Renovation and extension on the cheap

wellwhynot

I am bidding on a house in South Dublin at the moment. The BER is D and it is 160 sq metres. If successful I will need to renovate the existing house and add an extension of 50 sq metres.

My budget is 150k which I know from reading this board is too low. To save money I am planning:

1. To import Alu-clad windows from Poland
2. Import solid wood floors and doors from Poland
3. Import granite work tops from China
4. Import external paving from China
5. Import bathroom/kitchen tiles from China

I figure the above savings would be in the region of 30k

Has anyone managed to do a build/extension/renovation on the cheap?

Metric Tensor

1. PVC windows
2. Laminate flooring
3. Ikea
4. Leave the outside stuff and only do inside for now.
5. Clearance/end of line tiles in local hardware.


You're really only joking yourself if you think going abroad to source materials for a single build is the way of doing it "on the cheap".

At the very best sourcing materials abroad is a way of saving a small bit of money if you are purchasing a large quantity of very expensive items. And even then it's questionable. At €150K for a complete renovation AND an extension you're not going to be using alu clad windows or granite worktops.

wellwhynot

Metric Tensor wrote: »

1. PVC windows
2. Laminate flooring
3. Ikea
4. Leave the outside stuff and only do inside for now.
5. Clearance/end of line tiles in local hardware.


You're really only joking yourself if you think going abroad to source materials for a single build is the way of doing it "on the cheap".

At the very best sourcing materials abroad is a way of saving a small bit of money if you are purchasing a large quantity of very expensive items. And even then it's questionable. At €150K for a complete renovation AND an extension you're not going to be using alu clad windows or granite worktops.

I can get solid oak flooring for €25 per square metre from Poland. I can get granite worktops from China for €300. Alu clad windows for 10k again Poland.
Marble tiles from China for €15 per square metre including shipping.

Metric Tensor

Get your builder to finish for project to a "builder's finish" and then when you have it to that stage cut your cloth to suit your measure in terms of finishes.

I've seen a lot of people telling me what great deals they can get from abroad and for the vast majority it falls flat on its face when shipping, installation, import duty etc. get factored in.

I've seen a native Pole get good value on solid timber products and I know a bulk stone purchaser that gets good value buying raw materials in China. These are the only two examples I've seen succeed!

Good luck with it whatever you decide.

ontour2

The solutions that you are proposing are all about getting a higher end finishing product for the cost of low end materials in Ireland. While they all may be possible they do not significantly address the gap between the scale of your project and your budget.

To reduce the cost, you could consider:
- reduce extension to possibly avoid cost of planning permission
- salvage / retain as much of existing house - walls, doors, electrics, heating
- do as much work as possible yourself or use friends/ family. Manage build rather than using contractor

You highlight the BER rating as a main issue. Is it possible to externally insulate thereby retaining the majority of the 160sqm without significant construction?