Heritage Restoration at the Core of Sustainable Development
- Marie-Jeanne Fontaine
- Apr 17
- 2 min read

In a context where eco-construction and green certifications such as LEED are becoming increasingly important, the demand for sustainable, environmentally-friendly building practices is growing rapidly. All too often, this vision of sustainable development in construction focuses solely on new builds. Yet there is another equally promising avenue for supporting sustainable development: heritage restoration. Our team is always proud and motivated to put its professional skills at the service of the restoration of interior built heritage, in order to limit demolition, recycle noble materials and contribute to the conservation of the environments that surround us.
Restoring rather than Demolishing
One of the biggest environmental impacts of the construction industry comes from demolition. Demolishing a building means sending tons of materials to landfill sites and eco-centers, which of course releases large quantities of carbon into the environment. Restoration, on the other hand, means preserving as much as possible of the existing structure, ancestral materials and original architectural elements, in order to limit waste and considerably reduce a project's ecological footprint.
Favouring Time-tested Materials
Heritage restoration also makes the most of noble materials that have successfully stood the test of time and still have much to offer. These include solid wood, traditional masonry and old-fashioned plaster - materials which, when properly cared for, can last for generations. By preserving them and incorporating them into restoration projects, we avoid the unnecessary use of new resources and build on what already exists. Often, these materials offer a quality that is difficult to match today, which is why it's so important to preserve and restore them in our current projects.
A Sustainable Approach to Culture
Restoring built heritage is also a way of celebrating the history, culture and uniqueness of our living environments. It's a sustainable approach, not only environmentally, but also socially and culturally. To us, protecting, restoring and preserving our historic buildings is about honouring our past while investing in the future of our communities.
At Construction Finney, we will always be there to defend heritage restoration as a driver of sustainable development. Our passionate plasterers will be delighted to bring your interior built heritage back to life, whether it's plaster ornaments, traditional plaster applied to wood lath, metallic mesh or masonry, and much more.
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