Upgrading buildings, securing performance
Discover our solutions, expertise and insight for retrofit and refurbishment.
Safer, Smarter Retrofit Solutions
Retrofit is more than a technical upgrade, it’s an opportunity to improve building performance, extend asset life, and contribute to sustainability goals.
With government programmes, policy drivers, and funding increasingly focused on repurposing and improving the existing built environment, the stakes are high. Poor quality or improperly planned retrofit can create costly failures, disrupt occupants, and compromise long-term performance.
The complexity of retrofit is significant. Skilled installers are in short supply, buildings remain occupied, and decisions about the envelope or junctions can have unintended consequences such as moisture or mould issues.
Asset owners require confidence in long-term operation, comfort and safety, while procurement and compliance expectations demand robust evidence, standards alignment, and accountability.
Saint-Gobain brings dedicated retrofit expertise to every project, combining cross-sector experience with a fabric-first, evidence-led approach.
Our teams provide technical design support, system recommendations, and installation guidance to reduce risk and avoid unintended consequences.
Through training, competence-building and partnerships, we help raise retrofit capability across supply chains, supporting safe, high-quality, low-risk upgrades that enhance occupant experience and long-term building performance.
Retrofit Deep Dive: Our partnership with Housing Association Adra to develop the skills needed for quality retrofit
Multi-Sector Expertise
Saint-Gobain brings extensive retrofit experience across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, commercial offices, social housing, private residential, and change-of-use projects.
Our multi-sector knowledge ensures that projects are approached with a deep understanding of diverse building requirements, from complex technical systems in healthcare facilities to the practical considerations of social housing and commercial properties so we can address the unique challenges of each building type, providing solutions that are safe, efficient, and minimally disruptive.
Training & Competence
Our dedicated retrofit team provides comprehensive support through installation guidance, technical advice, and structured competence-building programmes tailored to the needs of each project. This end-to-end approach ensures that all stakeholders, from designers to on-site installers, have the knowledge and confidence required to deliver high-quality retrofit outcomes.
By embedding best practice at every stage, we help reduce project risk, improve installation accuracy, and ensure systems perform as intended over the long term.
Heritage & Innovation
We deliver energy-efficient upgrades to historic and sensitive buildings, using solutions such as Insio® vacuum glazing to protect architectural character while significantly improving thermal performance. Designed for applications including listed buildings and conservation areas, these solutions enhance comfort and reduce energy demand without compromising original features or visual integrity.
Our approach involves careful assessment and a deep understanding of traditional construction methods, tailoring each solution to the needs of the building, while meeting performance requirements.
Evidence-Led Assurance
Our system recommendations are supported by robust evidence, combining SpecSure® warranties, technical expertise, and independently tested performance data.
This approach gives clients confidence that the solutions they choose will perform reliably, reducing the risk of remedial work and ensuring compliance with current and evolving building regulations. By grounding every recommendation in verified data, we help project teams make informed decisions that protect both building performance and investment.
Retrofit Expertise
Our team holds a broad range of knowledge and expertise in retrofit. We work with you to support you in ensuring your performance priorities, compliance requirements and bespoke solutions are aligned to real conditions, not generic assumptions.
Sector-wide retrofit need and impact
With nearly 80 % of buildings that will stand in 2050 already constructed, retrofit isn’t optional, it’s essential for meeting energy and sustainability targets and reducing whole‑life carbon emissions across the built environment.
Award-Winning Low-Carbon Innovation
Saint‑Gobain retrofit capability is supported by deep technical leadership. Our experts contribute to bodies such as the Technical Committee of INCA and are recognised authorities in building performance, quality and risk management, bringing confidence to complex retrofit delivery.
Government Policy and Market Drivers
The Government's focus and funding continues to elevate retrofit as a strategic priority.
It will be looking at Net Zero policy frameworks to energy‑performance targets. Increased regulation, standards and funding incentives are driving demand for quality retrofit that delivers verified performance and avoids unintended consequences, making robust technical support essential.
Building Better Places
Retrofit delivers economic, environmental and social value.
Upgrading buildings enhances occupant comfort, health and wellbeing, creates local jobs, supports skills development and reduces long‑term operational costs. Strengthening community trust and reputation across public and private sectors.
Saint-Gobain Forever: Circularity in Practice
Our Glass Forever programme leads the industry in closed‑loop glass recycling.
Transforming end‑of‑life glazing into new high‑performance flat glass while reducing waste, conserving resources and lowering CO₂ emissions. This market‑leading initiative underpins sustainable retrofit practice with real, verifiable impact.
EXPERTISE - CASE STUDIES
Leamington-Spa, Warwickshire
Saint-Gobain brand Weber transform this retail and residential building into
Minerva House, London
Saint-Gobain embedded the Circular Economy into the refurbishment of the 14,0
Fitzwarren Court, Salford
Saint-Gobain brand K-Systems transformed one of Salford's tallest buildings.<
Essendon Lodge, Hertfordshire
Saint-Gobain helped transform an 18th Century lodge improving thermal, comfor
