An Introduction to Sustainable Facade Refurbishment - Published September 2026

An Introduction to Sustainable Facade Refurbishment Description: This guide provides a practical framework for sustainable façade refurbishment. It starts with developing the brief and assembling the right team, then focuses on understanding the existing asset through records, surveys, testing and condition assessment. It sets out a hierarchy of intervention, from repair and restoration through to retrofit, remodelling and replacement, while considering whole-life carbon, circularity and adaptability across the RIBA stages. The guide then covers upgrading performance, including thermal, airtightness, moisture, weathertightness, structural, fire, acoustic and accessibility issues. Throughout, risk management is central, covering uncertainty, procurement, construction, responsibilities, warranties and long-term maintenance. The guide is supported by a series of industry case studies, demonstrating how façade refurbishment has been approached in practice across different building types, systems and levels of intervention. These examples help connect the guidance to real project challenges, decisions and outcomes. Authors: CWCT Status: Guidance Published: 2026 Pages: 80 Cost: CWCT members Free Non-members £100