Where shell construction begins
The shell is the load-bearing skeleton of the house. It includes the foundations and foundation slab, external and load-bearing walls, partition walls, floor slabs, the staircase, the chimney and the roof structure including the roof covering.
Once the shell is finished, the house should be weathertight. That means windows and external doors are fitted, although this is exactly the point where quotes from different companies tend to differ.
What shell construction usually doesn't include
Water, heating and electrical installations, plaster, screeds, the external thermal insulation system, the facade and floors. These belong to the finishing works and are a separate item in the budget.
Watch out for utility connections too. Water, sewer and electricity connections are often handled separately, and the client has to arrange them before construction starts.
What to ask before you sign
Ask for an itemised budget, not a single figure. For every item it must be clear whether it covers materials, labour or both.
Check whether the quote includes scaffolding, transport, waste removal and site electricity. These are the items that can inflate the budget by thousands of euros later on.
