DERMOT’S ON THE HOME STRAIGHT
Tight budgets, home improvement grants and a cost of living crisis are on the cards for four new rebuilding projects in Room To Improve
Home renovations of all different shapes and sizes and rebuilding during a cost-ofliving crisis are on the list for Dermot Bannon and Claire Irwin in a new series of
Room To Improve.
This new series, which starts tonight on RTÉ One, will feature heartbreak and compelling personal stories of the struggles of building in the current economic climate.
Some of the homeowners have been bitten by the increased post pandemic construction costs and must grapple with various challenges including the skyrocketing cost of materials as well as rising labour costs.
The series also features houses that are eligible for various home improvement grants including the vacant homes grant, the derelict homes grant and the SEAI grant.
The first stop for Dermot and Claire is Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny, where Gráinne Murphy and Ivan Williams have been dreaming about renovating Ivan’s forefather’s old farmhouse for many years.
With the help of the vacant homes grant and the SEAI grant, Ivan and Gráinne aim to bring the personality and character of this old house back to its former glory.
But their total budget is particularly tight for this ambitious project. Their request was to add an extension to the side of the house of a kitchen and open plan living area, as well as a utility room and a boot room.
They also want to renovate the old farmhouse.
The couple hope to have a fourbedroom home with a den, along with modern contemporary timber frame extension with a beautiful view of their green fields and Aoife’s Castle. Ivan and Gráinne’s wish is for the personality and character of the old house to be brought back to its former glory but keeping the old style in the farmhouse.
Ivan and Gráinne have also been managing the budget themselves for the project without a quantity surveyor, which has added extra stresses to the project for them.
Will Dermot and Claire help them to get everything that they have dreamed of within their budget?
■ Room To Improve is on RTÉ One tonight at 9.30pm.