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Isabel’s Picks for August 2012

August 3, 2012 / barros / 0 Comments

DARE TO DREAM

Get ready, set, go!

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1. GARDEN FURNITURE

Manufacturer:Werkstatt für Holzgestaltung

Designer: Gisbert Baarmann

Product: Shallow Swing

Price Range: n/a

Material: Weather-resistant textile covering, weather-resistant wood.

Key Facts: Lightweight, dimensionally-stable and yet elastic, transparent structure that is comfortable to recline on, offers the possibility of gentle rocking, and can also provide sun protection. The (weatherproof) textile coverings can be printed in different colors and with different motifs. For corporate clients, for example, the fabric can be printed wth your logo.

Applications: For indoor and outdoor use.

Available to Ireland from: Shallow Swing

2. HEATING CONTROL

Trademark: Climote

Product Ref.: Climote’s Remote Heating Control HUB

Price Range: €399

Key Facts: You can boost your heat, turn it on and off, adjust time settings, apply 5 day, 7 day, weekend or even holiday schedules via the web, our climote app or a simple text. Easy to install and works with any heating system.

Available in Ireland from: Climote

3. COAT HANGER

Trademark: Schonbuch

Product Name: Dots

Price Range: €120

Material: Solid wood spheres with a high-gloss paint finish and a brushed stainless steel spacer rod.

Available in Ireland from: Objekt

4. MELAMINE/LAMINATE LINING

Trademark: Innovus

Product Name: Natural Concrete – ref. F2204

Price Range: n/a

Material: Available in Melamine Faced Chipboard (MFC) and High Pressure Laminate (HPC). Veneer finish.

Key Facts: The full innovus décor range includes more than 150 décors,with Woodgrains, Unicolours and Fantasy décors for every mood, atmosphere and imagining.

Available to Ireland from: Innovus

5. SHOWER SCREEN

Manufacturer: Duravit AG

Design: EOOS Design GmbH (Martin Bergmann)

Product Name: OpenSpace

Price Range: n/a

Key Features: Possibility of opening and folding it away when needed. The frame contains two doors which can be easily opened when necessary. The door on the side with the shower installation is made of mirrored glass. When the door is folded up against the wall after use, the fittings disappear from sight behind it. The frame offers wall compensation of 18mm so that the shower can be fitted even if the walls are not completely even.

Available in Ireland from: Ceramica

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Isabel’s Picks for July 2012

July 16, 2012 / barros / 0 Comments

APPEAL TO YOUR SENSES

Let your eyes contemplate while your hands feel it.

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1. LIGHT SWITCH/DIMMER

Trademark: Taptile

Product: Taptile Bathroom range

Price Range: n/a

Key Facts: It projects 6 keys right through the surface that are then wirelessly connected to your lights. Taptile button artwork can be blended with any decorating scheme. In addition to the wireless mood lighting products, Taptile can also switch on/off type mains appliances wirelessly too. For example you can use one of the free Taptile circuits to turn on your extractor fan, electrical heater, radio, CD player, or even the TV.

Applications: Can be embedded behind a tile or other flat surface in the bathroom.

Available in Ireland from: TyleStyle

2. WALL STICKER

Trademark: Grafikwalls

Artist: Bruno Santinho

Collection: Bruno Santinho – Objects

Product Ref.: BS-06(OBJ)

Price Range: n/a

Material: Vinyl, removable if necessary.

Available in Ireland from: Jem Textiles

3. CEILING LAMP

Trademark: Mood

Collection: Hanging

Product Name: Shark

Price Range: n/a

Material: Brushed brass or brushed stainless steel Natural.

Bulbs: E27 21W, E27 Halogeneo Eco max. 70W

Available in Ireland from: Jem Textiles

4. SIDEBOARD

Designer: T.Colzani

Product Name: Riga

Price Range: €1,325

Material: Doors – Solid canaleto walnut.

Available in Ireland from: Lomi Design

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Irish Construction Costs 2012

July 6, 2012 / barros / 0 Comments

Our posts about Construction Costs are very popular and provide useful information to guide you on the costs for your construction project in Ireland.

The latest publication from Bruce Shaw – Bruce Shaw Handbook 2012 – shows that tender prices bottomed out and prices rose by 2%. Bruce Shaw is one of Europe’s leading quantity surveying practices, they provide construction cost management, construction project management and consultancy services.

Prices are still at levels not seen since the late 1990’s but it seems that the race to the bottom has halted, says the publication.

Below cost tendering is not sustainable and many contractors and sub-contractors have realised that.

Bruce Shaw predicts that prices will remain very competitive but they will rise by a further 3% during 2012.

Average Irish Construction Prices 2012

The average construction costs table is generated using Bruce Shaw’s Cost Database and sets out typical building construction costs.

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Average Irish Construction Prices 2012, Construction Costs Ireland

Average Irish Construction Prices 2012. Source: Bruce Shaw

Labour Rates

Labour rates were reduced by 7.5% in February 2011 (after prolonged negotiations with the construction trade unions). Below is a graphic showing Irish construction labour rates since 2005.

It is interesting to note they remained unchanged between 2008 and 2011. We believe they will stay at this level for a good few years but the lack of skilled workmanship may change this at any moment.

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Basic Hourly Wages in Ireland. Source: Bruce Shaw

Construction Materials Prices

Bruce Shaw Handbook notes the prices of some materials are reducing also but by less than might be expected since local manufacturers are experiencing smaller production volumes and imported commodities such as steel and copper reflect global demand.

This, however, contradicts the latest price index published by the Central Statistics Office of Ireland in May 2012.

In May 2012 the CSO recorded that all building and construction materials prices increased by 3.0% in the year since May 2011.

The most notable yearly changes were increases in Stone (+11.3%), Sand and gravel (+9.8%) and Paints, oils and varnishes (+7.4%) while there were decreases in Other steel products excluding structural steel and reinforcing metal (-2.3%), Plaster (-1.9%) and all other metal fittings (-1.8%). All building and construction material prices increased by 0.2% in the month. Click here to read the full publication.

Guide to Rebuilding Costs in Ireland

The Society of Chartered Surveyors publishes every year a guide to rebuilding costs in Ireland. This guide is intended to assist in insuring a house and the costs included are based on building rates as of March 2012. Click here to read the full publication.

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