What work needs to be done in an abbey, convent, or former monastery?
Huge roofs, old masonry, frameworks, humidity, networks, heating, sanitation and outbuildings: the work on an abbey, a convent or an old monastery must be considered on the scale of a sometimes very complex real estate complex.
← Back to the Religious Heritage sectionA large, old building must be examined as a whole
Before drawing up a list of work, it is necessary to understand how the different problems relate to each other.
In an abbey or former monastery, a roof leak may, for example, have affected ceilings, masonry, floors and interior decorations.
The analysis must therefore cover the entire building and not just the rooms intended to become habitable.
Roofing, framing and water drainage
In large, older complexes, the roofing areas can be considerable and represent a major expense.
Blanket
Tiles, slates, stones or other materials must be examined according to the construction.
Framework
Pieces of wood, assemblies, deformations and possible attacks deserve specific observation.
Rainwater
Gutters, channels and downspouts contribute directly to the protection of masonry.
Examine walls, floors and load-bearing elements
Old masonry may exhibit cracks, deformations, localized damage or repairs carried out at different times.
Floors, vaults, stairs and other load-bearing elements must also be observed, particularly when a change of use or internal redistribution is planned.
The objective is to distinguish simple traces of time from disorders requiring study or intervention.
Humidity can affect several parts of the property
In an old building, the presence of moisture should not be analyzed solely as an interior finishing problem.
Roofing
An old leak can leave traces long after its source has been repaired.
Walls
Thick walls can react differently to contemporary materials and coatings.
Floors
Cellars, low rooms and buried walls may require special analysis.
Before redoing plastering, painting or lining, it is generally preferable to understand the origin of the observed phenomenon.
Networks can represent a construction site in their own right
In an old domain, networks have sometimes been added gradually, with installations of different generations.
systems, distribution, available power and power supply to annexes may need to be redone.
Pipes, pressure, drainage and water distribution must be adapted to the uses.
The capacity of the system must correspond to the future operation of the property.
Connectivity can also become important for a contemporary residence or certain business projects.
Heating, insulation and comfort must be considered at the building level
Heating a former abbey is obviously not the same as heating a traditional house. The volumes, the heights, the thick walls and the multiplicity of buildings profoundly alter the technical considerations.
The goal is not necessarily to treat all spaces in the same way. Some areas may be used daily, others occasionally, and some may remain unheated.
The comfort strategy must therefore be consistent with the actual use of the property.
The openings are part of the architectural character
Windows, doors, shutters, frames and large old bays contribute greatly to the identity of these buildings.
State
Before a complete replacement, it may be helpful to consider what can be preserved or restored.
Performance
The search for comfort must be reconciled with the nature and proportions of the openings.
Heritage
On a protected building, certain interventions may be governed by specific rules.
Don't forget the outbuildings, common areas, and exterior walls
A former abbey or convent may include much more than just the main building.
Barns, outbuildings, pavilions, boundary walls, gates, cellars, old stables or agricultural buildings may also require significant work.
These elements contribute to the overall quality of the domain but can also represent a substantial part of the work program.
Future use may lead to new requirements
The work required also depends on how the property will be used.
A private residence, a place open to the public, an accommodation project or a mixed use do not necessarily raise the same technical and regulatory questions.
Before pricing a conversion, the project must therefore be sufficiently defined to identify the applicable rules.
Check the rules before working on a protected building
A former abbey, convent or monastery is not automatically protected as a historical monument.
However, when all or part of the complex is classified as a historical monument or registered as a historical monument, the works must be studied according to the exact regime and perimeter of the protection.
It is therefore essential to anticipate the steps and to get in touch with the relevant contacts and professionals before initiating any interventions.
A large project can be broken down into several phases
The complete restoration of several buildings in a single operation is not always necessary or realistic.
EMERGENCIES
Secure, remove from the water and prevent further damage.
Main section
Make the building or wing corresponding to the first project usable.
Development
Gradually restore the other buildings according to their uses, budget and priorities.
Avoid the simplistic calculation of an average cost per square meter
For this type of property, a uniform cost per square meter can be misleading.
A wing that has already been restored, an old barn, a chapel, cellars and a main building obviously do not require the same interventions.
The budget must therefore be built by building, by item and by priority, with a margin adapted to the uncertainties of old buildings.
Include the work in the overall project price
Buying an old abbey, convent or monastery to restore requires thinking beyond just the listed price.
The acquisition, the works, the studies, the networks, the dependencies and any potential heritage constraints form a single real estate project.
The more complex the field, the more a technical analysis prior to the acquisition can be useful in prioritizing interventions and assessing the level of investment.
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