Can Flowers
A whitewashed Ibizan house with a water garden, a pool facing the sunset and seven bedrooms.
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Service
Full renovations in Ibiza
Refurbish, extend or completely transform an existing house. With one difference from a new build: here you have to resolve whatever appears once it is opened up.
In a renovation, the easy part is what you can see. What decides the cost and the programme is underneath: the structure, the roof, the waterproofing and the services. Our job is to diagnose that properly at the outset, so the job does not have to be renegotiated in month four.
We work a great deal with houses bought to renovate. We will come and view them with you before you buy: we walk through, look at the roof, hunt for damp where it usually hides, check whether what has been built matches what is on record, and give a range with its unknowns flagged. It is not a quote: it is an opinion with a builder’s judgement behind it, and it serves to negotiate the price or to rule the house out. We do it free of charge, because we would rather tell you not to buy a house than get into a renovation that will go badly for both of us.
With traditional Ibizan houses and old masonry there is also a question of material compatibility. A historic wall painted with plastic paint starts deteriorating the next day: the impermeable film traps moisture inside. There we work with lime mortars and lime paints, which let the wall breathe. It is not romanticism; it is the only thing that works.
What a full renovation covers
- 01
Initial diagnosis
Condition of structure, roof and services. Type of damp: penetrating, condensation or rising. Each is resolved differently and costs very differently.
- 02
Structural strengthening
Replacement of beam ends, slab reinforcement and treatment of corroded rebar, the typical problem near the sea.
- 03
Roof and waterproofing
Stripping, making good, insulation and new waterproofing. In a house that has never been refurbished, it is not optional.
- 04
Complete services
New electrics and plumbing to current regulations, drainage and climate control. It involves opening up and closing again.
- 05
Replanning
Changes to partitions, new openings and extensions where the planning rules allow.
- 06
Finishes and interiors
Floors, wall finishes, joinery, kitchen, bathrooms and, if you want it, the furniture.
How we approach it
Opening up before pricing
Opening a couple of points to see what lies beneath costs very little and removes most of the uncertainty.
A contingency allowance
An honest renovation sets budget aside for what may appear, and says so from the start instead of discovering it later.
Compatible materials
Lime on old masonry, not plastic paint. Respecting how the building was made is what makes a renovation last.
Keeping what is worth keeping
A stone wall, sabina beams or a volume that could not be built today are assets. They are restored, not replaced.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a full renovation in Ibiza cost?
As an order of magnitude, from around €1,200-1,800 per m² with new services, roof and layout. It rises with high-end finishes or structural work. If the structure and roof both have to be dealt with completely, the cost can approach that of a new build, and with more uncertainty.
Is renovating cheaper than building from scratch?
Not necessarily. In exchange, an existing house may have volume or a location that could no longer be obtained today, and that is a very valuable asset. We assess it case by case.
How long does it take?
6 to 12 months of construction for a house, plus the prior paperwork. If there is no change of volume or use, the permit is usually considerably faster than for a new build.
Can you view the house before I buy it?
Yes, and we recommend it. We come and see it with you, tell you what we would be taking on and give a range with the unknowns flagged. No charge.
Let's talk about your project
Tell us what you have in mind: a plot, a house to renovate or just an idea. We will come and look at it, tell you frankly what range it falls into and what constraints we see. No cost, no obligation.