Building performance upgrades are a sound investment that pay dividends in lower energy bills, increased property values, and a higher quality of life.

A building performance upgrade might include a wide array of renovations, modifications, or additions. Everything from replacing your windows to adding an accent wall could qualify as a building performance upgrade.

Every upgrade is unique, and so too are the needs of the owner and the constraints of the building. However, in every case the objective of a building performance upgrade is to improve the function of the building. These benefits include:

• Reduced energy costs
• Greater safety and fire protection
• Increased resilience to the elements
• Improved aesthetics.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but for residential properties most home owners look for a mix of all four of these improvements.

Energy efficiency

Small changes can make a huge improvement when it comes to energy efficiency, particularly when dealing with older buildings. According to the International Organization of Standardization (ISO), by retrofitting existing buildings “energy savings of 50% to 75% can be achieved.” Those remarkable savings are not only good for the environment but, considering energy costs in Ontario, also great for your wallet. An effective retrofit will keep costs low over time and can be a major incentive to prospective tenants or buyers.

Fire protection

Many buildings, particularly older buildings, are made of materials that are not as fire resistant as you would hope. Even modern buildings, built to meet the latest standards, may still be sided with wood. While 90% of the time homeowners have nothing to worry about, improving your home’s fire resistance is always a major bonus. Things like updating wiring, appliances, and materials are all important steps to creating a safer home. Choosing materials like Fusion Stone, which offer improved fire resistance adds increased value to your project.

Increased resilience to the elements

Over time, building exteriors can be worn down by wind, rain, snow, ice, and debris. Regular maintenance is a must for homeowners who want to protect their properties, but it can only do so much. Painting and repainting the same exterior walls can get expensive (and tiring), which is why many homeowners opt for more durable materials like brick or, increasingly, stone.

Improved aesthetics

Building performance upgrades do not have to be limited only to purely functional aspects of your property. Upgrading your home’s aesthetics can be just as significant of an improvement, even adding thousands onto the value of your home. More importantly, it makes your home more liveable. After all, you can’t boil everything down to a dollar value.
Use Fusion Stone to improve the performance of your building

Fusion Stone is one of the most comprehensive and affordable building upgrades that you can make. It is:

• Fire resistant
• More resilient than paint and comes with a lifetime warranty so you can rest assured that it will never have to be replaced or fixed
• Environmentally friendly – meeting LEED standards – and helps insulate your home
• Beautiful and timeless in appearance
• Affordable and versatile

Fusion Stone’s stone veneer products are increasing in popularity and rapidly spreading across Canada. People are using it on everything from cottages to apartment buildings to interior walls. If you are considering upgrading your home then Fusion Stone is one of the most comprehensive changes that you can make.