Renovation v refurbishment v retrofit
The terms renovation, refurbishment and retrofit are often taken to mean the same thing, or used as if they are interchangeable. However, they have different specific meanings:
- Retrofitting means “providing something with a component or feature not fitted during manufacture or adding something that it did not have when first constructed” (Ref Retrofit 2050: Critical challenges for urban transitions). It is often used in relation to the installation of new building systems, such as heating systems, but it might also refer to the fabric of a building, for example, retrofitting insulation or double glazing.
- Refurbishment on the other hand implies a process of improvement by cleaning, decorating, and re-equipping. It may include elements of retrofitting.
- The term ‘renovation’ refers to the process of returning something to a good state of repair.
A single project may include elements of retrofitting, refurbishment and renovation.
NB Maintenance is the process of keeping something in good condition, whilst restoration refers to the process of returning something to a previous state, in particular in relation to heritage buildings.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Archaeology and construction.
- BRE and Willmott Dixon project to retrofit of a 1920s semi-detached house.
- Building preservation notice.
- Conservation areas.
- Decorating a newly built home.
- Five tips for planning a home renovation.
- Flexbury Church.
- Listed buildings.
- National Refurbishment Centre.
- Refurbishment.
- Renovation.
- Retrofit.
- Retrofit coordinator.
[edit] External references.
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC, CIfA, IEMA launch Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment
The joint-institute document aims to help maintain cultural heritage by providing a consistent framework across different sectors & geographies
Enter Now to Win: IHBC's GASA Awards 2021
IHBC’s Gus Astley Student Awards 2021: Win £500 and a place on IHBC’s 2022 Aberdeen School with your built environment/heritage coursework, closes 31/07!
Former Harris meat factory mansion in Calne, Wilts, to be restored
The last remaining buildings on the site of the Harris meat factory family’s historic mansion are being restored to their former glory and converted into new homes.
CICV Forum introduces professional indemnity insurance guide
The Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum (CICV Forum) has unveiled a new guide to the crucial and increasingly complex issue of professional indemnity insurance (PII).
The World Heritage Committee(WHC): Liverpool should lose its World Heritage status.
ICOMOS has advised that the new football stadium proposal, if implemented, would have a completely unacceptable major adverse impact its authenticity and integrity.
Scotland’s CSIC: New plans to transform public spaces into sustainable office hubs
Responding to the changing working patterns of a post-Covid Scotland, the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) has revealed new plans to help retrofit public spaces into out-of-town alternatives to city centre offices.
IHBC’s latest Context explores ‘Applying Digital Technology'
The free-to-access online issue mixes the topical and practical to explore how the sector can best adapt to digital innovation.
IHBC Annual School: Historic Places - People Places: 18 June 2021
IHBC’s 2021 virtual conference examines how we can best change and sustain places for the benefit of people, led by expert practitioners boasting international, national and local profiles and experiences.
Europe’s top heritage awards honour 24 exemplary achievements from 18 countries
The 2021 winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards have been announced.
10 Local Councils in England to test the use of digital tools in planning process
England’s Housing Minister has announced a £1.1 million fund to test the use of digital tools and data standards across 10 local areas.
Comments