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Material concerns: How prices vary across Europe
This table gives typical figures for contract rates compiled by DL&E’s offices in Europe; they may include discounts.
The figures show how difficult it would be to prove that differentials are anything other than the result of natural regional variations. Prices converted to sterling at 20 August 1999 exchange rates.
  UK France Germany The Netherlands Spain
  £ £ £ £  £
Cement (in bags) tonne 85 90 61 81 56
Ready-mixed concrete (11.5 N/mm2) m3 56 84 69 48 31
High-tensile steel reinforcement (12 mm) tonne 260 575 260 495 255
Structural steel sections tonne 430 515 340 800 335
Good-quality facing bricks 1000 275 240 270 180 140
Softwood for carpentry m3 220 205 100 240 180
Plywood (exterior quality 18 mm) m2 11.15 7.5 4.1 10.5 6
Sealed double-glazing units (18 mm) m2 49 43 100 50 20
Good-quality ceramic wall tiles m2 21.5 20.7 21.1 15.1 8.3
Plasterboard (12.5 mm) m2 1.85 2.05 1.7 1.95 2.35
WC suite complete each 195 185 270 105 75
Cast-iron drain pipe (150mm) m 28.6 21.3 14 17.5 19.4
Source: Davis Langdon & Everest
E&FN Spon’s European Construction Costs Handbook 3rd edition, edited by Davis Langdon & Everest, will be published later in the year.