HOW TO HIRE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a damp proofing specialist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A damp proofing in Ireland costs €800–€4,000 per job, typically around €2,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a damp proofing 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 — ventilation Solutions — improving ventilation in affected areas can significantly reduce damp issues.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — waterproofing Treatments — application of chemical damp-proofing treatments can help to protect walls from moisture.
- How does type of treatment required change the price?A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does size of the property change the price?A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the damp issues present change the price?A one-off design has no shortcuts to borrow from. — 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 — ventilation Solutions — improving ventilation in affected areas can significantly reduce damp issues.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — waterproofing Treatments — application of chemical damp-proofing treatments can help to protect walls from moisture.
A good answer: A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A one-off design has no shortcuts to borrow from. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Damp Proof Membrane Installation — installation of a damp proof membrane is crucial in preventing moisture from seeping through walls and floors — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a damp proofing 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 — initial Assessment — A thorough inspection of the property to identify damp issues, including rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation problems.
Getting the quote right
- Type of treatment required — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit.
- Size of the property — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary.
- Complexity of the damp issues present — a one-off design has no shortcuts to borrow from.
- With more difficult-to-reach spots typically leading to higher costs — the more intricate the work, the slower it has to be done.
- 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: type of treatment required — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit
- They will not talk about it: size of the property — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the damp issues present — a one-off design has no shortcuts to borrow from
- A price for the damp proofing specialist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What a damp proofing specialist costs: €800–€4,000 per job
The figures are for the job, per job, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Rising damp treatment and Penetrating damp repair each carry their own band. Damp Proofing 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
Damp proofing 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 firstType of treatment required — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit — that is what the damp proofing specialist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneSize of the property — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the damp issues present — a one-off design has no shortcuts to borrow from — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherWith more difficult-to-reach spots typically leading to higher costs — the more intricate the work, the slower it has to be done — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the damp proofing specialist is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check that they follow safety standards and regulations.
- Initial Assessment
- A thorough inspection of the property to identify damp issues, including rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation problems.
- Damp Proof Membrane Installation
- Installation of a damp proof membrane is crucial in preventing moisture from seeping through walls and floors.
- Waterproofing Treatments
- Application of chemical damp-proofing treatments can help to protect walls from moisture.
- Ventilation Solutions
- Improving ventilation in affected areas can significantly reduce damp issues.
- Rising Damp Treatment
- Involves injecting a damp-proofing cream into the walls to prevent moisture from rising.
- Penetrating Damp Repair
- Focuses on identifying and sealing external leaks to stop moisture ingress.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a damp proofing specialist: questions people ask
The cost of damp proofing can be influenced by the extent of the damp issue, the type of treatment required, and the size of the property. Accessibility and the need for additional repairs can also affect the overall price.
The duration of a damp proofing job can vary widely depending on the severity of the issue and the methods used. Typically, jobs can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, especially if extensive work is needed.
While general contractors can perform some damp proofing tasks, it's advisable to hire a qualified specialist for more complex issues. This is especially important for structural work or if electrical and gas systems are involved.
Some professionals offer emergency damp proofing services, particularly for severe cases that require immediate attention. However, availability may vary, so it’s best to inquire directly with local service providers.
Yes, many damp proofing professionals can handle multiple related jobs, such as repairs and ventilation improvements, during the same visit. This can often lead to cost savings and a more efficient workflow.
While damp proofing specialists focus on moisture issues, they typically do not handle unrelated repairs, such as structural alterations or cosmetic renovations. It's important to clarify the scope of work before hiring a service provider.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in trades & construction
Damp proofing 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