- Nearly 10 times increase for metal house structures in the last 12 months
- Metal house structures cost almost half of the turnkey ones
Bucharest, March 10 2026 —Demand for alternative house construction methods in Romania is rising rapidly as homeowners increasingly prioritize affordability, faster build times, and practical designs. According to new data from the home services HomeRun, one of Romania’s leading online platforms for local services that connects consumers with trusted professionals, which analyzed requests for construction services submitted on the platform over the last 12 months (March 2025 – February 2026) and compared them with the previous 12-month period. The preferences of the platform users sees a clear shift away from traditional turnkey homes toward metal structure and wooden houses.
Overall demand for construction services across these categories increased by approximately 18% highlighting sustained interest in residential construction despite ongoing cost pressures in the sector.
Metal structure houses: the news stars on the platform
The strongest growth was recorded for metal structure houses, where demand in the last 12 months reached nearly ten times the level seen the year before. Requests for wooden house construction also rose significantly, increasing by more than 113% year over year. In contrast, turnkey house construction, which traditionally dominates the residential construction demand, experienced a 45.8% decline in demand during the same period.
The shift becomes even more visible when examining the distribution of requests across construction types. In 2024, traditional turnkey homes represented 85% of all construction requests, while metal structure and wooden houses combined accounted for just 15%. By 2025, the situation had reversed: alternative construction methods represented 61% of total requests, while turnkey homes dropped to 39%. Among these options, metal structure houses became the most requested solution, accounting for more than 42% of total demand, followed by wooden houses at just over 18%.
Cost: a growth driver
One of the key drivers behind this trend is cost. According to HomeRun data, metal structure homes cost on average about half as much as turnkey houses, while wooden houses can cost roughly only one third compared to the traditional turnkey construction. The overall rising construction costs in Romania, driven by higher material prices and labor shortages in recent years, have pushed many consumers to consider faster and more affordable building solutions. Prefabricated or modular approaches, including steel and timber structures, are increasingly viewed as practical alternatives that can significantly shorten construction timelines while reducing overall project costs.
Single-story houses account for 79% of demand
Demand patterns also reveal clear preferences when it comes to home design and size. Requests for metal structure houses are strongly oriented toward simpler layouts, with single-story homes accounting for around 79% of demand, while two-story houses represent roughly 19%. Pricing data from submitted quotes indicates that vertical construction significantly increases costs, with two-story metal structure homes costing approximately 130% more on average than single-story options.
When it comes to size, 100 square meters is the most requested option, representing about 28% of demand for metal structure homes. This is followed by 80 square meters at 22%, while 50 square meters accounts for around 16% of requests, suggesting that many homeowners are opting for mid-sized houses that balance affordability with practical living space.
For wooden houses, demand tends to favor smaller homes. The most frequently requested size is 50 square meters, which represents 32% of requests, followed by 100 square meters at 23% and 80 square meters at 17%. In terms of design preferences, most users requesting wooden homes indicate a preference for classic houses with a ground floor or ground floor plus first floor, selected in 54% of requests. A-frame houses account for 18%, while modular, SIP, CLT, or cabin-style constructions make up the remainder of demand.
Although demand has declined, turnkey homes remain closely associated with traditional family housing. Requests show that single-story houses still dominate with 64% of demand, while two-story homes account for about 33%. The most requested size remains 100 square meters, representing 39% of demand, followed by 80 square meters at 21% and 60 square meters at 11%. When analyzing layout preferences, consumers most frequently request three-room or four-room houses, each representing 32% of requests, indicating continued demand for practical mid-sized homes suitable for families. Brick remains the dominant building material in this category, selected in 61% of cases, while concrete accounts for 13%.
Bucharest-Ilfov region leads demand and spring and summer are the preferred seasons for such projects
Geographically, demand for metal structure and wooden houses appears to be driven primarily by large urban centers rather than leisure destinations. The Bucharest–Ilfov region accounts for around 22% of total requests, followed by Prahova with 8%, Constanța with 7.5%, and both Timiș and Brașov with approximately 7% each. The most demands from 2025 were placed in March, with 12% of all requests, signaling the start of the construction season as weather conditions improve in early spring. August followed as the second strongest month with about 11% of annual demand, indicating sustained construction activity throughout the summer months.
HomeRun – one of the largest services platforms in Romania
HomeRun is one of the leading digital platforms dedicated to local services in Romania. Part of the international network Homerun Technology Inc., HomeRun connects Romanians with trusted professionals across thousands of fields – from renovations and cleaning to tutoring and private lessons. Active in 14 countries under the brands Armut, ProntoPro, and HomeRun, the company operates in markets such as Italy, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and France.
With a network of 1.9 million experts and more than 26,000 types of services, the platform has already helped over 22 million users find the right specialist. Designed to be intuitive and customer-oriented, HomeRun offers users the freedom to choose the professional that best fits their needs and aims to become a regional leader in the EMEA area.
