Timber houses must be built right
Sir — Further to your feature on ‘Why we’re falling for wooden houses’ (Property, Sunday Independent, November 19) I feel compelled to write. Timber building makes sense and if done properly can provide very comfortable living in a sustainable manner. However, may I correct some things? For instance; while it is possible to build a 25sqm building without planning permission, these are very clearly NOT residential and only ancillary to the primary residence. To do so is an offence under the Planning and Development Acts.
There are no circumstances where a newly constructed home does NOT require planning permission. Furthermore, in this article, there is no definition of ‘energy efficiency’. All new homes in Ireland must have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of at least an A3 (and likely under regulations to become more stringent), which when compared with most Irish homes is highly efficient. Achieving this is not as simple as choosing timber, the noted 300mm insulation in this feature may well be a minimum as it depends on a number of factors, the walls too require insulation. Insulation is not just an option. A reference to damp-proof membranes and insulation is a feeble nod to building regulations.
Energy efficiency is not an option, it is clearly defined in regulation. Sustainability is not an option, it is also defined in regulation. The 10-year builder’s guarantee on an ancillary garden structure falls far short of the sustainable life span of a home. These buildings when used as homes must comply with current buildings regulations and should be so certified before use.
Personally, I would welcome the concept of ‘tiny homes’ as a viable and sustainable solution to our housing crisis as any accommodation is an improvement on homelessness or overcrowding. These though will need to comply with current building regulations and best building practice. Timber is a sustainable material that should be used properly. Any material used improperly becomes unsustainable. David Moran, MRIAI, B.Arch.Sc., Dip. Arch