BUILDING RENOVATION AND RESTORATION 4 BUILDING RENOVATION Answer these questions. a. Has a part of your house or flat been renovated? If so, what kind of improvement has been done? b. If not, what kind of renovation could be necessary to improve the living space? c. Have you heard about health problems connected with asbestos? d. Are there any parts of the building where you live made with materials containing asbestos? e. Are there any historical buildings (castle, church, tower, house and so on) in the area where you live which have recently been the object of restoration works? asbestos: amianto attic: mansarda basement: seminterrato burglar: ladro chimney: comignolo goal: obiettivo prone: incline, soggetto a retrofitting: adeguamento, ammodernamento shutter: persiana, tapparella tear-off: rimozione to upgrade: migliorare Building renovation or remodelling is the process of renovating or making additions to an existing building. Improvement projects generally have one or more of the following goals: Improvement and added features. New flooring, such as carpets, tiles or solid hardwood, improving the equipment in the kitchen and bathroom, replacing windowsills and windows fixtures. Comfort. Upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC); increasing the capacity of plumbing and electrical systems, adding technological communication systems and home automation systems. Maintenance and repair. Roof tear-off and replacement, concrete and masonry repairs to the foundations and chimney; repairing plumbing and electrical systems. Additional space. Turning secondary areas into habitable spaces such as basements into recreation rooms, home theatres, or home offices; or attics into additional bedrooms; extending the house with rooms added to the side of a building or with an extra level to the original roof. Saving energy. Reducing utility costs with energy-efficient insulation of walls and roof, use of renewable energy with solar and photovoltaic panels. Safety measures. Home burglar alarm systems; fire alarm and sprinkler systems to protect homes from fires, security doors, windows shutters. Hazardous materials management. The removal of all materials dangerous to human health, such as asbestos, PCBs1, lead paint. Evaluation of the home s ability to withstand an earthquake. Certain geographic areas are more prone to earthquakes than others. Many existing houses were constructed before the new building regulations which require earthquake-resistant buildings, so they are most likely to need a seismic retrofitting. Improvement works Asbestos removal 1. The commercial production of PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) started in 1929 but their use has been banned or severely restricted in many countries since the 1970s and 80s because of the possible risks to human health and the environment. As PCBs are resistant to acids and bases as well as to heat, they have been used as an insulating material in electric equipment. 134 Module 4 FOUNDATIONS