How to Combine a Home Renovation With a Deep Retrofit in Dublin

As energy performance standards become increasingly important for Dublin homeowners, the deep retrofit has emerged as a critical consideration for anyone planning a renovation. When both projects are planned together from the outset, significant efficiencies can be achieved that would not be available if the retrofit were carried out as a separate project at a later stage. Understanding how these two processes interact is essential for any homeowner who wants to get the most from their investment in the property.

What Is a Deep Retrofit?

The Core Elements of a Deep Retrofit

A deep retrofit is a comprehensive package of energy improvement measures applied to an existing dwelling to bring its energy performance up to a significantly higher standard. When these measures are delivered together as a coordinated package through a house deep retrofit in Dublin, the result is a property that is significantly warmer, healthier and more energy efficient than before. The measures typically included are:

●        External or internal wall insulation to address heat loss through the building envelope.

●        Attic and roof insulation to address heat loss at ceiling level.

●        The replacement of single-glazed or poorly performing double-glazed windows with high-performance triple-glazed units.

●        Airtightness measures to reduce uncontrolled heat loss through gaps and joints in the building fabric.

●        The installation of a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system to provide controlled fresh air exchange.

●        The replacement of an existing gas or oil heating system with a heat pump connected to an upgraded underfloor heating or radiator distribution system.

Why Combining a Retrofit with a Renovation Makes Sense

Avoiding Disruption Twice

The most immediate benefit of combining a deep retrofit with a home renovation is that the disruption to the household is concentrated into a single period rather than being spread across two separate projects. When a retrofit is carried out separately from a renovation, many of the same areas of the house are required to be disturbed twice, which adds to the overall time and inconvenience involved.

Sequencing the Work Correctly

When a renovation and a retrofit are being carried out simultaneously, the sequence in which the work is completed is critically important. Deep retrofit measures are generally required to be completed before the finishing works of the renovation are applied:

●        Wall insulation is required to be installed before internal walls are plastered and decorated.

●        Underfloor heating pipes are required to be laid before the floor screed is poured.

●        Airtightness membranes are required to be installed and sealed before internal linings are applied.

Where this sequence is followed correctly, the finished result is a property that has been fully upgraded from an energy performance perspective and then completed to a high decorative standard, with no visible evidence of the retrofit measures within the completed interior.

Government Grants and Incentives

SEAI Grants for Deep Retrofits in Ireland

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland administers a range of grant schemes designed to support homeowners in carrying out energy improvement works. These include the Home Energy Upgrade Loan, the Individual Energy Upgrade Grant scheme and the One Stop Shop scheme, through which a single registered contractor manages the entire retrofit process from assessment through to grant application.

The availability and value of grants changes over time, so the most up-to-date information is required to be confirmed directly with the SEAI at the time of planning. It is important that grant applications are submitted and approved before the relevant works are commenced, as grant funding is not typically available for works that have already been carried out.

How Grants Interact with Broader Renovation Works

Where a deep retrofit is being combined with broader home renovation works in Dublin, the works eligible for grant support are required to be clearly distinguished from those that are not. The grant-eligible retrofit measures and the non-eligible renovation works are required to be priced and contracted separately so that the grant application can be submitted correctly.

An experienced contractor registered with the SEAI will be familiar with these requirements and will be able to structure the project in a way that maximises the grant funding available to the homeowner.

The Role of a Building Energy Rating Assessment

Before the design of the retrofit package is finalised, a Building Energy Rating assessment of the existing property is required to be carried out by a registered BER assessor. This assessment provides a baseline picture of the property's current energy performance and is used to identify the most effective combination of measures to achieve the target energy rating.

The results of the assessment are also used to confirm the eligibility of the property and the proposed works for SEAI grant funding, so this step is required to be completed before the scope of the retrofit is agreed upon.

Choosing the Right Contractor for a Combined Project

Why Specialist Experience Matters

A combined renovation and deep retrofit project is more complex to manage than either project carried out in isolation. The contractor is required to be familiar with both disciplines and is required to be able to coordinate the sequencing of the work so that retrofit measures are correctly integrated into the fabric of the building before finishing works are applied.

It is also important that the contractor is registered with the SEAI as a retrofit contractor where grant-eligible works are to be included in the project scope. Confirmation of this registration should be obtained before any contracts are signed.

What to Confirm with Your Contractor Before Work Begins

Before work commences on a combined project, a number of key points are required to be confirmed with the contractor:

●        Confirmation that the contractor holds the relevant SEAI registrations for the grant-eligible works being carried out.

●        A clear programme of works that reflects the correct sequencing of retrofit and renovation activities.

●        Confirmation of how grant applications are to be managed and at what stage they are required to be submitted.

●        A clear description of how the finished property will perform in energy terms once all measures have been installed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a standard renovation and a deep retrofit?

A standard renovation typically focuses on improving the appearance, layout and functionality of a home, while a deep retrofit is specifically focused on improving the energy performance of the building fabric and heating system. When the two are combined and planned together, the result is a home that is both improved in terms of livability and significantly more energy efficient.

Q: Will the property need to be vacated during a combined renovation and deep retrofit?

Whether the property needs to be vacated depends on the scope and complexity of the project. Many combined projects are carried out while the property remains occupied, with careful phasing used to minimise disruption. This is a matter that should be discussed with the contractor at the outset of the project.

Q: Do SEAI grants cover all the measures included in a deep retrofit?

SEAI grants are available for a defined range of energy improvement measures, and the eligible measures and grant values are updated periodically. The most current information on available grants should be obtained directly from the SEAI before the scope of the retrofit is finalised.

Q: How long does a combined renovation and deep retrofit take?

The duration depends on the size of the property and the scope of the works. A combined project is typically completed more quickly than if the two sets of works were carried out separately, as the disruption is concentrated into a single continuous programme of work.

Q: Is combining a renovation with a deep retrofit worth doing?

Combining the two projects is generally considered to be the most efficient approach. It avoids the need to disturb finished surfaces twice, allows retrofit measures to be correctly integrated into the fabric of the building, and may reduce the overall programme and associated disruption compared with carrying out the two projects separately.