add great value. We would advise that you also take into consideration how much garden space you wish to retain as this is something customers rarely think about when planning an extension to their home. Will the build interfere with the daily routine in the house? In most cases, an extension can be built on your home with little or minimal disruption to your daily routine. For larger builds there may be a need to section off...