A building ages one part at a time: the facade cracks, the roof lets water in, the concrete on the balconies deteriorates, the services become outdated. Refurbishing it restores its safety, comfort and value, with the work sequenced properly so that every euro goes further.
At Catalana de Rehabilitació we refurbish residential buildings and blocks run by owners’ associations (comunidades de propietarios), houses, commercial premises, offices and industrial buildings, from specific repairs to comprehensive refurbishments. From Viladecavalls (Barcelona) we work across Spain and on international projects.
What kind of refurbishment does your building need?
Building envelope
Facades, roofs and terraces and insulation with external wall insulation (ETICS): everything that protects the building from water and the weather.
Structure
Repair of deteriorated concrete, treatment of rusted reinforcement and cracks, and strengthening of damaged elements.
Common areas
Entrance halls, staircases, courtyards and communal flooring, and repairing the damp that affects them.
Interiors
Renovation of homes, commercial premises, offices and industrial buildings.
Structural refurbishment
Over the years, water reaches the steel reinforcement inside the concrete, the steel rusts and the concrete cracks and spalls. This is what we see on slab edges, balconies, beams and pillars in many buildings. We repair it by removing the damaged concrete, treating the reinforcement and rebuilding with repair mortars, and we strengthen the elements that need it.
Major cracks, deformation or falling debris require a technical diagnosis before any work is done. When the job needs a project and technical supervision, we work alongside the owner’s architects and engineers.
Building refurbishment for owners’ associations
Most of our work is for owners’ associations. We know the association needs clear information to make decisions, so we provide a diagnosis of the condition of the building and a detailed, itemised quote, and we propose a logical order of works if it makes sense to carry them out in phases. More in refurbishment for owners’ associations.
Building inspection (ITE)
If the building inspection (ITE, the mandatory periodic technical inspection) has found defects, we help you interpret the report, prioritise anything that affects safety and carry out the repairs within the deadline it sets.
How we work
Visit and diagnosis
We inspect the building, identify the defects and their cause, and assess whether anything is urgent.
Proposal and quote
We explain what needs doing and in what order, with a detailed, itemised, no-obligation quote.
Planning
We organise the work in phases, along with the access equipment and the necessary permits, and coordinate it with the owners’ association.
Execution
A site manager coordinates all the trades and keeps you informed of progress.
Handover and follow-up
We review the result with you and propose a maintenance plan so that the building stays in good condition.
The benefits of refurbishing in good time
- Greater safety for residents and passers-by.
- Less spent on emergency repairs.
- More comfortable homes and, if insulation is added, lower energy consumption.
- A building that gains value and looks better.
Have a similar project?
We visit you, assess the building and give you a detailed, no-obligation quote.
Frequently asked questions about building refurbishment
What does a comprehensive building refurbishment include?
It depends on the condition of the building, but it usually combines several areas of work: facade, roof, structural repairs, common areas, services and, increasingly, improved insulation. The key is to sequence them properly so that you never have to reopen work that is already finished.
How much does it cost to refurbish a building?
There is no useful benchmark price: it depends on the size of the building, its condition and the work involved. That is why we start with a visit and give you a detailed, itemised quote, so that the owners’ association can decide what to do and in what order.
What happens if the building inspection (ITE) is unfavourable?
The report sets out the defects and the deadline for correcting them. From there, the works it identifies have to be carried out, starting with those that affect safety. We help you interpret the report and plan the repairs.
Do you need an architect to refurbish the building?
It depends on the work: interventions that affect the structure, involve major changes to the facade or affect protected elements usually require a technical project and site supervision. When that is the case, we work alongside the owners’ association’s technical consultants or help you find them.
Can residents keep living in the building during the works?
In the vast majority of refurbishments, yes. We plan the work in phases to keep access and services available and to reduce noise and dust.
