Here's a rundown of some of the phrases you'll need to know if you're planning an Italian renovation project.
It's no surprise that many people looking to buy a home in Italy are drawn to older, run-down properties with the possibility to renovate (ristrutturare) or restore (restaurare).
It's easy to become excited about the prospect of giving something new life.
Whether it's an abandoned farmhouse (rustico) with wonderful historical characteristics or a quaint townhouse (terratetto) for a song, there's no shortage of unwanted older properties that would otherwise be let to rot around the country. house and lot for sale
You may have even purchased a ruin (rudere/rovina) with the intention of demolishing it and starting over - something for which you may be able to claim back costs under the existing building bonuses.
While many international buyers succeed in realizing their aspirations of repairing an antique Italian home, these veterans will warn you it's not for the faint of heart. After all, nothing puts a damper on your dreams like a tangle of Italian bureaucracy.
And if you don't speak Italian – at least not yet – the task can be daunting. Not only will you have to acquire new vocabulary, but you'll also be discussing a procedure that is likely to be considerably different from what you're used to in your home country.
Here's a rundown of some of the terminology you'll need during the renovation process in Italy to get you started.
The stages of planning
You might choose to restore the vaulted ceilings (soffitti a volta) or rebuild the wood-fired oven (travi a vista) (forno a legna). You could want to add something new, such as a roof terrace (terrazza panoramica) or a pool (piscina).
You'll almost certainly have to start with the less glamorous aspects first, such as repairing the roof (rifacimento del tetto), updating the infissi (fixtures, such as windows and doors), and hooking up servizi (systems, such as plumbing and electrics) (utilities).
If you live in a rural area, this could involve erecting a septic tank (fossa settica) or drilling a well (pozzo). Photovoltaic systems (impianti fotovoltaici) and underfloor heating (riscaldamento a pavimento) are also becoming increasingly popular in Italy, so they may be on your wish list as well.
Internal layout (disposizione interna) of older Italian houses is frequently problematic – picture small bathrooms and kitchens, walk-through bedrooms, or dark and dismal passageways. So you might want to shift a wall, make a new partition, or add an extension (costruire un muro divisorio) (aggiungere un ampliamento).
Of course, your budget (which is also ‘budget' in Italian — but with a thick accent) will determine what is truly achievable. You'll need quotations (preventivi) from qualified professionals for every aspect of the project, as well as the proper documentation, which we'll cover later.
Engineer or geometra?
You've probably already heard that your project will necessitate the services of a geometra, an engineer, and possibly an architect. Depending on the scope and complexity of your project, you may not require all three.
Foreigners may struggle to identify who they require since equivalent job titles do not exist or appear to be slightly different in their own country.
Because every job is different, you'll want to seek assistance from a building specialist to determine which services you'll require. Here's a brief summary of what each phrase means to give you a sense of the differences:
Most restoration projects, large and small, require the services of a geometra, or surveyor, and selecting a good one may save a lot of time and money in the long run. They may also serve as project managers, dealing with permits and paperwork at the comune, in addition to offering initial surveys and cost estimates when purchasing a property or planning a renovation (town hall).
As a result, it's critical that the geometra be based in, or routinely works in, the municipality where your property is located. Their long-standing relationships with employees at numerous government departments could be the difference between success and failure.
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Engineer — A geometra can do much of the same job as an engineer, but an engineer is a more highly qualified technical practitioner (with higher fees to match) who, for example, would collaborate with an architect to ensure that a design is safe and sound. They may be required for larger, more difficult projects, such as a complete reconstruction.
Architetto - In Italy, an architect is usually only required when constructing a new structure or undertaking a more significant renovation job. This individual will typically deal with the artistic aspects of a building's design, with technical assistance from an engineer (though this isn't always the case).
Many architects prefer to work with a geometra who can handle the more mundane aspects of the job, such as dealing with the comune. As a result, if your project necessitates the hiring of an architect, you may need to hire all three.
Many people, on the other hand, choose to work with a geometra to create their own blueprints for modest projects.
The project manager, or direttore di lavoro, is in charge of keeping track of the timetable (programma) and budget, among other things. This function might be filled by an architect, engineer, or geometra, or you may do it yourself if you are able to go on site.
The idraulico (plumber), elettricista (electrician), muratore (stoneworker), or falegname are some of the other professionals who may be required to work on your project (carpenter).
You can recruit them on your own, but working with an imprenditore edile is certainly more easier (building contractor). In any case, your geometra or engineer will undoubtedly have some suggestions.
Still, especially if you're on a budget, you might find yourself doing a lot of the work yourself – and you'll soon be friends with the personnel at your local DIY store (fai-da-te/bricolage) and the garbage dump (discarica).
Organizing your documents
Whether you're adding a balcony or starting from scratch, all construction work in Italy requires some type of planning authorization. You don't want to wind up with an edilizia abusiva, do you? (illegal building).
These applications must be submitted by your engineer or geometra, and there are fees associated with them, so make sure these expenses are factored into any preventivi.
The good news is that your geometra will be well-versed in handling paperwork for smaller projects. For anything that won't change the appearance of the property, a denuncia di attività (work notice) is usually sufficient - however restrictions vary by region in Italy.
However, you will need a permesso di costruzione (construction permit) and/or a concessione edilizia for major work (planning permission). An architect or expert engineer may need to undertake some careful bargaining with the comune, depending on the extent of your project.
Aside from that, pazienza (patience) and, preferably, un sacco di soldi (a lot of money) are the two most critical items you'll need when embarking on a remodeling or restoration job in Italy.