A challenge with multiple stakes
In Switzerland, the real estate market is filled with old houses: mountain chalets, traditional stone buildings, or timeless village homes. These residences charm with their character, but they often exhibit significant energy losses and do not meet current standards for comfort and energy performance.
In a country marked by a harsh climate and demanding regulations, renovating an old house requires a technical and thoughtful approach. Insulation, modern heating, and sustainable materials become the pillars of a successful renovation.
With Avenir Rénovations, you benefit from comprehensive support, from the initial audit to the completion of the work, to transform your old house into a high-performing, comfortable, and valued property.
What are the essential criteria for a successful renovation?
A successful renovation relies on three fundamental pillars:
- Energy efficiency: enhance insulation, install triple-glazed windows, modernize the heating system to reduce consumption and bills.
- Durability of materials: choose robust, natural, and ecological solutions like wood wool, hemp, or bio-based insulators.
- Functionality of spaces: adapt the interior layout to the daily needs of the occupants to improve comfort and optimize quality of life.
Key steps to successfully renovate your old house
Renovating an old house is not something to improvise. Here are the essential steps to ensure a well-managed project that meets Swiss standards.
1. Analysis of the existing property
The first step is to examine the house in all its dimensions: structure, energy status, architectural and regulatory constraints. In addition to technical aspects, it is essential to check the legal and administrative points related to the property (inheritance rights, surface rights, taxation).
This approach allows for setting realistic short, medium, and long-term goals while ensuring a gradual reduction in energy consumption.
2. Surround yourself with experts from the start
Engaging specialized professionals from the outset of the project is a strategic choice. This allows for a precise energy diagnosis, clarifies your objectives, and chooses the best solution:
- Renovation of the existing structure,
- Extension and transformation,
- Or demolition/reconstruction if necessary.
At Avenir Rénovations, our Project Managers coordinate these analyses and define a clear roadmap tailored to your priorities and budget.
3. Choose and coordinate trades carefully
Renovating an old house involves many craftsmen: masons, roofers, carpenters, heating engineers, electricians, etc. The success of the project depends on the proper organization of interventions.
By choosing Avenir Rénovations, you avoid sequencing errors thanks to a coordinated team of all trades led by a single point of contact.
Insulation, heating, and sustainable materials: the keys to a successful renovation
Insulation suited to the Swiss climate
- Roofs and attics: wood wool, hemp, or cellulose wadding.
- Facades: external thermal insulation (ETI) or ecological bio-based solutions.
- Windows: triple glazing almost essential in alpine areas.
Modern and energy-efficient heating
- Air-water or geothermal heat pumps.
- Pellet boilers, using Swiss wood as a local resource.
- Hybrid systems combining solar and heat pump technology.
Sustainable materials
- Certified local wood for frameworks and floors.
- Natural paints.
- Durable coverings suitable for mountain climates (slate, terracotta, natural stone).
Average costs and return on investment
Renovating an old house in Switzerland represents an investment, but it is quickly recouped:
- Roof and attic insulation: 150 to 250 CHF/m².
- Facades: 80 to 120 CHF/m².
- Triple-glazed windows: 275 to 325 CHF/unit.
- Heat pump: 45,000 to 50,000 CHF installed.
Return on investment:
- Reduction of energy bills by up to 50%.
- Property value increase of up to +20% with a Minergie label.
- Subsidies and cantonal grants reducing the final cost.
Avenir Rénovations: your partner in Switzerland
Renovating an old house is a demanding project that requires technical expertise, precise planning, and rigorous management.
With Avenir Rénovations:
- You benefit from comprehensive support,
- A local team of all trades,
- A unique Project Manager to coordinate the site,
And personalized assistance to access cantonal aids and subsidies.
