Ireland's Building Materials: The Price Rises Behind Your Renovation Quote

12 November 2026

New CSO data shows steel, concrete and plaster prices are well above 2021 levels, while some materials have eased.

Wholesale building material prices are well above 2021 levels, though not every material has climbed, according to new Central Statistics Office (CSO) data analysed by IVCG. The CSO's Wholesale Price Index shows materials were 3.8% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, and 32.3% above the 2021 average. Steel, concrete, cement and plaster have risen furthest since 2021, but lighting, heating and ventilation equipment, electrical fittings and plumbing materials are all cheaper than a year ago.

Ivan Ivanov, Co-Director of IVCG says that:

Prices have edged up, but that's no reason to put a project on hold. Quality materials are an investment that pays back in how a home performs and lasts."

The Building Materials With the Biggest Price Rises Since 2021

(Wholesale prices excluding VAT. Sub-categories only. Index for September 2026, where the 2021 average = 100.)

Fabricated structural steel is 82.5% above its 2021 average, with structural steel up 75.5% and ready-mixed mortar and concrete up 62.2%. Cement (59.8%) and plaster (53.6%) complete the top five. Across all materials, prices rose 3.8% in the past year, while the CSO's wider building and construction index, which includes wages, rose 3.6%.

The Biggest Price Rises in the Past 12 Months

Rank	Material	12-month rise
1	Bituminous macadam, asphalt and emulsions	17.6%
2	Reinforcing metal	12.5%
3	Paints, oils and varnishes	9.2%
4	Other structural steel	7.3%
5	Ready-mixed mortar and concrete	6.6%
6	Stone	5.8%
7	Insulating materials	5.7%
8	PVC pipes and fittings	5.4%
9	Copper pipes and fittings	5.3%
10	Plaster	5.0%

(September 2025 to September 2026. Sub-categories, with bituminous products shown as a group.)

For anyone planning plastering, painting, plumbing or insulation work, the picture is mixed. Plaster is up 5.0%, paints 9.2%, insulating materials 5.7% and copper pipes 5.3%. Plumbing materials overall, including sanitary ware, are 0.5% cheaper.

Where Prices Have Eased or Stayed Below 2021 Levels

Rough softwood timber is 8.7% below its 2021 average, even after a 2.9% rise this year.
Reinforcing metal is 13.8% below its 2021 average, despite jumping 12.5% in the past year.
Lighting (3.3%), heating and ventilation equipment (1.6%), electrical fittings (1.4%) and plumbing materials (0.5%) are all cheaper than a year ago.

Cement rose 11.4% in September alone, though it's just 2.8% above a year ago after easing earlier in the year. When asked about project planning, Vladimir Valev, Co-Director of IVCG says,

Every project is different, so we'd encourage homeowners to get in touch early. We'll talk through the options, explain where quality really counts, and give a clear, free quote.”

For homeowners planning a home renovation, a few simple steps help. Ask for an itemised quote so you can see where materials sit in the overall price, and check how long it stays valid. Talk through material choices with your contractor, as quality plaster, paint and plumbing fittings can make a real difference to how a room looks and lasts. Booking an on-site visit early also helps you plan around price movements.

How the Data Was Gathered

Price figures are drawn from the CSO Wholesale Price Index for September 2026, Table 3, published on October 27th, 2026, and also available on PxStat as table WPM39. Table 3 covers detailed wholesale price indices for building and construction materials, excluding VAT, with the 2021 average set at 100. Rises since 2021 are the September 2026 index minus 100.

Annual changes are as published by the CSO and were checked against the September 2025 release. The building and construction index (materials and wages) comes from Table 4 of the September 2026 release. These are wholesale prices, not the prices paid by homeowners.

About IVCG

I&V Construction General Ltd (IVCG) is a licensed and insured renovation and construction company based in Cork, also serving Galway and surrounding areas. IVCG offers a full range of residential and commercial renovation services, from home extensions and bathroom and kitchen renovations to plastering, tiling, carpentry and electrical work, under one roof.