REFURBISHMENT

The word refurbishment is top of the mind more than ever with many companies looking at whether to build (new) or refurbish. But before we jump too far ahead let’s start simple!

What does refurbishment actually mean? Well if we go with a literal meaning, it’s the process of improving a space by cleaning, decorating and or re-equipping. As part of a refurbishment, it can also include ‘retro-fitting’ whereby the aim is to make a building more energy efficient and sustainable. The word refurbishment actually derives from the Latin words re (again) and furbish (to polish) and describes making improvements to the current condition of a building and improving its current use or appearance.

To further explain, the words renovation or restoration (which in essence is the restoration of a building to its former condition) are used interchangeably with refurbishment.

So to summarise, refurbishment can mean cosmetic works ‘renovations’ (such as painting and decorating), upgrading, and major repair work, through to alterations, conversions, extensions and modernisations.