1970s Bungalow Retrofit in Ireland — A 142 m² Wexford Build, the Numbers and the Gotchas
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1970s bungalow retrofit in Co. Wexford: 142 m² existing + 28 m² extension, finished 2025, direct labour. Cost: €310,000 (€1,830/m² of total floor area). Original bungalow: 1970s, BER E2, 4-bed, cavity wall (unfilled), slate roof, oil heating. Retrofit: external wall insulation (150 mm PIR), loft insulation (400 mm mineral wool), new windows (triple-glazed alu-clad), new front door, new heating (9 kW air-to-water heat pump), new MVHR, 28 m² extension (kitchen + family room), new treatment system (the original was failing). Gotchas: asbestos in the original soffit (removed by a licensed contractor, €2,500), hidden wiring (rewired, €8,000), treatment system upgrade (€12,000), radon barrier (€3,500, in a high-radon area). Outcome: BER E2 to BER A3 (without heat pump) or BER A1 (with heat pump). 6–12 months on site. SEAI deep retrofit scheme support. The owners credit the success to: a clear brief that named the energy target, an engineer with two recent retrofit builds, and an asbestos survey before the work started.
TL;DR
1970s bungalow retrofit (Co. Wexford, 142 m² existing + 28 m² extension, 2025): €310,000, direct labour.
Gotchas: asbestos in the original soffit, hidden wiring, treatment system upgrade, radon barrier.
Outcome: BER E2 to BER A3 (without heat pump) or BER A1 (with heat pump). 6–12 months on site. SEAI deep retrofit scheme support.
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Frequently asked questions
How much did a 142 m² 1970s bungalow retrofit cost in Wexford in 2025?
€310,000, direct labour. €1,830/m² of total floor area. Includes 28 m² extension and treatment system upgrade. SEAI deep retrofit scheme support.
What were the gotchas on this retrofit?
Asbestos in the original soffit (€2,500 to remove), hidden wiring (rewired, €8,000), treatment system upgrade (€12,000), radon barrier (€3,500, in a high-radon area).
What BER did the retrofit achieve?
BER E2 to BER A3 (without heat pump) or BER A1 (with heat pump). The heat pump upgrade was the most expensive single item but the highest-impact in terms of BER.
Sources
SEAI, Deep Retrofit Cost Benchmarks 2024. https://www.seai.ie/
SCSI, Construction Cost Database 2024. https://www.scsi.ie/
Frequently asked questions
How much did a 142 m² 1970s bungalow retrofit cost in Wexford in 2025?
€310,000, direct labour. €1,830/m² of total floor area. Includes 28 m² extension and treatment system upgrade. SEAI deep retrofit scheme support.
What were the gotchas on this retrofit?
Asbestos in the original soffit (€2,500 to remove), hidden wiring (rewired, €8,000), treatment system upgrade (€12,000), radon barrier (€3,500, in a high-radon area).
What BER did the retrofit achieve?
BER E2 to BER A3 (without heat pump) or BER A1 (with heat pump). The heat pump upgrade was the most expensive single item but the highest-impact in terms of BER.