Facade renovation and insulation in Geneva
Planning building work? Apartment, house or building renovation, a new storey or a roof extension, running the project is our job.
HMG Construction Management SA manages the repair, redecoration and external insulation of your facade in Geneva. The firm commissions the survey, checks whether a permit is needed, files the application as an agent registered on the Geneva MPQ list (mandataires professionnellement qualifiés, the cantonal register of qualified building professionals), prices the works, selects the contractors and checks the workmanship to SIA standards until the scaffolding comes down.
How do you get your facade renovation done without the worry? By handing the management and the coordination of the contractors to HMG. HMG is there for you.
Redecoration or external insulation, what does your facade need?
Redecoration restores the surface. It includes cleaning, repair of cracks and of loose render, then new paint or a new finishing coat. It suits a wall that is sound and a facade that has mostly aged in appearance.
External wall insulation goes further. Insulation boards are fixed to the wall, then covered with a reinforced render and a finish, or with ventilated cladding. The building loses less heat and the thermal bridges at the floor slabs are reduced. In return, the added thickness means reworking the window sills, the reveals, the blinds, the downpipes and the junction with the eaves. The initial survey shows which of the two answers fits your building.
Permits and procedures in Geneva
Permits are issued by the Office des autorisations de construire (OAC), the cantonal building permit office. According to the official permit types page (in French), the fast-track procedure, called APA, applies to works that do not alter the general appearance of an existing building. When the appearance of the facade changes, for example with another colour, another material or added thickness, the procedure that applies is checked case by case, and HMG does so before the design starts. The file is submitted online on AC-Démat, as set out on the page Je dépose ma demande d'autorisation de construire.
For insulation, two steps are prepared early. A CECB+ certificate describes the energy condition of the building and proposes renovation options. Grants from the Programme Bâtiments, the Swiss buildings programme, have to be requested before the works start, never afterwards. On an older building, the Canton of Geneva page Rénover, transformer ou démolir sans danger deals with the asbestos, PCB and lead to look for before work on old coatings and joints.
Who do you call first?
- You appoint HMG for the whole job. The firm organises the survey, draws up the plans and the details, files the application, consults the contractors and manages the site.
- You already work with an architect. The architect defines the look of the facade and obtains the permit, then HMG handles the construction phase alongside them.
Calling a facade contractor first gives you a price, but not a comparison. A specification written by a firm that is independent of the contractors puts several bids on the same footing.
How HMG manages your facade renovation
HMG has the substrate, the cracks and the traces of damp examined, then agrees the extent of the works with you. The firm writes a specification that sets out the insulation system, the finishes and every junction, because that is where bids differ. Scaffolding, facade, sheet metal, blind and window contractors are consulted, and their bids are compared item by item.
On site, the sequence of work matters as much as the quality of each trade. If the windows are replaced, this is as a rule done before the insulation, so that the junctions are sealed. HMG checks the preparation of the substrate, the laying and fixing of the boards, the reinforcement of the render at the corners of openings and the junction at the plinth, while these parts can still be seen. Render is applied neither in frost nor in rain, and the schedule allows for that. Every invoice is verified before payment.
Usual steps and timing
- Survey of the facade and, for insulation, an energy certificate for the building.
- Choice between redecoration and insulation, working details and cost estimate.
- Check of the procedure, permit application and grant applications before the works.
- Tenders, comparison of bids and contracts with the contractors.
- Scaffolding, preparation of the substrate, insulation, render, then sheet metal, sills and blinds.
- Inspection from the scaffolding, touch-ups, dismantling and acceptance.
The season affects the start date, since render depends on the weather. HMG sets the timetable with the contractors, allowing for that constraint and for the time the review of the application takes.
HMG projects, renovation and new build
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to redo a facade in Geneva?
It depends on the effect of the works on the general appearance of the building. The official permit types page of the Canton of Geneva lists the cases handled under the fast-track APA procedure. The firm checks your situation before anything is ordered.
External or internal insulation?
External insulation wraps the building without reducing the floor area of the rooms and generally deals better with thermal bridges. Internal insulation keeps the look of the facade, which suits buildings whose exterior has to remain untouched, but it calls for a careful study of moisture in the walls.
Can we stay in the building during facade works?
Yes, in most cases. The works are carried out from the scaffolding, and the occupants keep the use of the premises. There are only periods when windows and blinds cannot be operated, which the schedule announces in advance.
How much does a facade renovation cost in Geneva?
The price depends on the surface area, the condition of the substrate, the system chosen and the number of junctions to rework. An estimate by trade comes before tendering, then the budget is fixed on the bids received.
Related guides and pages
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