In real life, most people will form opinions in just seconds about a person they meet for the first time. It works the same way for buildings. First impressions matter – and they last for a long time, if not for a lifetime. When people look for an apartment to live in or an office space to buy or rent, their decision to take any discussion forward will depend on the appearance of the building – they will be looking for buildings with attractive, safe-looking modern facades. Obviously, buildings with visible signs of damage such as cracks on the external walls or falling plaster can put off any prospective buyer or renter. Likewise, buildings with leaking windows or ageing façades will leave a negative impression.
Why you should upgrade your façade
A façade upgrade can help boost the value of the building, enabling the owner to demand a higher rent or sale price. There’s no doubt a façade upgrade will require an upfront cash outlay, but ultimately, it will be compensated by the higher rent or sale price it will command after the renovation. A façade upgrade may even address a significant structural problem before it gets to be more expensive. Additionally, a well-timed façade upgrade gives the owner the chance to reinforce the structural integrity of the building or fix any structural damage.
Risks of a poorly maintained façade
While your building may have been certified as safe and structurally sound by an experienced and qualified engineer, optics does matter to the future resident. People will form their opinion of the building based on what’s visible to them. So a crack on the façade or a rusty handrail can create the perception that the building has problems with maintenance. Getting someone to invest in such a building will be difficult.
Façade upgrades
A typical façade upgrade may include structural upgrades, concrete repair, brick tile installation, membrane replacements, architectural coatings, balustrade and balcony upgrades, window replacement, façade painting, engineered and architectural design alterations, and structural repairs.
A short-term quick-fix solution is to simply paint the building; however, it’s important to ensure the long-term well-being and safety of occupants as well as lower ongoing costs to extend the value of your investments. By going into the main cause of the problem, you may find that the cracks on the walls are caused by concrete cancer, for instance.
Remedial works with you to assess the needs of your building and provide a range of practical, feasible solutions to ensure that you obtain great value on your façade renovation.
