Renovation calculator · Donegal · 2026
Renovation cost calculator for Donegal.
County Donegal operates at the lower end of the Irish regional renovation cost spread, with labour day-rates running 12–18% below the SCSI national mean. The county's renovation market is profoundly shaped by the mica defective-concrete-block crisis: thousands of properties built 1990–2015 across Inishowen, the Fanad peninsula, the Mulroy Bay area and the wider county were constructed using mica-contaminated blocks that have since deteriorated structurally. The Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme provides State support for affected properties but the scope of intervention varies from minor remediation to full demolition-and-rebuild. Typical structural renovation (excluding mica-affected properties): €155,000–€205,000.
Regional uplift vs national mean: −10% to −20% · SCSI Nov 2025 derived
Typical projects in Donegal 2026
Per-m² and per-project mid-range bands for Donegal, derived from SCSI Nov 2025 with the county’s specific uplift factor applied. EUR inclusive of 13.5% VAT, including 10% contingency and labour at local Engineers Ireland day-rates.
| Project | Mid-range € | Range in Donegal |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen renovation (full strip + replace) | €20,500 | €12,000 – €41,000 |
| Single-storey rear extension (20 m²) | €45,000 | €31,000 – €68,500 |
| Mica engineer's Stage 1 + 2 assessment | €7,500 | €4,500 – €12,000 |
| Mica remediation (partial — Scheme funded) | €85,000 | €35,000 – €280,000 |
| Coastal weathering upgrade (roof + render) | €9,500 | €6,000 – €15,500 |
SCSI Nov 2025 + CSO COPI Q1 2026 + Engineers Ireland 2026, restated for Donegal. EUR inc-13.5% VAT, 10% contingency. Excludes professional fees + BCAR.
Donegal County Council operates Architectural Conservation Areas across Letterkenny town centre, parts of Buncrana, Bundoran and Donegal town. Listed Structures are dispersed across the historic country-house network (Glenveagh, Lough Eske, Rathmullan House). Outside those zones the planning regime is comparatively permissive. The dominant Donegal-specific concern remains mica: every property built 1990–2015 in the affected belt requires a Mica Engineer's assessment before any meaningful renovation commitment. The Enhanced Scheme (introduced 2022, updated 2024) covers up to €420,000 of remediation cost for assessed properties; the application process runs 6–18 months and requires a Stage 1 and Stage 2 engineer's certification. The county's exposed Atlantic coastline drives a 15–25% premium on roof slate, lead and external timber relative to inland counties.
Run a full estimate for your Donegal project
Five short steps, three spec tiers, itemised breakdown including the −10% to −20% uplift for Donegal. Free, no sign-up.
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