HOW TO HIRE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
A general contractor in Ireland costs €250–€500 per day, typically around €350. 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.
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
BEFORE YOU BOOK
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 →
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.
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.
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 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 — material Sourcing — general contractors are responsible for sourcing quality materials needed for construction, balancing cost with durability.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — site Preparation — before any construction begins, general contractors prepare the site, which includes clearing land, grading, and laying foundations.
A good answer: The price follows the size more closely than anything else here. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The best materials are rarely the ones in stock locally. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A clear run to the work is the quickest job there is. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Remodelling — entails reconfiguring or redesigning spaces to improve aesthetics and usability — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a general contractor 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 — additions and Extensions — involves expanding a home by adding new rooms or extending existing spaces, enhancing functionality.
The figures are for the job, per day, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Home renovation and New home construction each carry their own band. General Contractor 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
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.
AFTER
MONEY BACK
Who: The named owner turning a property that has been vacant for at least two years (and built before 2008) into their permanent home or a rental. Not available to companies.
Official details on gov.ie →Schemes change. The amounts above were checked on the dates shown; the official page is the one that counts.
The cost of hiring a general contractor can vary based on project size, complexity, and location. Additional factors include the materials used, labor costs in your area, and any special permits required.
The duration of a project managed by a general contractor can range from a few weeks for smaller renovations to several months for larger builds. Factors such as project scope, weather conditions, and subcontractor availability can all affect timelines.
While some general contractors may offer emergency services, availability can vary significantly based on their current workload. It's advisable to contact them directly to discuss urgent needs and see if they can accommodate your request.
Yes, booking multiple related jobs can often lead to cost savings and streamlined project management, as the contractor can coordinate all aspects under one contract. This can also reduce the time spent on scheduling different trades.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and put right if it is not. Say what is wrong in writing first.
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