Rising diesel prices have pushed up some construction costs but overall costs were flat in October according to QV CostBuilder

Construction costs increased only marginally overall in October, in spite of a substantial increase in diesel costs.

According to the QV CostBuilder Index, which recorded more than 7000 individual construction cost changes over October, the cost of diesel was up 19% since September and up 76% since February.

That impacted fuel intensive parts of the construction industry, with excavation costs up 3.9% for the month and piling and demolition both up 0.6%.

However, it did not translate into broad-based construction cost inflation, with some costs rising while others fell.

Notable increases included processed timber products, up 6.2% for the month, medium density fibreboard up 2.8%, reinforcing up 2.7%, roofing and cladding up 1.6% and insulation up 1.1%.

Heading in the opposite direction, costs for adhesives and sealants declined 4.2% for the month, kitchen-related costs were down 1.2% and structural timber costs dropped 0.2%.

"Some products are moving up relatively sharply, some are coming back and others are barely changing at all," QV CostBuilder quantity surveyor Martin Bisset said.

Overall, construction costs increased marginally by 0.1% in October.

Bisset said anyone budgeting for construction work should continue to allow for movement in costs, particularly in fuel-sensitive parts of a project.

"The overall picture is relatively steady but that doesn't mean every part of  a build is standing still," he said.

"Where your costs will move most depends heavily on what you're building, what materials you need and how exposed the job is to fuel," Bisset said.