Many quarters of Lisbon have seen an intense refurbishment of their old buildings in recent years, helped by municipal policy making this a priority. It began with growing intervention in public zones, focused on restoration of urban buildings, but today it is the residential sector that receives the biggest investment in urban refurbishment.
The demand for city centre properties has been on the up, fuelled by foreign buyers of housing but also by growing tourism, and has been one of the driving forces behind urban restoration. The refurbishment of buildings has led to residential projects and innovative forms of tourism, such as tourist apartments, not forgetting traditional hotels.
Residential refurbishment goes hand in hand with the rent market, and given that it requires remodelling to provide an attractive and safe property from the structural point of view, with new functional features to suit the refurbishment options chosen, it is very important to select the right materials to carry out this work.
With the passage of time we are increasingly demanding, we strive for more comfort, for better performance, more textures and aesthetics, we want new materials and new experiences. The search for the ideal material that can be applied in a range of ways can be a long one. Viroc panels, considered by many as the lining of the 21st century, may be the answer.
Viroc panels are made from a mixture of wood and cement particles, combining the advantages of the two materials, both in terms of their technical characteristics and the aesthetics. They can prove a boon for refurbishment projects thanks to their unparalleled properties and multitude of applications, as they can be used in several different phases of building projects.
The many thickness options available allow for several different uses. Owing to their weight and for the thicker versions, Viroc panels are excellent sound insulators and have good mechanical resistance to warping, meaning they can be used for structures such as facades. They have strong thermal resistance properties, which means they function as a thermal insulator both in hot and cold temperatures. The panels are also moisture resistant, fire retardant and damp-resistant, all adding to their high quality.
Viroc panels are easy to handle and install, provided that the instructions on our website are followed, and can be cut, sanded or drilled, making them extremely versatile in that they can be used in a wide range of shapes, colours and for different applications. They are an excellent option for refurbishment projects, as just one material can be used in several different rooms and structures. They can be used in facades, walls, ceilings, furniture, design items, kitchens, bathrooms, lost formwork and flooring. If used for flooring, and when replacing damaged wooden floors in restoration jobs, it is important to seek good advice to assess the loads that the panel will be subject to.
See our projects here to draw inspiration. Viroc panels can be excellent materials to refurbish any property, whether a home, tourist complex or commercial establishment.
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