Renovation and Refurbishment

Working with an existing building

Renovation is a different job from building new: in front of you there is a finished structure, unknown services and load-bearing elements that must not be touched. For that reason the work begins with survey, not demolition.

Process

• Condition survey. Measured survey, identification of the structural system, condition of plumbing and electrical infrastructure.
• Decisions. What is kept, what is renewed and what is not touched at all.
• Design. Drawing the new layout within what the existing building allows.
• Execution. Controlled strip-out, infrastructure renewal, construction and finishes.

Commonly skipped

Renewing visible surfaces while leaving the infrastructure old is the most expensive mistake in renovation — the same surface is opened again a few years later. Whether the electrical installation suits today's load, the age of the plumbing, and renewal of waterproofing in wet areas are all handled before finishes.