Choosing an insulation contractor in Dublin
Only contractors on SEAI's register can claim insulation grants for you, and SEAI publishes that register so you can check a name before you commit. An unregistered contractor might do good work, but the grant won't be paid on it. Everything else — price, timing, who you like — is yours to judge.
We'll put your job in front of registered contractors covering your part of Dublin. It costs you nothing.
- Free, and no obligation
- SEAI-registered contractors only
- Grant figures checked 15 August 2026
What registration actually covers
SEAI maintains registers for home energy upgrade contractors, One Stop Shops and BER assessors. Being on one means a contractor is eligible to carry out grant-supported work and to follow SEAI's technical standards for it. That is a real filter and it is the first one to apply.
It is not the only check worth doing. Still your call:
- Insurance
- References from jobs like yours
- How a firm behaves when you ask an awkward question
Register first, then judge — in that order, because no amount of liking somebody makes an unregistered job grant-eligible.
Check the name you were actually given. Trading names and registered names differ more often than you'd expect, and "we're SEAI approved" on a website is not the same as appearing on the register today.
Three registers, published by SEAI
- Home energy upgrade contractors
- One Stop Shops
- BER assessors
All three are searchable by service and area, so any name can be checked before you commit.
What registration is not
A guarantee of the work. Insurance, references from jobs like yours, and how a firm behaves when you ask an awkward question are all still your call. Register first, then judge.
How to tell whether a quote is reasonable
This is the part most people have no yardstick for, and there is one. SEAI publishes median installed costs, calculated from what registered contractors submitted when grants were paid across 23,412 completed upgrades. It is the middle of the real market rather than an advertised price.
A quote well above the median isn't automatically wrong. Plenty moves the number legitimately:
- Access
- Scaffolding
- Wall area
- The state of the existing fabric
- The finish you choose
Ask anyway. A contractor who can explain the gap is telling you something useful, and one who can't is telling you something too.
Costs from SEAI's published median costs, checked 15 August 2026.
How much of each job the grant reaches
The middle of the real market
| Measure | Median cost | Grant | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attic insulation | €2,101 | €1,500 | €601 |
| Cavity wall insulation | €1,585 | €1,300 | €285 |
| Internal wall insulation | €9,843 | €3,500 | €6,343 |
| External wall insulation | €23,219 | €6,000 | €17,219 |
Five things to settle before you sign
- 01
Is grant approval in place?
SEAI requires approval before work starts. Begin early and you have spent your own money, and no amount of paperwork afterwards fixes it.
- 02
Does the quote cover every external wall?
Wall grants need a whole-surface solution. A quote for the back and the gable is not grant-eligible, however sensible it looks.
- 03
Who arranges the post-works BER?
SEAI pays nothing until it is done. Most contractors handle it; confirm rather than assume, and see what a BER assessment involves.
- 04
Is an ESB Networks service alteration likely?
External wall insulation adds thickness, so the meter box and cables may have to move. It is arranged separately and SEAI notes that fees may apply. Ask who is organising it and who is paying.
- 05
Does your address need planning permission?
Only relevant to external wall insulation, and only on some houses, but expensive to discover late. Ask about your address rather than your area.
How many quotes?
Three The usual advice, and sound here — the spread on insulation work is wide
If a quote is far off the medians in the table above, ask what is different about your house rather than assuming somebody is wrong.
No cost, no obligation
Get quotes from registered contractors
Tell us about the house. We pass it to SEAI-registered contractors working in Dublin, and they come back to you with quotes. We're not a contractor and we never charge homeowners.
Five questions. Email and the notes box are optional.
Questions about choosing a contractor
5 questions
Does my contractor have to be SEAI-registered?
For a grant, yes. Only contractors on SEAI's register can carry out grant-supported work, and SEAI publishes the list so you can check any name before you commit. An unregistered contractor might do perfectly good work, but the grant won't be paid on it, and you'd be finding that out afterwards.
How do I check a contractor is registered?
SEAI publishes its registers of contractors, One Stop Shops and BER assessors, searchable by service and area. Check the name you were given rather than the name on the van, because trading names and registered names often differ.
How many quotes should I get?
Three is the usual advice and it's sound here, because the spread on insulation work is wide. SEAI's own median costs show what the middle of the market looks like: a semi-detached external wall job runs a median €23,219 and an attic job €2,101. If a quote is far off those, ask what's different about your house rather than assuming somebody's wrong.
What should I ask before signing?
Whether grant approval is in place, because starting work first means paying for it yourself. Whether every external wall is included, because a partial wall job doesn't qualify. Who arranges the post-works BER. Whether an ESB Networks service alteration is likely, and who pays the fee. And for external wall insulation, whether planning permission is needed on your specific address.
What does this site charge me?
Nothing. We're not a contractor and we don't quote for work. Contractors pay us a fee on jobs they win through an introduction from here, so we only get paid if something goes ahead. You deal with the contractor directly and the contract is between you and them.