Check whether your roof suits solar PV, what a typical system includes, and the current SEAI grant, or try our solar calculator for an indicative cost and payback estimate.
Explore Solar PV
Home Upgrades
Home Upgrades in Ireland
Independent, plain English information on the main home upgrades available to households in Ireland: solar PV, heat pumps, insulation and windows and doors. Understand suitability, what to weigh up on cost, how current grants fit in, and what to check before you talk to an installer.
Independent information, not linked to any installer
Grants and costs explained in plain English
Choose an upgrade
The main home upgrades in Ireland
Each guide below covers suitability, what a project typically involves, current grants and what to check before you request quotations.
See what makes a home a strong candidate, and why your Heat Loss Indicator matters more than your BER.
Explore Heat PumpsCompare attic, wall and floor options and find out which addresses how your home is actually losing heat.
Explore InsulationWork out whether replacement is really the fix for draughts or condensation, and what grants require.
Explore Windows & DoorsEstimate bathroom renovation, kitchen renovation and home extension costs with our free calculator.
Explore Renovation Costs
Where should you start?
Deciding what to do first
There is no single correct order for every home. These are the questions worth asking yourself before you commit to one upgrade over another.
Is your home losing heat it doesn't need to? Attic, wall or floor insulation, and in some cases windows and doors, generally comes first where a home is draughty or has known gaps, since a heat pump performs best in a home that already holds its heat reasonably well.
Are you replacing an ageing oil or gas boiler? If a heating system needs replacing anyway, that is often a natural point to consider a heat pump, alongside checking your home's suitability and its Heat Loss Indicator, which matters more here than your BER.
Does your roof suit solar PV? Solar PV can generally be considered on its own timeline, separate from insulation or heating decisions, since it reduces what you draw from the grid rather than how much heat your home loses.
Are your windows or doors the actual problem? Draughts, condensation or cold rooms are not always solved by new windows. Work out whether replacement is really the answer before comparing glazing types.
What does your budget allow for now? Grants can reduce the cost of a project, but you still need to fund the balance and, on an individual grant, usually the full cost upfront before the grant is paid.
Are you planning several upgrades together? A whole home project combining more than one measure may suit a One Stop Shop route better than separate individual grants. See our Grants hub for how the routes differ.
What to weigh up
Costs, grants, suitability and installers
Every home upgrade on this site involves the same broad set of questions, even though the details differ by upgrade. We don't quote a single average cost figure here, since real project costs depend on your home, the specification chosen and the installer you use, and figures circulating online are often inconsistent or unsourced. Instead, each upgrade guide sets out what actually drives its cost, so you can judge a quotation properly once you have one.
- Suitability. Roof orientation for solar, a home's Heat Loss Indicator for a heat pump, and how a home is actually losing heat for insulation, all affect whether and how an upgrade suits your specific property.
- Cost. What drives the price you are quoted, such as system size, materials, labour and any electrical or structural work, is set out on each upgrade's own page.
- Grants. Most upgrades on this site currently have an associated SEAI grant. Amounts, eligibility and the application process are covered in full on our Grants hub.
- Installers. Grant supported work generally needs to be carried out by a contractor registered with SEAI for that specific measure. Use Find Installers to browse companies by upgrade type.
Always compare more than one quotation
Whatever upgrade you are considering, get more than one quotation, check exactly what is and is not included, and confirm current grant eligibility directly with SEAI before committing to work. Each upgrade guide includes a checklist for comparing quotations properly.
Grants
Government support may be available
Depending on the upgrade and your home, SEAI grants and other government supports may help reduce the cost. Grant schemes, eligibility and amounts vary by measure, and approval is generally required before work starts, so it's worth checking what currently applies to your situation before you start planning.
Find Installers
Ready to talk to installers?
Once you feel informed enough to take the next step, search for companies registered with SEAI for solar PV, heat pumps, insulation or windows and doors, and contact the ones that interest you directly.
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Browse installers by upgrade type and county
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Review company details before you get in touch
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Contact installers directly, with no obligation and no middleman
Upgrader.ie is an independent information resource. We do not currently have installer partnerships, and listing a company does not imply endorsement or vetting. See Our Partnerships.
Explore by goal
Not sure where to look? Start with what you want to achieve
A quicker way into the same information, organised around common reasons people start looking at home upgrades.
Lower my energy bills
Start with Solar PV to generate your own electricity, or a Heat Pump to cut heating running costs.
Stop draughts and cold rooms
See Insulation for attic, wall and floor options, and Windows & Doors if glazing is part of the problem.
Check what grants I could get
Visit the Grants hub for current SEAI amounts, eligibility and how the application process works.
Replace an old boiler
Read our Heat Pumps guide, including the free Readiness Check, before you request quotations.
Compare quotations properly
Every upgrade guide includes a checklist for what to ask before comparing prices between companies.
Talk to an installer
Go straight to Find Installers to browse SEAI registered companies by upgrade type.
Go deeper
Home upgrade guides
Detailed guidance on technologies, materials and choices once you have decided what to look into further.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which home upgrade should I do first?
There is no single right order for every home. As a general principle, addressing heat loss through insulation and, where needed, windows and doors tends to make other upgrades such as a heat pump more effective, since a heat pump performs best in a home that already holds its heat reasonably well. Solar PV can generally be considered independently of the others. See Where should you start above for how to think through your own priorities.
Do I need planning permission for home upgrades?
It depends on the upgrade. Most homes in Ireland can install rooftop solar panels without planning permission, with exceptions near airports and for protected structures. Requirements for insulation, windows and doors and heat pumps vary by property and by the specific work involved, so check the relevant upgrade page and, where in doubt, your local planning authority.
Can I get a grant for more than one upgrade?
Generally yes, provided each measure meets its own eligibility conditions. Combining measures in one project can also affect which route, an individual grant or a One Stop Shop, suits you best. See our Grants hub for current amounts and routes, and confirm what can be combined for your own project directly with SEAI.
Does Upgrader.ie recommend or rank installers?
No. Upgrader.ie is an independent information resource. We do not install anything ourselves, we do not currently have installer partnerships, and we do not rank, rate or recommend individual companies. Find Installers lets you browse companies registered with SEAI for the upgrade you are considering, so you can review their details and contact the ones that interest you directly.