CONSTRUCTION LOCKDOWN JAN 2021

We are in a very precarious situation with our renovation. We have rear access to the site until the start of May. Then the site behind us starts work. If we don't have at least the structure up( we're going with sips) and the ground works done we are in trouble.
We have underpinning to do which but would that be considered essential?

the_pen_turner wrote: »

not under the current rules unfortunitly.
site behind probably wont start on time either

Underpinning is to remedy an existing structural problem, would that not be covered . We have benn told that the contractor for the site behind is ready to go in may.
Its very worrying.

the_pen_turner wrote: »

doesnt sound like a repair situation. more like renovation and expansion.
hard to tell.

Its both to be honest. I don't want to start the works and be told to stop.
We have a semi basement that we want to make habitable but the back wall of the house is showing signs of creep. So the structural engineer has said that it will need to be underpinned. Which will also mean the replacement of steel columns holding up the floor above the basement as they are only half way up the back wall.
Can it wait 2 months? probably. But when the ground starts drying out the problem will get worse.
It was a bodged job by the previous owner, just done to sell.

I've an extension with no roof on it. Builder actually had covid, but has recovered thank god. Is finishing a roof considered ok? Fair enough not doing the internal work. Builder reckons the house if fine without the roof and we can replace some wooden floor boards. It had no roof since before christmas. I'd rather get the roof on to keep the elements out. Anyone know if that's considered "emergency" work? Emergency work just keeping the structure standing?

Frozen Veg wrote: »

It's open to interpretation. Hard to see how anyone could challenge you on that basis.

This is the problem though, it’s not open to interpretation at all. If it’s essential work it can be done otherwise it can’t. Is putting a roof on to protect some flooring getting damaged essential ? Obviously not.
I know plenty of people are looking for and finding loopholes to ignore the rules but plenty of people break the rules all the time , doesn’t make it right .

scwazrh wrote: »

This is the problem though, it’s not open to interpretation at all. If it’s essential work it can be done otherwise it can’t. Is putting a roof on to protect some flooring getting damaged essential ? Obviously not.
I know plenty of people are looking for and finding loopholes to ignore the rules but plenty of people break the rules all the time , doesn’t make it right .

Nothing is going to collapse over it. Although the entire house is open, lots of walls knocked down downstairs, no doors anywhere so the inside is really damp with all the wind and rain. So, "essential" is the word here, it's open to interpretation. Is it "essential" from a safety point of view? No.

Corby Trouser Press wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/q-a-what-can-we-expect-in-today-s-revised-living-with-covid-plan-1.4492014

"Privately, and bluntly, one Government source says: “The only thing that’s going to happen between [now and] the end of April and May is the schools”."

So... house building could potentially not be allowed restart properly until June.

Good job we're not in the middle of a housing crisis.

At what point does it become unconstitutional to stop someone building their home?

Such a stressful situation for people.

It is so frustrating. In fairness I am in a better situation than some here, we are not under pressure to get out of our current home.
I have been speaking to a few electricians & they are saying they won't go onto sites as is too obvious to the Garda that they are working. Instead they are calling to 5+ houses a day doing nixers. Reality is they would be safer on a one off build, working with just 1 or 2 others.

Frozen Veg wrote: »

Good job we're not in the middle of a housing crisis.

At what point does it become unconstitutional to stop someone building their home?

Such a stressful situation for people.

Yeah, it's poxy. I sold at the end of 2019 but the sale fell through because of covid. Finally sold again after the first original lockdown. Moved around August to a temporary place, all my stuff is in storage. Builder started work on my new place in November. Hasn't been touched since before christmas. Was thinking I'd be in now. But the place is a shell. God knows when we finish and move in. This is all with 2 kids. If fúcking hurling and gaelic football goes back before construction, I'm chaining myself to the gates of Dail Eireann :pac:

Faith wrote: »

We bought a new build house in December. Foundations are in, and they'd just started the external walls before Christmas. It's a small phase in an existing development, just 7 houses being built. Before all of this, completion was expected in April. They'd hoped to make up time and complete in May when the construction closure was announced to continue to March 5th. I'm wondering if anyone could guesstimate as to timelines for completion once construction starts up again?

I'm in the cohort of people living in temporary accommodation, and that ends in mid-May. I've no idea what we'll do afterwards - it's looking like we might have to get a rental lease somewhere and pray for a flexible landlord, because we don't really have any other options. Trouble is, we live in a small town popular with tourists, and summer will be the absolute worst time to be looking for anything temporary. It's fairly f*cking stressful, tbh.

Mine is an existing house getting renovated. Temp accommodation is very hard to find, I'm lucky to get one. Most landlords aren't interested in temporary lease as they'd rather longer term. Even air b&b is an option. But if you want something for about 5 weeks the price is mental. I contacted a load to see if they'd do 5 weeks for cheaper than the website quotes but they generally aren't interested. They'd rather leave it empty if you don't go through the website. Think part of the problem is people rent them through agents on air b&b. Plus, if you put in a month or 2 you need, if it's occupied at all during that time it won't come up as available.
If you're near dublin, Premier Apartments were the best I found, they offered short term at a half decent rate and were helpful. You could actually talk to someone on the phone rather than through emails. They're apartments in Sandyford. Letting agents were a waste of time as apparently the percentage they get from short term is small so they ignore any short term enquiries.

km79 wrote: »

Found this nugget in the middle of the last indo article
“ It is expected construction will return in April, but the ban on building will remain in place next month despite Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien saying he expected to return on March 5”

WTF

They haven't a balls notion what they are at.
All these restriction announcements made yesterday and they are still trying to decide who has to mandatory quarantine when coming into the country.
Not be surprised if another different variant stops any easing during April.

So frustrated, our new build home was due to be finished end of Feb, it's now 5 weeks behind due to lock downs, now add on another 6 weeks and lord knows how many more lock downs in the meantime. We cant even get a valuation report done so as that we can move for AIP to Loan offer.

We need to build a wall and put up gates. Our house is fully open onto a quietish road at present and I’m getting increasingly worried that my kids will run out onto it at the wrong time. One has special needs and no road sense at all. Foundations are down and pillars up for gates. I’d there anyway of determining whether this is essential ?

fits wrote: »

We need to build a wall and put up gates. Our house is fully open onto a quietish road at present and I’m getting increasingly worried that my kids will run out onto it at the wrong time. One has special needs and no road sense at all. Foundations are down and pillars up for gates. I’d there anyway of determining whether this is essential ?

You can contact the HSE and they will give you a definitive answer based on the guidelines.

ZeroSum76 wrote: »

You can contact the HSE and they will give you a definitive answer based on the guidelines.

Thanks. I appreciate all replies. Would just like to know where we stand too.