HOW TO HIRE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a concrete & foundations specialist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A concrete & foundations specialist in Ireland costs €3,000–€20,000 per project, typically around €8,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
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THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a concrete & foundations specialist in five steps
- Are you on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — concrete Finishing — this involves the application of finishes to concrete surfaces, such as stamping, staining, or sealing.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — drainage Solutions — concrete & foundations specialists often provide drainage solutions to prevent water accumulation around foundations.
- How does complexity of the project change the price?The more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does materials used change the price?The parts and products used are added to the bill. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does site accessibility change the price?The harder the place is to get into, the longer the visit takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI)
CIRI is a VOLUNTARY register today. The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed on 5 July 2022 and S.I. 429/2022 commenced parts of it on 29 August 2022; the Construction Industry Federation was appointed registration body on 16 January 2023. Registration is NOT yet mandatory: the divisions regulations had not been drafted as of a May 2025 Dáil answer, and CIRI itself projects mandatory registration from 2027. So being absent from CIRI breaks no law in 2026 — and being on it is still the only independent check of a builder that exists here.
Search the Construction Industry Register Ireland for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. ciri.ie →
a Certificate of Compliance on Completion
Issued by the assigned certifier and the builder, where the work needed a commencement notice on completion, before the building is occupied. It matters because it is lodged on the statutory register and is what a buyer's solicitor looks for; work done without one surfaces on sale.
Agree before the work starts that you will be handed a certificate of compliance on completion, and keep it with the house papers.
Insurance
Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — concrete Finishing — this involves the application of finishes to concrete surfaces, such as stamping, staining, or sealing.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — drainage Solutions — concrete & foundations specialists often provide drainage solutions to prevent water accumulation around foundations.
A good answer: The more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The parts and products used are added to the bill. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The harder the place is to get into, the longer the visit takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Concrete Repair Services — professionals can assess and repair damaged concrete surfaces, including cracks, spalling, and uneven surfaces — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a concrete & foundations specialist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it — foundation Installation — this includes the excavation, preparation, and pouring of concrete for various types of foundations, such as slab, crawl space, or basement foundations.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the project — the more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong.
- Materials used — the parts and products used are added to the bill.
- Site accessibility — the harder the place is to get into, the longer the visit takes.
- Local labour rates — two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- No a Certificate of Compliance on Completion is offered, or you are told you do not need one for work of this kind
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the project — the more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong
- They will not talk about it: materials used — the parts and products used are added to the bill
- They will not talk about it: site accessibility — the harder the place is to get into, the longer the visit takes
- A price for the concrete & foundations specialist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What a concrete & foundations specialist costs: €3,000–€20,000 per project
The figures are for the job, per project, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Foundation installation and Concrete slab repair each carry their own band. Concrete & Foundations Specialist price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Concrete & foundations specialists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of the project — the more pieces involved, the more there is to go wrong — that is what the concrete & foundations specialist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneMaterials used — the parts and products used are added to the bill — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSite accessibility — the harder the place is to get into, the longer the visit takes — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherLocal labour rates — two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the concrete & foundations specialist is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of the job — detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site.
- Foundation Installation
- This includes the excavation, preparation, and pouring of concrete for various types of foundations, such as slab, crawl space, or basement foundations.
- Concrete Repair Services
- Professionals can assess and repair damaged concrete surfaces, including cracks, spalling, and uneven surfaces.
- Drainage Solutions
- Concrete & foundations specialists often provide drainage solutions to prevent water accumulation around foundations.
- Concrete Finishing
- This involves the application of finishes to concrete surfaces, such as stamping, staining, or sealing.
- Concrete Slab Repair
- Fixing cracks and surface damage in existing concrete slabs to restore functionality and appearance.
- Basement Waterproofing
- Applying techniques and materials to prevent water ingress and protect foundation integrity.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a concrete & foundations specialist: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the complexity of the project, materials used, site accessibility, and local labour rates. Additional factors such as excavation requirements and the need for permits can also affect pricing.
The duration of a concrete foundation job can range from a few days to several weeks, depending on the project's size and complexity. Weather conditions and curing times for concrete also play a significant role in the overall timeline.
Same-day service for concrete repairs may be available, but it often depends on the specialist's schedule and the urgency of the job. For significant repairs or installations, booking in advance is recommended.
Yes, many specialists offer package deals or discounts for booking multiple jobs together, such as foundation work and concrete finishing. This can be a cost-effective option for homeowners.
Concrete specialists generally do not handle landscaping, plumbing, or electrical work unless they have the necessary qualifications. It's important to clarify the scope of work before hiring to avoid overlaps with other trades.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in trades & construction
Concrete & foundations specialists near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022
- S.I. 429/2022 — Commencement Order
- Construction Industry Register Ireland
- Department of Housing — Building Control
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — BUILDING and CONSTRUCTION SERVICES (Private dwellings and Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only