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Construction Costs in Recession Ireland

October 2, 2009 / aoife / 0 Comments

I am often asked how much a building is going to cost. The first thing I like to answer is that I am not a builder. I am able to give you a rough estimate but do not go thinking that is the exact right cost because there are a number of factors that will impact on the total cost for your construction project. Starting with the great volatility of the current market and ending with the quality of finishes that you are planning to have.

The reality at the moment is that building materials costs have started to decline in February 2009, they are now approximately 5.5% to 10.5% cheaper than last year (2008). Furthermore, for new house building projects the average decline in tender prices is 13%,although in some cases, falls of over 20% have been witnessed. So, this is probably the best time to build! Don’t think twice just think wise.

To help you with some cost guidance these are some useful references.

From RIAI:

RIAI Cost Guidelines, March 2006

(There is no update to these Guidelines, but due to the downturn in the economy they should be reasonable updated.)

From the Society of Chartered Surveyors:

Tender prices continue dramatic fall with building costs down 17.3% on this time last year

Guide to House Rebuilding Costs 2009

From Build Your Own House & Home Magazine:

Self-Build: Estimating Your Building Costs

From Bruce Shaw Group:

Average Construction Costs 2009

Regional Cost Variations

While you are worried about keeping a tight budget don’t forget that you also have to pay the professionals (like me!) that will make your building possible in a knowledgeable, creative and unique way.

Professional fees are not an extra to your construction costs, they should be part of your construction costs but people often forget this. These may be approx. 11% of the overall construction costs and it will include for architect’s fees, engineer, surveyor, BER assessor, etc.

Check out our other articles in this series.

View Isabel Barros’s profile

Architecture and Sustainability: Declaration and Policy of the Architects’ Council of Europe

September 23, 2009 / aoife / 1 Comment

ACE (Architects’ Council of Europe) declaration on Architecture and Sustainability:

“We, leaders and representatives of the architectural profession believe that the design of the built environment has a profound role to play in ensuring the survival of the human race and thousands of other living species, the integrity of the earth and its biodiversity and the heritage of future generations currently threatened by climate change and unsustainable development.

We are conscious that buildings account for almost half of the primary energy used in the western world, and if we add to that the impact of spatial planning on the movement of people and goods our responsibility as built environment professionals extends even further. Inequitable and unsustainable production and consumption patterns exacerbate environmental changes and aggravate poverty in many regions of the world. Can we find the collective wisdom to choose a more sustainable path of development?”

10 Questions to Ask Your Architect

September 22, 2009 / aoife / 1 Comment

You finally did the big step and decided to appoint an Architect to be responsible for the design of your dream house or so much expected extension, renovation or any other project.

Architects have the most appropriate training and experience to design, co-ordinate and manage your building project, you surely did the right decision.

But before you appoint an Architect these questions should help you to select the right candidate. They are not exactly 10 but in reality you should be asking many more.

1. Are you a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI)?

2. Can I look at examples of your work?

3. When can you start and how long do you estimate the design process will take for our project? What will be the key milestone dates for the design stage, planning and construction?

4. What is going to be your approach to our project? What do you consider to be the most important issues on our project, and the biggest challenges?

5. What is your approach to sustainable strategies and green architecture?

6. Will you be doing the work personally? If not, can we meet the staff who will and see some of his or her work? Will we be meeting directly with the person who is doing the design work?

7. How do you establish fees for a project? When do they have to be paid?

8. What is included in your services? What is excluded from your services?

9. What services will you provide during construction for our project?

10. Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?

The answers for the above questions should tell you how compatible his/her style, approach and personality are with your own. And should give you an indication of whether the chemistry between you is right.

View Isabel Barros’s profile