Traditional Home Upgrade

Project Completion: A Traditional Home Reimagined for the Future

The transformation of this 19th‑century farmhouse in County Tipperary is now complete, marking a successful conclusion to a carefully managed whole‑house retrofit under the SEAI Traditional Homes Pilot Scheme. This project demonstrates how deep energy upgrades can be achieved in traditionally constructed buildings without compromising their architectural integrity or heritage value.

Homeowner Testimonial

‘‘After 12 months from the start of the build, we’ve just completed and we’re hoping to move in tomorrow.

The house was renovated and part of it rebuilt, with the builder working in conjunction with KORE Retrofit as the One Stop Shop, administering the SEAI Traditional Homes Scheme.

The combination of a quality builder, the technical expertise from KORE, and very valuable grant aid from SEAI has meant that the house, which has stood here for 200 years, is now at the top end of a BER rating and has been rebuilt to the best of building standards.

It’s extremely warm and comfortable. The ventilation is like we’ve never had before, the thermal comfort is excellent, but it’s also just a lovely space to be in.

One of the most useful aspects of the Traditional Homes Scheme was that, with the two-foot-thick rubble stone walls, a standard SEAI grant wouldn’t have allowed the use of breathable insulation, which the project needed.

Through the scheme, we were able to install cork lime insulation internally and externally, which has been a huge benefit in terms of performance, specification, and the overall grant support.

We’re very happy to be at the end of the process and delighted that this house, which has been in the family for so long, now has a new life ahead of it.”

Traditional Construction & Collaboration

Working in close collaboration with the homeowners, architect Caelan Bristow and contractors Sancrest Construction, KORE Retrofit delivered a sympathetic upgrade that balances conservation with performance. The original farmhouse has been preserved and enhanced, while the new extension integrates seamlessly with the existing structure, providing modern, low‑energy living spaces that meet the needs of the current generation.

Following completion, the home now benefits from dramatically improved thermal comfort, air quality and energy efficiency. High‑performance insulation systems, airtightness measures, demand‑controlled mechanical ventilation and a renewable air‑to‑water heat pump work together to create a comfortable, healthy living environment all year round. The retrofit has reduced the home’s energy demand from a BER of E1 to an A‑rated level, future‑proofing the property against rising energy costs while supporting Ireland’s low‑carbon transition.

Crucially, all upgrades were designed with traditional construction in mind. Breathable lime‑ and cork‑based insulation systems, careful detailing at junctions and the retention of the home’s original character ensure the building continues to perform as intended, safeguarding it for generations to come.

19th Century meets 21st Century

Today, the homeowners who are 7th generation of the home, are embarking on a transformational upgrade under the SEAI Traditional Homes Pilot Scheme, carried out in collaboration with KORE Retrofit.

In addition to preserving the original farmhouse, they plan to add a sympathetic extension, blending heritage and modern performance, with the goal of achieving an A-Rated BER.

This whole-house deep retrofit will honour the home’s traditional character, preserving its solid masonry walls, lime-based render, and timber windows while seamlessly integrating modern energy solutions. High-performance insulation, renewable heating systems, and carefully designed ventilation will work together to enhance comfort and efficiency. A thoughtfully planned extension will complement the existing structure and deliver exceptional low-energy performance. Through this approach, the family safeguards their heritage home for generations to come, while significantly reducing energy costs and future-proofing it for a low-carbon future.

Caelan Bristow is the architect on this project, with contractors Sancrest Construction carrying out all works. KORE Retrofit provide full project management services, design solutions, technical expertise, quality control services and full grant administration with SEAI.

House Upgrade Details

Existing Building BER E1 (338.09 kWh/m2/yr) with a proposed BER of A3 (46.07 kWh/m2/yr).

Insulation

200mm Cavity Wall Insulation pumped in all new build walls. 60mm Cork/Lime on stone walls, Diathanite 50mm, with 4mm finished Lime Plaster on all existing external concrete hollow block walls, with 90mm internal insulation on all existing walls.
150mm Floor Insulation throughout the ground floor, covered by screed.
300mm mineral wool installed in attic of main pitched roof, 100mm insulation board between rafters and 100mm insulation board underneath + plasterboard. 140mm insulation board to top deck of newly built flat roof construction.

Heating

Grant Air-to-Water Heat Pump, new radiators and underfloor heating

Ventilation

Beam Axo Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation system.

Airtightness

Airtightness works throughout, with an airtightness test goal of <5 air changes per hour.

Windows & Doors

Rationel Double & Triple Glazed windows and external composite doors to front and rear.

Traditional Home Transformation

Follow the journey and see how this traditional 19th Century farmhouse located in Co. Tipperary, will be carefully upgraded and extended to safeguard the heritage of this family home, while adding a complimentary extension to meet the needs of the current generation.