The verdict in three sentences
A Dublin manufacturer of low carbon building materials (hempcrete blocks, wood fibre insulation, lime renders) selling to architects, contractors and self builders should pick its agency with a 100 point scoring grid rather than the lowest price or the prettiest mock up. Budget 9,000 to 30,000 EUR excluding VAT as a 2026 market ballpark, with a quantity estimator at 2,500 to 7,000 EUR often being the tool that turns a visitor into a quote request. Expect 8 to 14 weeks and drop any agency unable to show a technical site it has already delivered.
What the site must do for a materials maker
An architect specifying a retrofit in Rathmines or a contractor pricing a timber frame scheme in Kildare needs hard data: thermal conductivity, U values for typical build ups, fire and acoustic performance, Agrément or CE marking status, and downloadable technical data sheets. Architects also want project galleries and environmental product declarations where available. Contractors want a quick quantity and cost estimate.
| Site component | Purpose | 2026 market ballpark (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Core site of 10 to 15 pages | company, range, sustainability, contact | 6,000 to 15,000 EUR |
| Technical data sheets and downloads | specs, PDFs, certifications | 1,500 to 4,000 EUR |
| Project gallery for architects | photos, location, build up used | 1,200 to 3,500 EUR |
| Quantity estimator | wall or roof area to quantity and indicative cost | 2,500 to 7,000 EUR |
| Specifier login or BIM object library | downloads tracked per practice | 2,000 to 6,000 EUR |
| Quote form and call tracking | direct contact for contractors | 500 to 1,500 EUR |
The 100 point scoring grid
Score every agency on the same 6 criteria after a one hour meeting and a written proposal.
| Criterion | Points | What earns full marks |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding of specifiers and contractors | 20 | asks about architects, data sheets and certifications before talking design |
| Technical or industrial references | 20 | 2 comparable live sites, with a client you can call |
| Quality and clarity of the quote | 15 | itemised quote, estimator priced separately, written timeline |
| Performance and accessibility | 15 | mobile load under 2.5 seconds, WCAG 2.1 AA approach explained |
| Maintenance and ownership | 15 | priced maintenance, domain and code owned by you |
| Support after launch | 15 | 2 hour handover, your team can update data sheets alone |
| Total | 100 | recommended threshold: at least 70 points |
Warning signs in meetings
Some answers should cost points straight away: a domain registered in the agency's name, a single lump sum with no breakdown, no idea of the homepage weight, a promise of "page one on Google in a month", or no industrial site in the portfolio. Be wary of an estimator priced under 1,000 EUR by an agency that never asked for your calculation rules. Also check the agency signs a GDPR data processing agreement, since specifier logins hold personal data; the Data Protection Commission publishes the Irish guidance.
As a nearshore benchmark, Kolonell's prices: a Growth site at 1,830 to 3,050 EUR (1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA), 8 to 12 pages with a blog, in 14 to 21 business days; a Premium site at 3,050 to 5,340 EUR; 90 EUR per page of copywriting; maintenance at 53, 114 or 183 EUR a month. A custom estimator is priced after reviewing your formulas.
Mini case study
Illustrative example, fictional company: Aoife, managing director of a Dublin sustainable materials maker, turns over 4.2 million EUR. She scores three agencies at 61, 76 and 83 points, with quotes of 11,000, 19,500 and 28,000 EUR. She picks the 76 point agency, strongest on technical references and performance, since 7 more points do not justify 8,500 EUR extra. If the estimator and data sheets bring 4 extra contractor orders a year at an average of 18,000 EUR, that is 72,000 EUR of revenue: at a 30% margin the site pays back in about 11 months.
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FAQ
What budget should a Dublin materials maker plan?
As a 2026 estimate, 9,000 to 30,000 EUR depending on the estimator, specifier login and number of data sheets. Add 90 to 400 EUR a month for maintenance.
Is a quantity estimator essential?
Not at launch, but it qualifies leads strongly. A simple estimator around 2,500 EUR covers area to quantity and indicative cost per square metre.
Why score accessibility?
Public sector clients and large contractors increasingly expect WCAG 2.1 AA from suppliers. Fixing accessibility after launch can cost 20 to 30% of the original build.
How many agencies should we meet?
Three or four, with 2 weeks to respond. The grid takes about 30 minutes per agency to fill in after the meeting.
Do we need a BIM object library?
If architects specify your products on larger schemes, yes. Budget 2,000 to 6,000 EUR for a tracked download area.
Let's scope your project. Send us your range, target buyers and estimator needs, and we will price the site line by line with budget and timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
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.
