Show Notes
Where are material costs heading into 2026? Quantity surveyor Keith Kelliher takes stock of the overall material cost picture at the end of 2025: · Reasons for higher costs in Ireland than rest of the world · Are prices still increasing and where are they heading? · Steel, concrete, timber, insulation outlook: how to factor prices into your design · What’s the story with timber? · Electrics and plumbing supplies · In which months can you expect price increases from suppliers every year · Why are materials costing a quarter more on average than in 2021 · Overview of price and tender surveys · Risks and concerns for 2026 · How to mitigate against high costs as a self-builder This episode was recorded at Selfbuild Extend & Renovate Live Ulster 2025 in November. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Martin Markey, CEO with the Hardware Association Ireland, chats about the findings in the HAI's latest survey on on-off housing, The Potential For Rural Family Homes - A Survey Review, including: Housing need or locals only rules being the main reason there aren’t more one-off homes being built in Ireland Potential to double the amount of homes built and the huge demand behind it What will happen if we don't build more one-off homes: emigration a big issue at the moment as is social capital unravelling in rural areas Need for one-off housing as part of a mix of solutions in context of population growth Cost of building not as big a driver of whether or someone will build a house Building regulations and lack of guidance mostly an issue for architects Volume and price increases for builder’s merchant sector Costs coming down the line due to new regulations including ones on timber, steel and Repak