Shifting Priorities and Expectations in the Construction Sector

• Ahmet Toka
• 7 August 2026
• Industry News
• 4 min read

In the construction sector the agenda has for some time been shifting from producing new buildings to improving the existing building stock. This is not a change with a single cause; the reality of earthquakes, the age of the building stock, the rising expectation of documentation and cost pressure all point in the same direction.

In this article we address four themes we observe on site: the change in demand for strengthening, the need for renewal in existing buildings, the rising expectation of documentation, and the question of skilled application teams. Together they frame the issues a building owner will face in the period ahead.

The clearest change in the sector is this: the client no longer asks "what did you do" but "how do you prove how you did it". For anyone doing the work properly, that is a welcome development.

Ahmet Toka, General Manager

Strengthening: From an Option to an Agenda Item

Structural strengthening was for a long time something considered only after damage had occurred. Today the approach of assessing the existing condition without waiting for damage, and intervening preventively where necessary, is becoming widespread.

The practical result of this change is the increase in demand for performance analysis. Building owners and managers want to know what condition their structures are in; that analysis becomes the basis both for a decision to strengthen and for a decision to rebuild.

The increase in demand also affects the choice of method. Methods that can be applied without vacating the building (carbon fibre, steel strengthening) are coming to the fore, because relocating the occupants is the biggest obstacle on most projects. For the process and the methods see structural strengthening page.

Existing Building Stock and Renewal

A significant part of the country's building stock is at an age where the first waterproofing and coating systems have reached the end of their service life. This creates a type of demand in the sector different from new-build work: renewal in a building that is in use, without stopping its activity.

This demand has technical consequences. Systems that can be applied without stripping out, fast-curing products and phased work programmes come to the fore. A shopping centre car park, a production facility or a hospital cannot stay closed for months; the work has to be planned around that constraint.

The second consequence is the growing importance of diagnosis. In a new building it is clear what will be done; in an existing one, what is there has to be understood first. That is reflected in non-destructive investigation methods and in the time allotted to the survey stage.

The Expectation of Documentation

One of the most positive changes we observe on site is the increase in the client's demand for documentation. Items of work that used to be closed out with the statement "it was done" are today handed over with measurements and records.

• Product documents: Declaration of performance, technical data sheet, safety data sheet and, where required, health certification.
• Application records: Consumption, number of coats, ambient temperature and humidity values.
• Test results: Water test duration, pull-off adhesion test, anchor pull-out test.
• Photographic record: Particularly the stages that cannot be seen afterwards, such as surface preparation and detail reinforcement.
• Scope of the warranty: As well as the period, what it covers and in what circumstances it is void.

This trend works in favour of the contractor who does the job properly: the difference between quality work and superficial work is becoming more visible at the quotation stage. For our detailed guide on choosing a firm see choosing the right firm our article.

The Question of Skilled Application Teams

While materials technology in construction chemicals is advancing rapidly, the application side is not advancing at the same pace. This is the sector's most tangible bottleneck.

The problem becomes clear here: most of the new generation of systems leave less room for application error than the old ones. With polyurea there is no chance to correct; with carbon fibre, if the surface preparation is deficient the system does not work at all; with polyurethane systems, if the moisture is not measured the coating lifts. In other words, as materials improve, the discipline expected of the applicator increases as well.

The practical consequence for the client is this: choosing a product is not enough, an applicator has to be chosen. The competence of the team, the measuring equipment used and the discipline of record-keeping are becoming part of the evaluation of a quotation. For our approach to application and the scope of our services see services page.

What Should a Building Owner Do?

Against this background, the order of priorities for a building owner or manager is quite clear.

1. Find out the current condition. Have up-to-date information about the seismic performance and the waterproofing condition of your building. Uncertainty is the most expensive state.
2. Take small problems off the deferred list. A damp patch, an opening joint or a breach in a coating are jobs whose scope grows the longer they are put off.
3. Put maintenance on a planned footing. An inspection carried out once a year prevents most unplanned major repairs.
4. Plan works together. Doing facade, waterproofing and painting works together while the scaffolding is up gives a significant saving.
5. Ask for documents. Request and keep a record of every piece of work carried out. Those records form the basis of every future decision.

For a survey and assessment request you can reach us from our contact page.