Retrofit

The retrofit service is for owners of existing homes who want to renovate, but use the opportunity to think about how to make their home warmer, healthier, and cheaper to run, with carefully designed energy and comfort improvements, balancing sustainability with heritage, affordability, and practicality.

Improving the energy performance and comfort of existing buildings can be complex and challenging. Many older properties suffer from issues such as draughts, damp, high heat loss, and poor ventilation. Without a clear understanding of the building's current condition and careful planning, retrofit measures risk being ineffective, causing unintended problems like trapped moisture, poor indoor air quality, or damage to heritage features. Clients may also face difficulties identifying suitable contractors, securing funding, or navigating planning and building regulations.

Sparran offer a Retrofit service to provide a structured, whole-building approach to improving energy efficiency, comfort, and durability:

  • Initial assessment - a site visit and desktop study identify potential problem areas and remediation needs. We can liaise with other specialists to obtain airtightness tests, thermal imaging, and intrusive surveys, to develop a clear picture of the existing building.
  • Performance modelling - using the PHPP (Passivhaus Planning Package), we predict comfort and energy savings for various retrofit measures individually and in combination, helping to balance capital budget against performance outcomes.
  • Retrofit strategy - a tailored whole-house strategy considers target standards (e.g., EnerPHit, AECB CarbonLite, PAS 2035), insulation upgrades, high-performance windows and doors, airtightness improvements, ventilation solutions (including MVHR), efficient heating systems, and the use of appropriate materials for heritage or traditional buildings. Where appropriate, the retrofit can be phased to ensure long-term effectiveness and prevent one-off fixes.
  • Signposting and advice - we can recommend contractors experienced in sustainable retrofits, identify potential funding, grants, or loan schemes, and support clients with planning applications, building warrants, or heritage and conservation approvals.
  • Implementation support - we can provide detailed design drawings and guidance for contractors, liaison with builders to ensure workmanship and avoiding issues such as poor airtightness or trapped moisture, and optional post-completion monitoring such as airtightness testing, thermal imaging, or comfort surveys.

A carefully planned and professionally guided retrofit maximises energy efficiency, comfort, and building longevity while avoiding costly mistakes.

Please contact us to explore how our Retrofit service can transform your existing property into a high-performance, sustainable home.