ICF vs Timber Frame vs Block in Ireland — Cost, Speed, U-value, BER Side by Side
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Block €110–€160/m² wall, ICF €180–€240, timber frame €200–€280, SIPs €240–€320. Each wins on different criteria.
Five wall systems for Irish self-builds. Blockwork with external insulation: €110–€160/m² of wall, the cheapest, slowest to build (6–9 weeks for a 150 m² house), easiest to find trades. ICF (insulated concrete formwork): €180–€240/m², 3–5 weeks, mid-cost. Timber frame: €200–€280/m², 2–4 weeks, fastest, easiest to hit BER A1. SIPs: €240–€320/m², 2–3 weeks, premium. CLT (cross-laminated timber): €280–€360/m², 3–5 weeks, premium. Choose by: BER target, site access, local trades, and budget. Building Regulations 2023 TGD-L (Conservation of fuel and energy) sets the wall U-value targets. Most Irish self-builders on standard sites choose block with external insulation; on BER A1-targeted builds, timber frame or ICF is more common.
TL;DR
Block €110–€160/m² wall, ICF €180–€240, timber frame €200–€280, SIPs €240–€320, CLT €280–€360. Block is cheapest; timber and ICF are fastest to A1 BER.
Block is the default Irish wall, slowest to build (6–9 weeks for a 150 m² house). ICF is 3–5 weeks, timber frame 2–4 weeks, SIPs 2–3 weeks.
Airtightness: SIPs and ICF ≤0.6 m³/m²·hr at 50 Pa achievable. Timber frame 0.3–0.8. Block depends on the render and detailing.
When this matters most
You're at wall-system choice stage.
When this doesn't apply
You've already specified a wall system in your design.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest wall system in Ireland?
Blockwork with external insulation. €110–€160/m² of wall. Trades are everywhere, materials are stocked locally. Slower to build than other systems.
What is the fastest wall system to build?
SIPs and timber frame, both at 2–4 weeks for a 150 m² house. ICF is 3–5 weeks. Block is 6–9 weeks.
What is the warmest wall system?
SIPs. U-value as low as 0.10 W/m²K with a standard 200 mm panel. Timber frame and ICF both reach 0.13–0.18. Blockwork with external insulation reaches 0.15–0.22.
Sources
Building Regulations 2023, TGD-L (Conservation of fuel and energy — Dwellings). https://www.gov.ie/
NSAI, I.S. EN ISO 13790 — Energy performance of buildings. https://www.nsai.ie/
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest wall system in Ireland?
Blockwork with external insulation. €110–€160/m² of wall. Trades are everywhere, materials are stocked locally. Slower to build than other systems.
What is the fastest wall system to build?
SIPs and timber frame, both at 2–4 weeks for a 150 m² house. ICF is 3–5 weeks. Block is 6–9 weeks.
What is the warmest wall system?
SIPs. U-value as low as 0.10 W/m²K with a standard 200 mm panel. Timber frame and ICF both reach 0.13–0.18. Blockwork with external insulation reaches 0.15–0.22.
When this matters most
You're at wall-system choice stage.
When this doesn't apply
You've already specified a wall system in your design.
Where to go next
Branch into
Adjacent decisions at the same stage.