Live In, or Move Out?
Through a light refurbishment of 8 to 12 weeks, most people stay. Through a full renovation of 16 to 24 weeks, most move out for at least the middle of it. Through a gut renovation, everyone does. Living in slows the job, because the builders work around you and make the house safe every evening.
By level, and what to plan either way.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
- 8 to 12 weekslight: most stay
- 16 to 24 weeksfull: most move out
- Weeklysite visits, on a fixed day
By level
| Level | Stay? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Light refurbishment | Usually | Room by room. One bathroom always working |
| Full renovation | Rarely | No kitchen, no heating, dust everywhere for weeks |
| Gut renovation | No | No floors, no power, no water |
If you stay
- One sealed room that the builders never enter.
- A working bathroom at all times, agreed in writing.
- A temporary kitchen: a microwave, a kettle, a sink.
- Dust sheets taped at doors, and a vacuum with a fine filter.
- Children and pets somewhere else during demolition.
If you move out
- Budget the rent for the full programme, plus a month.
- Tell your home insurer: an empty house under renovation needs different cover.
- Storage for furniture, or one dry room kept for it.
- Visit weekly, on a fixed day, with the builder.
What it does to the price
A builder with a clear house works faster and prices lower. Ask for the job priced both ways. The difference is often close to the rent.
Every guide, calculator and county page
Jump straight to any specification guide, our interactive calculator, the technical glossary or your county page.
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More on renovating in Dublin
Costs, old houses, timing and grants.
What it costs in Dublin€330 to €530 per m² light. €670 to €1,330 per m² full.
Cost room by roomA kitchen €15,000 to €25,000. A bathroom €8,000 to €12,000.
Period housesAllow 15% to 25% more. Here's why.
Rewiring and replumbingA rewire with a new water system, €20,000 to €35,000.
How long it takes8 to 12 weeks light, 24 to 36 weeks for a gut renovation.
GrantsUp to €50,000 for a vacant house, €70,000 if derelict.House renovations in every part of Dublin
- Dublin 1 and 748.7% of homes built before 1981
- Dublin 2 and 450.8% of homes built before 1981
- Dublin 846.4% of homes built before 1981
- Pembroke63% of homes built before 1981
- Rathmines75.1% of homes built before 1981
- Ballyfermot73.4% of homes built before 1981
- Cabra66.4% of homes built before 1981
- Finglas61.9% of homes built before 1981
- Artane70.3% of homes built before 1981
- Clontarf71.9% of homes built before 1981
- Donaghmede52.7% of homes built before 1981
- Swords22.7% of homes built before 1981
- Malahide41.5% of homes built before 1981
- Balbriggan28.3% of homes built before 1981
- Rush22.6% of homes built before 1981
- Castleknock30.1% of homes built before 1981
- Blanchardstown13.9% of homes built before 1981
- Ongar14.6% of homes built before 1981
- Lucan18.6% of homes built before 1981
- Palmerstown55.9% of homes built before 1981
- Clondalkin32.6% of homes built before 1981
- Tallaght Central63.8% of homes built before 1981
- Tallaght South25.4% of homes built before 1981
- Firhouse29.6% of homes built before 1981
- Rathfarnham70.3% of homes built before 1981
- Dún Laoghaire61.7% of homes built before 1981
- Blackrock58.1% of homes built before 1981
- Stillorgan52.1% of homes built before 1981
- Dundrum72.1% of homes built before 1981
- Sandyford26.5% of homes built before 1981
- Killiney49.6% of homes built before 1981
Price your renovation
Four taps: the house, how much you're doing, when it was built and the scope. You see our price guide per square metre. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want one renovation company that covers your part of Dublin to ring you.
Questions people ask
Can a family with small children live in?
Through decoration and a kitchen, with planning. Not through a rewire and replaster.
How long will I be without a kitchen?
Two to four weeks in a full renovation, if the new one is ordered on time.
Do I need to tell my insurer?
Yes, before work starts, whether you stay or go.
Get a price to renovate your house
One renovation company that covers your part of Dublin. Free, no obligation. Nothing starts until you accept a written price.