RENOVATING OLD BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF DEMOLITION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION

The renovation or modernisation of existing buildings is one of the most important construction requirements. According to an online publication by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, 70 percent of housing construction in Germany, in 2020, was carried out on existing buildings. Large sums are also invested annually in the renovation of non-residential buildings and infrastructure.

Social trends, but above all climate protection, are changing the requirements for existing properties. Many residential and commercial buildings were constructed before building regulations ensured thermal efficiency and performance. To maintain the value of a property, energy-efficient renovations such as renewable energy sources and better thermal insulation are important measures. The demands on workplaces have also changed over the last few decades, not least due to the increase in mobile working, which makes extensions and conversions necessary. Within the infrastructure sector, maintenance and expansion play a major role: age, increased traffic volume and neglected investments are the main factors for dilapidated roads and bridges.