This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. # Retrofitting & refurbishment  --- > "Tearing down an old house and building a new one is the most wasteful thing we do as humans." - Grace Potter ## What is low-impact retrofitting / refurbishment? Retrofitting is about existing buildings. Not everyone has the opportunity to [build a natural home](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/category/natural-building-retrofitting/) from scratch, but we can all take measures to upgrade an existing property - to improve comfort and performance, and reduce energy use and costs, which is what low-impact retrofitting is all about. Only 1% of housing stock is replaced each year. Most is old and very energy inefficient. What we're not talking about here is a cosmetic / decor / style retrofit, for example replacing a bathroom or kitchen for the sake of it, or because the colour is wrong - i.e. things that actually increase energy use and costs. <WRAP center centeralign> <figure>  <caption> _The average home in the UK loses 30% of its heat through the building fabric, Including roof, walls, windows and doors, and so by insulating and draughtproofing, it would be relatively easy to significantly reduce overall energy use and costs._ </caption> </figure> </WRAP> A full retrofit involves a series of measures, from roof to ground, inside and out, to tackle all issues around comfort and energy use. Key to a successful retrofit is considering the property as a whole and deciding on all the appropriate measures for that particular building (all buildings are unique). And of course the measures you choose will fall within your personal constraints of time, potential disruption, budget and ultimate aims. There's a logical order to retrofitting, and although you don't have to stick to it rigidly, it makes sense to sort out repairs and insulation before you start thinking about installing solar panels, for example. This is our suggested order: - Design - [Repairs](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/retrofitting/further-info/repairs-maintenance) - [Breathability & damp](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/retrofitting/further-info/understanding-damp) - Ventilation - Airtightness - [Insulation](/insu/insulation) - including loft, walls, floors and hot water cylinders - Heating - Lighting and appliances - [Energy generation](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/category/renewable-energy-water-utilities/) <WRAP center centeralign> <figure>  <caption> _Insulate your house properly and reduce your energy use before you consider installing renewables - you don't want to go to the trouble of generating your own heat and electricity, only to waste it._ </caption> </figure> </WRAP> Most people don't really understand the fabric of their buildings, and so we tend to put all the responsibility for a retrofit project onto the builder who gives the quote. It's in your interest to have some knowledge beforehand, or you could end up spending more money than necessary and/or making the wrong decisions. Lack of understanding leaves you open to unwittingly using materials that can be damaging, and require more work (and money) to put right later. ### History In post-war Britain, there was an explosion in products from the petrochemical industry. Pre-war, homes tended to be draughty and damp, and plastics were seen as the solution - wonder products that were light, hard-wearing and waterproof. Petrochemical-based products such as vinyl paints and wallpapers, synthetic sealants and plastic sheeting were used to waterproof our homes, creating unhealthy internal environments due to condensation and mould. The synthetic measures didn't increase the comfort of the property, and created as many problems as they solved. Trapped moisture in houses is unhealthy for people, and moisture trapped in the fabric of the building is damaging for the building itself. Breathability and ventilation are essential ingredients of the retrofit concept. Without them, a building and its inhabitants will suffer. Petrochemical-based products prevent breathability. Also, in the past we have tended to prioritise total draught exclusion without giving enough consideration to ventilation. <WRAP center centeralign> <figure>  <caption> _Make sure that you have thermostatic valves on your radiators, so that you can heat rooms individually, and you don't have to heat unused rooms if the central heating is on._ </caption> </figure> </WRAP> ## What are the benefits of low-impact retrofitting? The main benefits of a good retrofit are: - lower energy costs - greater comfort - healthier internal environment for you and your family - protection of your property, so that it lasts much longer, and won't require expensive repairs in future - reduced energy use resulting in lower emissions of carbon and pollutants (the vast majority of properties today will still be occupied in 50 years time, and so we can't address overall carbon emissions just by focusing on new buildings) A good, low-energy retrofit is part of an attitude that sees your property as a home, a positive space to share with your family and friends, rather than just a source of profit. By planning properly, and implementing the measures that you can, you get to understand your house, protect the fabric of the building, increase the comfort of day-to-day living and help to protect the natural environment. <WRAP center centeralign> <figure> {{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/bkdJSA0o-3s 560,315}} <caption> _A 10-minute guide to radical refit from the Green Building Store_ </caption> </figure> </WRAP> ## What can I do? First, learn about the fabric of your building. Talk to people, attend a course, read books, research online, learn about what it's made of, and how you can work with that to achieve the best level of comfort. For example, if you have a stone building in a wild location, lashed by wind and rain, then make the core living area cosy, and have more active areas elsewhere. Remind yourself of the original purpose of the building and adapt your behaviour accordingly. <WRAP center centeralign> <figure>  <caption> _If you have a whole house retrofit plan, you can take opportunities as they arise - for example, if you install a new hot water cylinder, make sure it's a twin-coil so that solar hot water can be connected to it when you're ready._ </caption> </figure> </WRAP> Secondly, although the types of measures you carry out can range from simple behavioural changes right up to a total redesign and installation of new technologies, the simpler measures can be very effective. Even if you're a tenant, you can address some behavioural and other methods without large-scale building works. Examples of simple measures include: - removing non-breathable decor surfaces, e.g. vinyl wallpapers, vinyl silk paint, polystyrene etc. - increasing ventilation into a bathroom or a room with condensation problems; this doesn't have to cost anything - it could be as easy as opening a window for 15 minutes a day, or it could involve installing a fan - having showers instead of baths; not having a tumble dryer - heating the room before a shower (so that moisture won't condense), and then opening the window afterwards (so that the moist air can escape) - reinstating / re-opening air bricks - repairing chimney stacks - fixing downpipes, clearing gutters - all the things that keep water hanging around - ensuring that you can heat each room independently by having thermostatic valves on all radiators - simple [energy-saving](/ensa/energy_saving) behaviour like turning thermostats down so that you're not expecting to be wearing t-shirts in January; not leaving equipment on standby; buying energy-efficient appliances - switching to a [green electricity](/grel/green_electricity) provider - using [natural, breathable paints](/ntpa/natural_paints) - [reducing overall consumption](/down/downshifting) - the benefits of other measures can be wiped out by purchasing lots of new, unnecessary equipment and fittings <WRAP center centeralign> <figure>  <caption> _Make sure that all paints and finishes are natural and breathable, for the health of your building and the people in it._ </caption> </figure> </WRAP> Thirdly, create a 'whole house' ideal retrofit plan, of all appropriate measures possible. Use professional help at this stage, especially if you're thinking of implementing serious structural measures, as getting it wrong can be costly and damage your property. This professional could be a builder, an architect, a surveyor or a consultant - someone with practical experience who understands the issues. It will take a little work to find the right person, but talk to neighbours or friends who've had similar work done, call your council helpline and ask for advice, check the [AECB](http://www.aecb.net/) website, research online. It's then up to you to decide if they're the right person for the job. There will always be compromises, but stick to your guns when it comes to environmental measures. <WRAP center centeralign> <figure> {{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/8m2hSkCZ_zE 560,315}} <caption> _Retrofit Reimagined by the excellent [Civic Square](https://civicsquare.cc/): 'Demolition is something we should be ashamed of'._ </caption> </figure> </WRAP> When you have your ideal plan, assess it in terms of your time frame, disruption, cost and your ultimate goals to create a project schedule. Then you can either obtain quotes to do the work, or training for DIY. Then get the work done and reap the benefits. Depending on time and money available, you may not carry out all the work in one go, but at least any piecemeal work will be part of an overall plan, and you can see if opportunities arise to carry out other work if there's disruption in a particular room or part of the house. <WRAP center centeralign> <figure>  <caption> _Simple behaviour changes can be very effective in preventing condensation and mould; simply heat the room before a shower (to prevent moisture condensing on cold surfaces) and open a window for 10 minutes afterwards (to allow moist air to escape)._ </caption> </figure> </WRAP> If you decide to pay for the work to be done, select your builder in the same way as you selected your advisor above (it may be the same person, or they may be able to recommend someone). But remember that you're the project manager - start talking about your project and listen to their responses. Let them suggest solutions, and check them against your understanding of the issues outlined above. You're looking for technical expertise and practical skills, but if you're in a position of knowledge, you can interview people on competence rather than on just their quote. ## Further resources - [Centre for Sustainable Energy](https://www.cse.org.uk/news/what-is-retrofit/) - what is retrofit? - [University of the Built Environment](https://www.ube.ac.uk/whats-happening/articles/what-is-retrofitting/) - a guide to retrofitting - [Circular Economy Wiki](https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Retrofit) - retrofit wiki - [Introduction to low-carbon domestic refurbishment](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/refurbishment-guide.pdf) ## Related topics - [[ensa:Energy saving]] - [[diys:DIY]] - [[plan:planning|Planning permission]] - [[clts:Community land trusts]] - [[ptrn:Pattern language]] - [[buil:building|Low-impact building]] - [[insu:Insulation]] - [[ntpa:Natural paints]] ## Specialist curators of this topic retf/retrofitting.txt Last modified: 2026/03/16 16:15by asimong