The verdict in three sentences
A Galway architecture firm that has outgrown its portfolio-builder template pays roughly €5,000 to €18,000 for a redesign with a local agency in 2026, and €2,700 to €8,200 on Kolonell's fixed grid. For private clients, the page that matters most is the process page: feasibility, design, permissions, construction, and how fees are calculated. The main risk is breaking the template's URLs without 301 redirects and losing the local searches that already find you.
How do you know a template has become too small?
Galway mixes one-off houses, extensions, cultural and university projects and rural west coast homes. A founder-led studio often starts on a portfolio builder: quick and good-looking, but limiting once the practice grows.
| Criterion | Portfolio builder | Redesigned site |
|---|---|---|
| Project pages | Single gallery, little text | One page per project, grouped by type |
| Process explained | One paragraph on the About page | Dedicated page, step by step |
| Contact form | Free text, attachments accepted | Minimal fields, drawings via a secure channel |
| Mobile speed | Heavy unoptimised images | WebP or AVIF, responsive sizes, lazy loading |
| Local search | Generic titles | Pages by service and general area |
| Annual cost | €200 to €450 subscription | Hosting and maintenance separate |
What does a redesign cost in Galway in 2026?
2026 ballpark from typical agency quotes and public rate pages of Irish agencies, not a statistical survey.
| Provider | Redesign budget | What you mainly pay for | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| West of Ireland freelancer | €2,000 to €6,000 | Theme integration | 5 to 10 weeks |
| Galway agency | €5,000 to €18,000 | Custom design and local follow-up | 8 to 14 weeks |
| Dublin agency | €14,000 to €30,000 | Strategy, brand, larger team | 12 to 20 weeks |
| Kolonell Starter | €2,700 | Compact site, process, contact | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | €4,500 | Portfolio by type, process, journal | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium | €8,200 | Larger portfolio, multilingual tier | 3 to 4 weeks |
Kolonell tiers include a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready and 3 months of support. If the practice uses Irish, Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) can accommodate it. Full details are on the international offer page.
What belongs on a process page for private clients?
A homeowner building or extending wants to know what lies ahead. The page should describe this without promising decision times or outcomes:
| Stage | Client's question | What the page shows | What it never promises |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feasibility | Is my site or house suitable? | Visit, survey, first options | That permission will be granted |
| Design | What will it look like? | Sketches, discussion, adjustments | A fixed construction cost |
| Permissions | Do I need planning permission? | Application to the local authority, possible appeals to An Bord Pleanála or its successor body | A decision timeline |
| Technical design | How do we choose a builder? | Construction drawings, tender | Builders' prices |
| Construction | Who oversees the works? | Site visits, meetings, handover | A guaranteed completion date |
Fees are explained in general terms: a percentage of construction cost, a fixed fee per stage or an hourly rate for feasibility, depending on the project. No amount is shown without the firm's approval. These procedures are described generally. This is not legal advice.
Which risks should you watch during migration?
| Risk | When it bites | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking loss | 1 to 4 weeks after switchover | URL inventory, 301 map, Search Console monitoring for 6 weeks |
| Images without rights | During portfolio migration | Photo credit and client consent for every project; private houses without an address |
| Misused title | When writing team bios | The title architect, protected by the Building Control Act 2007, only for people on the RIAI register |
| Excess data | On the first form | Name, contact, project type, area, rough budget; GDPR and the Data Protection Commission |
| Unverifiable claims | At review | Awards, press and certifications only if supplied by the firm |
| Accessibility | After launch | Target WCAG 2.2 AA, in the spirit of the European Accessibility Act |
On quote: client portal, project extranet, BIM viewer, tender document room, CRM and a secure channel for drawings. They are linked or embedded, never rebuilt inside a fixed-price site.
Three questions to ask: who exports content from the current builder? Is the domain in your name? Who checks the 301s on switchover day?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
When should you choose a Galway agency?
If you want to meet the designer weekly, have Connemara houses photographed under coordinated art direction, or rebuild your entire identity, a local agency is worth the price. For a clear redesign in 3 to 4 weeks, a free quote is enough to compare.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* Saltmarsh Studio in Galway is led by its founder, an RIAI-registered architect, with three staff. Its site runs on a €360 a year portfolio builder and receives enquiries with no budget or location.
- Kolonell Growth: €4,500, with process page, fees explained and a minimal form.
- Local photographer, third-party cost: €900 for three houses.
- Hosting: market assumption of €25 per month over 33 months, €825; Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months on quote.
- 3-year cost: €4,500 + €900 + €825 = €6,225, versus 3 x €360 = €1,080 for the current template, which has no process page or qualifying form.
FAQ
How much does an architecture firm website redesign cost in Galway?
About €5,000 to €18,000 with a local agency in 2026. Kolonell offers €2,700, €4,500 or €8,200 depending on the tier.
Should we publish our fees?
No, explaining the calculation method in 2 or 3 sentences is enough. A worked example is published only if the firm approves it, and no amount is ever invented.
What should the enquiry form ask?
Five fields are enough: name, contact, project type, general area and rough budget. Drawings go through a separate secure channel, on quote.
Will we lose local searches when leaving the portfolio builder?
The risk exists but is manageable with a 301 redirect for every old URL and 6 weeks of Search Console monitoring.
Can we keep some pages in Irish?
Yes, if the practice already uses them. Premium at €8,200 is the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote.
Let's scope your project. Send your current site address, the number of projects to carry over and your target date: we will price the redesign in EUR, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
