By how much have the prices of the reforms increased??

Projects become more expensive due to rising costs of construction materials

Whoever plans to reform their habitual residence or their second residence in these months will find more expensive budgets than usual, up to a 30% more since the beginning of 2022 until now.

The shortage and rising prices of materials that affects construction in general and extends to the reforms subsector are behind, and the end is not in sight for the suppliers, because the situation that was dragging on with the freight and energy crisis worsened with the war in Ukraine after the Russian invasion.

Companies consulted by Mediterráneo in the province of Castellón corroborate that there is still demand and continue with the contracted work, although there are clients who foresaw more extensive works who have decided to postpone them or opt for a more modest project or cheaper qualities to adjust their spending without giving up getting their home ready.

Sergio Brown, Manager of the Pardo Group, explains that "there has been a barbaric increase in the cost of materials: iron, concrete, aluminum, copper…and automatically they have all been put in the car». “It is clear that the cost of energy has increased and this makes products more expensive., but the iron, for example, January so far has risen from 1 euro per kilo assembled on site, a 1,60. almost doubled. Another example is concrete.: we have received letters from the plants explaining that from 1 May the price suffers an increase of 10 euros per m3 on a price of 60. Where before it cost you 60, now, 70».

Suppliers also do not know when it will peak. “The rise in prices has really been spectacular., taking place in a very short period of time, in a couple of months. logically, the war in Ukraine has influenced».

Nevertheless, your company does not stop. «They ask us for budgets for reforms every week. Looking to change the bathroom or kitchen; or a complete reform of the apartment and throw it all down and make it new. and in new construction, there is the individual who buys a plot and wants to build a single-family house with a garden that gives him the freedom that he does not have in an apartment».

But the impact is "in the dilemmas that many clients consider". “In March a person came determined to accept an October budget. If it's a low increment, you assimilate it. But with increases in the material of the 300 O 100 O 50%, you can not. For an iron structure of a house that requires 30 tons of iron to 0,50 euros more, son 15.000 extra euros just to start. There is no room for manoeuvre”, reports. And they gave him options.: “Terminate the contract and look for another company that still asks for more because there are other items that do keep the budget from six months ago; From, you pay the difference; the three, you postpone the work for at least six months, to after the summer, to see if the price soufflé has dropped, although it will never do it at the level of January. Because the same thing has always happened when there is an increase it goes up a lot but it takes time to go down and a percentage stays. The price will stabilize at some point but not like before».

Usually, the reforms still continue, but they moderate. “There are clients who, when I pass them the budget, it goes away and they see how to reduce costs: they give up the pool and leave it for three years; or the garage is finished diaphanous instead of with a cellar; or put grass instead of outdoor pavement. They give up the expendable».

Different costs and supply delay

in another company, Fustecma, your CEO, Joseph Matas, reports that "indeed, the cost of the reforms has become more expensive around a 30% and there are materials that take time to arrive. Although the demand has moderated, we work relatively well, without many stops, because many works are no longer for comfort, like after confinement; but out of necessity». It is ordered from a kitchen (of 3.000 a 30.000 euros, without work; o de 8.000 a 30.000, with work, and everything varies depending on the surface, qualities and what is done), «From time to time there are materials that may be missing. For instance, we assembled a kitchen and the shipment of the plinth was delayed. Later, in tiles, the same. You have to call the factory and they tell you the stock. Sometimes there are references in the catalog that are no longer available there», Explain Matas. «If a special melamine is requested and instead of taking four weeks, takes eight or 12. They are barbarities », indica.

Melamine, DM, chipboard or iron cost more than twice as much as a year ago. "In 2021 we had to look for material under the stones to be able to serve. The workforce went up, but less, and 5%. Electricity does cost four times more: of 3.000 a 12.000 €».

European funds, Yes, albeit with buts

Given the current situation in the reform market, marked by cost escalation, from the construction employers of Castellón Apecc are optimistic that the European subsidies that can be requested until 1 December will fuel demand in the coming months. On behalf of Apecc, manager coordinator, David Ruiz, pointed: «There is still a lot of demand for reforms in Castellón. And it is expected to continue. Last week the Next Generation funds for housing reform were presented in Valencia, communities of owners and neighborhoods, in order to improve their energy efficiency. They come from Europe and the Ministry of Housing is interested in their use».

About the current context, Ruiz valued that "the increase in the cost of materials affects the reforms and the amount depends on the product itself: aluminum, concrete, irons and ceramics have risen a lot in price. the extra cost, will depend on each case, of the agreement reached and the contract signed at the time of the order». In your opinion, for now, «The small reforms of individuals continue at a good pace although it may have an impact on the larger ones, but we have no data.

In any case, entrepreneurs like José Matas, CEO of Fustecma, On a day-to-day basis, it detects that less bureaucracy is needed in calls for public aid in general.. «In the Renhata Plan of Conselleria, Clients come who do not buy new floors but second-hand or inherited and what they fix the most are bathrooms or kitchens. There are also older people who do the work but do not ask for the subsidy because a lot of documentation is required., questionnaire, etc.». "It should be as simple as submitting an invoice with the company's VAT and having the aid paid", proposed.

For your part, Sergio Brown, of Pardo Constructions, indicated that in structural rehabilitation and energy efficiency –EU aid camp–, « We do a lot of work and the aid will enhance it, represent savings for families. The possible extra cost is shared, not so noticeable. It is not the same an owner who spends 15.000 euros to renovate your house than someone else who spends 2.000 ó 3.000 to repair facade or energy conditioning».