Concrete House Cost

In March 2018 ICF (Irish Concrete Federation) commissioned a report into the cost of concrete and quarried materials used in new house construction.

The key findings from this research are that:

1. The basic construction materials supplied by quarry operators, readymix concrete suppliers, concrete block and other product suppliers account for just 3.2% of the cost of building the most common form of new house in Ireland – the three bedroomed semi-detached house. This new house building cost excludes the cost of site purchase;

2. Including site costs, the basic construction materials account for just 2.6% of the total cost of providing a standard three-bedroom house in the Greater Dublin Area;

3. The costs of these forms of construction materials have been relatively steady since 2010.

To read the full report please click here.

Built to Last

Concrete buildings are built to last and to be flexible and adaptable, meaning that buildings can be easily reconverted and internal layout can be easily changed to accommodate any design, thereby reducing the environmental impact of concrete over its lifetime.

Fire Safe

Concrete is non-combustible, thereby ensuring its longevity, protecting lives and reducing the economic damage caused by fires. Concrete is designated by the European Union as a Class A1 building material (non-combustible).

Energy Efficient

Concrete’s thermal mass reduces energy consumption and moderates internal temperatures thereby reducing costs. As the use of buildings accounts for the largest part of their environmental impact, thermal mass in buildings offsets the impact resulting from the production of concrete itself. As concrete buildings have very few joints or connections and maintain their structure over time, air-tightness is achieved, which also saves energy.