Industrial renovation in Märjamaa
Industrial renovation was used to insulate this apartment building. Industrial renovation is an innovative method for insulating old buildings, jointly developed by researchers from Tallinn University of Technology and Estonia’s leading housing manufacturers. The main advantages over traditional renovation are the elimination of scaffolding and the significantly faster completion time for facade work.
The building, constructed in 1984, is a reinforced concrete apartment complex that underwent a comprehensive renovation in 2024. It consists of two entrances, five floors, and a total of 30 apartments. For the insulation of the exterior walls, factory-produced wooden frame insulation panels (façade elements) were used, covering a total area of 1100 m². The loggias on the front façade were enclosed, while the balconies at the rear remained but were fully renovated. The façade cladding consists of natural, mass-colored fiber cement panels, which are maintenance-free and have a lifespan of up to 50 years.
The structural integrity of the building remained unchanged—windows, doors, and balconies retained their original dimensions, with only the façade appearance being transformed. The functional layout of the building also remained the same, but thanks to the renovation, heating costs were significantly reduced. The ventilation system was upgraded with a heat pump and fresh air vents, solar panels were installed on the roof, automatic smoke extraction systems were added to the stairwells. Windows and ventilation vents were pre-installed in the façade elements at the factory. The façade elements were almost 100% finished before transportation to the site, with only panel joints needing sealing on-site.
This building’s insulation work was carried out in February, serving as an excellent example that industrial renovation is independent of seasonal conditions.
Volume of facade elements: 1100 m²
Works carried out as part of the reconstruction:
+ Insulation of walls, plinth area, and roof ceiling
+ Replacement of windows and doors
+ Casting of a new ramp
+ Installation of new balcony railings
+ Improvement of the ventilation system (fresh air vents and heat pump)
+ Installation of smoke extraction hatches with glass domes in stairwells
+ Reconstruction of the heating system
+ Renovation of water and sewage risers and main pipelines
+ Improvement of the general area electrical system
+ Installation of solar panels on the roof
Energy class of the building after reconstruction: C
Construction period on-site: approximately 7 months, with facade work duration as follows:
+ Preparatory work: 5 working days
+ Installation of elements: 10 working days
+ Final work: 10 days (connections of elements, balcony connections, etc.)
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