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Average Irish Construction Costs 2011

October 18, 2011 / aoife / 8 Comments

Construction Costs in Recession Ireland and Useful Tools to Estimate Your Construction Costs are two of the most popular posts in our blog.

This time we bring you the Average Irish Construction Costs for 2011 as published by Bruce Shaw in their latest Handbook 2011. Bruce Shaw is one of Europe’s leading quantity surveying practices, they provide construction cost management, construction project management and consultancy services.

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

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The basic hourly wage rates for Craftman and General Operatives are approximately 5% lower than 2008 rates.

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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 2011.

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Check out our other articles in this series.

Isabel’s Picks for October 2011

October 3, 2011 / aoife / 0 Comments

Isabel’s Picks for October 2011

HIDDEN TREASURES

Bringing to light some interesting selections.

1. GLASS FIRE SCREEN

Manufacturer: Blomus

Product Name: Bebop

Price Range: €315

Material: Stainless steel and glass.

Features: Heat resistant.

Available to Ireland from: Panik-Design

2. RUG

Collection: Rug Star – Designer collection : Love Stories

Name: Johnny I Am Going To Jackson Dark Grey

Price Range: Prices per square meter range from €800 (100 knot, wool only) to €1,210 (150 knot, 15% silk).

Material: Wool / Silk mix or Wool only.

Key Features: Hand knotted, 100 or 150 knots per sq inch. Custom made in 100 or 150 knot quality and may include silk fibers. Rug Star standard specification is 150 knot with 15% silk.

Available in Ireland from: RugArt

3. HANDS FREE DOOR HANDLE

Manufacturer: Ulna Cyclope

Product Name: Ulna Initial

Price Range: n/a

Material: Polypropylene. Available in a range of 13 colours.

Key Features: It can be used without hands. Eliminates the first carrier of contamination through hands. Makes easier the opening with arms full.

Applications: Hotels and Restaurants. Dentists, Doctors and Medical Offices. Nurseries and Play Group Facilities. Hospitals and Clinics. Fast Food Outlets. Conference Rooms. Leisure Facilities. Rest Homes and Rehabilitation Centres. Railway Stations, Airports & Car Parks. Petrol Stations & Service Stations.

Available to Ireland from: James Gibbons Format

4. SPIRAL CELLAR

Price Range: From €10,500

Key Features: Watertight, pre-cast cylindrical system. It can keep up to 1,900 bottles in perfect storage. It relies on the surrounding earth for its insulation, plus an ingenious air-flow system, it requires no power to maintain its constant temperature.

Available in Ireland from: Spiral Cellars Ltd.

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Please Use the Front Door

September 27, 2011 / aoife / 6 Comments

There is a strange habit in Ireland in relation to the use of a house’s front door. Apparently, most people don’t feel comfortable to use it, they feel like they are being too snobbish or something, and to avoid this they prefer using the back door when visiting family or friends. Furthermore, even homeowners rarely use their own front door, they would argue it is more practical and less formal.

As a designer I struggle to find a solution for this. I just don’t want my very well thought-through beautiful entrance to be underappreciated and taken over by the back door. And I surely cannot design a house without a front door.

I don’t understand why someone would prefer to come through the back door and see all the messy laundry, muddy boots, cat litter, etc, instead of coming through the main door and appreciate a welcoming entrance hall.

I know you are going to tell me what this lady says (00:35:43 Room to Improve Series 5, programme 2) but does it make sense? Not to me!

The front door is your main access to your house, you certainly have spent some money and time to make the entrance hall look welcoming and inviting, so why not use it? And why not do the same if you are visiting someone else’s house? Just break the habit, life is too short not to enjoy every living moment and every living space!