Building costs. Jan 2023

Interested to know how building prices are going at the minute

We’re in the process of drafting plans with our Architect with a view to building a 200m2 house in Clare next Summer. It’s extremely difficult to know how much it’s going to cost.

Cement has gone up for sure. Was €5.89 and is now €6.30 excl VAT. That's a change between February and May when I bought.

Timber hasn't changed in the last couple of months but i'm told chipboard is down now.

Insullation (150mm) is up ~€10 plus VAT since October.

I don't think prices are coming down much but aren't rising. We're in a period of stability by the looks of it

is that for a 25k bag I am seeing it at 5.49

https://www.thedandys.ie/product/origin-cement-25kg?gclid=CjwKCAjwsvujBhAXEiwA_UXnAP9lpJTeAEi3BQ35SYEjZHj5ONvGOULx07IPNj-Vrbjyr-TW3SA6ShoC2B0QAvD_BwE

as for other costs

Timber is way down.

Insulation has dipped back up but is cheaper now than 6 months ago

Sheet materials way down

Blocks up slightly.

Chipboard is down

and cement has remained fairly consistant in price for the last 12 months

Add in petrol diesel prices are coming down as a whole.

https://mybuildingsupplies.ie/building-materials-price-tracker/#

Wrong 40k more working in construction in 2022 in Q1 as apposed to 2021 Q2 its actually getting better. House prices are dropping

https://irishbuildingmagazine.ie/2022/09/01/cso-report-shows-40000-increase-in-construction-employment/

A lot of the big sites have stopped building this year as the price point with interest rates on buyng a house has priced a lot of would be buyers out of the market. There has been a huge slowdown in housing and it wont be long before these boyos are going it alone and quoting for extensions when reports like this are coming out. To say none of these were added to building extensions is nonsense I seen it myself 2 years ago I could only get one builder out to quote this year I have half a dozen.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/arid-20111376.html

whoops missed that :)

Thanks WacoKid,

Just out of curiosity what was the jan price square metre and what work are you getting done? A new build or extension/retrofit. Im currently just at the planning stage so want to make sure I can afford what we submit and Jan prices will be worse case scenario I suspect..

Regards

Kev

Internal insulation is cheaper than an external wrap, or so I have been told.

You may have interpreted that I have external wrap and will remove it but no. Replace external wrap on the Bill of Quantities with internal insulation instead.

I agreed with architect to spec external. We may decide to remove it to save costs. Builder quotes will be an input into any decision. I don't see a problem with this approach?

I would absolutely reconsider this. Save money somewhere else, like kitchen or something.

We externally insulated a (large mass concrete) old shed and the external insulation is amazing. It costs hardly anything to heat, using oil.

With good external insulation, you can opt to go down the heat pump route at a later date. It is initially expensive, but you'll save on heating costs and it'll be very comfortable. Remember to deduct the external plastering cost as well.

On topic - there has been a huge difference over the last few months with tradesperson availability. They are calling us now! - this is better than I remember from pre-covid times.

I had a quote last year but couldn't build due to personal reasons. I contacted the builder recently and I'd say he doesn't want the work as he told me the quote is gone up 25k! Being single and interest rates that rules me out unless I don't want to eat for the next 20 years.

Thanks WacoKid,

If you read between the lines the fact the builders are now quoting when they weren't 6 months ago in January shows that the interest rates hikes etc are having an affect on supply despite the usual line for every builder I meet lately that they have plenty of work on and don't need my business. Wacokid hopefully you get a price you are happy with and can proceed but I expect some builders are still quoting high and will continue while people accept. Each yes just pushes the problem down the road for a builder for another 6 months or so..

You would hope with competition there will be a reduction in costs but only time will tell..

I'm at pre-planning stage and there is a number of builders sites around me (south county Dublin) that I have had chats with regularly. I have initial plans completed and a few of them have offered to cost it for me before planning so will be interesting to see what they come back with.

Material prices are still rising especially timber. Rates due to rise again with the unions getting pay rise agreements for workers, so don’t expect it to get cheaper any time soon.