A leak in the roof, cracks in the facade, an inaccessible elevator, or poor insulation may seem like independent problems. However, when a building accumulates various needs, acting separately is not always the best strategy. A comprehensive building rehabilitation allows for a study of the entire property, establishing priorities and coordinating different interventions.
For a community of owners, this planning is especially important. Rehabilitation can affect facades, roofs, waterproofing, insulation, accessibility, or installations and therefore requires coordinated technical, economic, and administrative decisions.
What is a comprehensive building rehabilitation?
A comprehensive rehabilitation is an intervention that addresses different elements of a property in a coordinated manner with the aim of recovering or improving its conservation, safety, habitability, accessibility, or efficiency conditions.
Unlike a specific repair, it starts from a global vision of the building.
For example, if a community needs to intervene on a facade, it may be a good time to analyze whether there are also insulation or moisture problems. Similarly, an intervention in common areas can allow for the study of architectural barriers that have hindered access for years.
This global vision does not mean that all actions must be executed simultaneously. In many cases, the most reasonable approach is to establish phases of intervention according to urgency, budget, and technical criteria.
The first step is not to ask for quotes: it's to know what the building needs
One common mistake is starting a rehabilitation by requesting different quotes without having defined exactly what needs to be executed.
Before comparing companies, it is important to determine the scope of the action.
The Generalitat defines the Building Technical Inspection (ITE) as a visual inspection carried out by a competent technician that allows determining the state of the building and guiding the property on the necessary actions to fulfill the duty of conservation and maintenance. Habitatge
This diagnosis is especially relevant in old buildings. In Catalonia, residential buildings over 45 years old are required to undergo the ITE. Habitatge
Therefore, before proposing a major work, it is advisable to have a clear picture of the property's condition.
Which actions should be prioritized?
Not all improvements have the same urgency. A community may want to aesthetically renovate the lobby but at the same time have leaks in the roof or waterproofing problems.
As a general criterion, planning should start with actions related to safety, stability, waterproofing, habitability, and accessibility.
The same Horizontal Property Law establishes the mandatory nature of the works necessary for the proper maintenance and fulfillment of the duty of conservation of the property, including those related to safety, habitability, and universal accessibility. BOE
Subsequently, interventions aimed at improving the building's features can be considered: thermal and acoustic insulation, energy efficiency, renovation of finishes, or modernization of certain installations.
Rehabilitate in phases or execute a comprehensive work?
There is no single answer.
Rehabilitating in phases can facilitate the community distributing the investment over several years. It can be a suitable option when the different actions are independent and there are no urgent deficiencies.
A comprehensive intervention, on the other hand, may make sense when several actions are related.
Imagine scaffolding needs to be installed to work on a facade. If the building also needs to improve its exterior insulation, studying both needs together can avoid duplicating certain operations.
The decision should be made based on technical and economic criteria, not just by comparing the initial cost of each action.
How to prepare a realistic budget for the community?
To correctly compare quotes, all companies should evaluate the same scope of work.
The document should clearly identify the different items: materials, labor, auxiliary systems, waste management, and other necessary works.
It is also important to know what is excluded from the budget.
A lower initial amount ceases to be advantageous if during execution works that were foreseeable but not included arise.
Therefore, before the board decides, the administrator and the involved technicians should be able to compare the proposals on equal terms.
How to avoid deviations and problems during the work?
A well-prepared rehabilitation requires more than just an approved budget.
Responsibilities, phases, schedule, communication with neighbors, and execution monitoring need to be defined.
It is also advisable to document the interventions carried out. The maintenance documentation linked to the Technical Building Code indicates the need to properly maintain the building, carry out the required inspections, and document repair, renovation, or rehabilitation interventions during its useful life. Habitatge
This history can be very useful years later when a new incident arises or another intervention needs to be scheduled.
Accessibility, waterproofing, and insulation: looking beyond repair
Rehabilitation is also an opportunity to consider whether the building is prepared for the current needs of its residents.
Removing architectural barriers, installing or adapting an elevator, improving insulation, or definitively resolving moisture problems can add more long-term value than just repairing visible symptoms.
Moreover, certain actions may be eligible for public assistance. The Catalonia Housing Agency maintains specific information on programs related to accessibility, rehabilitation, and energy efficiency improvement. Calls and requirements should be checked when planning each project. Habitatge
The Construalamo vision: coordinating different needs in the same project
In complex rehabilitations, coordination between different works becomes an important part of the project.
Construalamo Works and Projects works precisely in areas that can coincide in a comprehensive rehabilitation: building rehabilitation, comprehensive reforms, waterproofing, insulation, elevator installation, and removal of architectural barriers, among other actions. ForConnect
This type of approach allows the work to be analyzed not just as a specific repair, but as a set of interventions that need to be properly coordinated.
Construalamo and ForConnect
Construalamo is part of the ForConnect network of professionals and offers building renovation and rehabilitation services with indicated coverage in Catalonia. ForConnect
For property managers and communities, having specialized professionals allows for contrasting needs, better defining the scope of work, and requesting quotes tailored to each project.
If your community needs to undertake a rehabilitation, renovation, or improvement action on the building, at ForConnect you can find verified professionals and request a quote for the project.