How Much Does it Cost to Build a Home Extension?
- Nov 9, 2016
- 3 min read
When you're considering whether to add improvements to your home living space, there's one question that tends to be the first that springs to mind - how much does it cost? The good news is, it's generally much more economical to enhance your current environment for example, to build a home extension than it is to take the drastic step of re-locating and most of us are only too aware of how stressful a house move can be! We have tried to make this process a little easier and have checked out a few sources to determine roughly what the average price is.
Inevitably, the cost to build an extension in your home will be dependent on a number of things and can vary from one location to the next. According to OnlineTradesmen.ie the national average in 2014 was €981 per square metre however the average for Dublin property owners was closer to €1,069 per sq mtr due to increased labour and building costs. On the other hand, rural homeowners were more likely to pay the equivalent of €908 / sq mtr, which is 15% less.
So... What is the Current Cost of Building a Home Extension in Ireland?
The cost of getting building work completed has experienced a slight rise in recent times and this is consistent with the general growth of the economy. Again, location is an important factor. In the latter half of 2015, the national average was €1,020 per square metre. Unsurprisingly, the average for Dublin was €1,133 while rural locations tended to pay around €943 / sq mtr.
The following information demonstrates the average rate based on general locations across Ireland.
House Extension Location Price Per Sq Mtr
Dublin City €1,133
Cork City €1,068
Galway City €1,064
Limerick City €1,049
Connacht - Rural €987
Leinster - Rural €927
Munster - Rural €915
(Information adapted from Online Tradesmen).
According to 'My Extension' figures for 2015 indicate that an extension built to a good standard and finish would cost between €900 and €1,200 per sq metres excluding VAT (at 13.5%). They agree with the differences in cost consistent with location and suggest the rate tends to 20-30% less for homeowners, living outside of the greater Dublin area.
They have provided an example of a home extension based on 30 sq metres. This includes an apex roof, 2 x SO6 velux windows, large UPVC French doors, 2 x UPVC windows that are insulated to a SEAI U Value standard with a painted decor to finish. They indicate that this would cost on average €27,000 - €35,000 (exc. VAT). Although homeowners can still avail of the Home Renovation Incentive whereby the VAT can be claimed back, up to a certain thresholdOn the other hand, an extension built to a higher specification and based on 40 Sq metres might cost €60,000-90,000 (exc. VAT).
Before contacting any building contractors, we recommend that you give thought to the 4 key factors to consider before building your home extension. It will help to establish what type of specification you would like to have, the finished look as well as the budget that you would prefer to spend. That way you will be very clear about the vision you have and in a better position to discuss this with potential contractors. Lastly, shop around! The cheapest quotes don't always go hand-in-hand with value for money. Choose a building contractor that is reliable, trustworthy, can bring design ideas to the table, will work in co-operation with you to get the best results, has a great reputation and can produce quality workmanship.
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