What ask
before starting.

For mid-scope renovations — kitchen, bathrooms, living room — we deliver a preliminary proposal within 48–72 hours after the site visit. For new builds or full refurbishments, the detailed quote takes between 7 and 14 calendar days. We never send figures without visiting the space first.

The quote we provide is not a generic PDF with a round number. It is a document structured by chapter — demolition, structure, services, finishes, joinery, furniture — with every line item individually priced. This allows you to compare honestly against other proposals.

The quote delivered before work begins is binding for all line items sufficiently defined in the project. Variations may arise in two cases: voluntary client changes during construction, or unforeseen technical issues not detectable prior to demolition. In both cases, any cost variation is communicated and formalised via a signed site instruction before it is carried out.

We recommend setting aside a contingency fund of 10–15% of the budget from the outset. In a well-designed new build this fund is rarely used in full; in the refurbishment of older buildings, it is typically absorbed almost entirely.

For new builds we almost always work on a fixed price, based on a fully developed construction project completed before work begins. This model protects the client against unjustified cost overruns. Any budget increases are always formalised through written site instructions signed by both parties.

A detached house of between 250 and 450 m² has a construction period of 14 to 18 months from the start of work on site. To this must be added the design phase — between 4 and 6 months — and the municipal permit process, which in Barcelona ranges from 6 to 14 months depending on the district. The total timeline from first meeting to handover is typically between 24 and 36 months.

A full kitchen takes between 5 and 7 weeks. A standard-sized bathroom, between 3 and 4 weeks. A full renovation of an 80 to 120 m² flat in the Eixample ranges from 14 to 20 weeks. These timelines assume materials have been selected and ordered before work begins and that drawings are finalised. Changes made during construction are the main cause of delays.

We work with detailed weekly schedules and bi-weekly progress reports for the client. If a delay is attributable to our responsibility, we bear the cost of corrective measures. Contracts include penalty clauses, though their application has been exceptional throughout our history. External causes — strikes, material lead times — are notified immediately and addressed by mutual agreement.

The DF — architect and quantity surveyor — is legally mandatory for all works requiring a major permit. Their role is to verify that construction matches the approved project and to certify completion to the authorities. At Urbancat, site supervision is carried out by a technical team independent from the production team, ensuring objective oversight of the trades.

Renovations affecting structural elements, the facade or significant layout changes require a major building permit. Works involving finishes and services are usually processed as prior notifications or minor permits. Urbancat handles the entire process: technical documentation, submission and monitoring of the file. The client never needs to visit any municipal office.

Works in residential buildings that affect common elements also require prior authorisation from the owners' association. We advise on the necessary resolutions before any municipal process begins.

A complete project is developed in four phases: concept design — massing, layout, general materials and indicative cost estimate —; basic project — documentation required to apply for the municipal permit —; construction project — all detailed drawings, technical reports and bills of quantities that allow building without ambiguity —; and services design when the brief requires it. We never break ground without a fully closed construction project.

We deliver the certificate of practical completion, contractor's final certificate, building logbook with all technical documentation, datasheets for installed materials with CE markings, operation and maintenance manual per service, photographic record of the process, energy performance certificate and executed waste management plan. All organised in a digital dossier and in printed form upon request.

We have 28 in-house professionals covering design, site supervision, production, services and after-sales. Specialist trades — electricians, plumbers, plasterers, carpenters, painters — form part of our established network of partners with whom we have worked for years. We do not use first-contact subcontractors or accept quotes from trades we have not previously evaluated on site.

For partial renovations — a kitchen or a bathroom — it is possible to remain in the property with tolerance for dust and noise. For full renovations affecting main services, floor structures or partition walls throughout the flat, we strongly recommend vacating: the presence of owners slows progress and can compromise safety.

If the client must remain due to force majeure, we design a phased construction schedule that keeps at least the sleeping areas and one basic bathroom habitable throughout each period.

The ITE is a mandatory periodic assessment of a building's conservation condition. In Catalonia, the first ITE is required when the building turns 45 years old, with reviews every 10 years thereafter. Urbancat carries out the remedial works arising from unfavourable ITE reports and issues the certificate of suitability needed to close the file with the local authority.

Next Generation EU funds are channelled in Spain through the PREE 5000 programme and its regional lines; in Catalonia, the ICAEN and l'Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya are the competent bodies. Grants can cover between 40 and 80% of costs depending on the type of works and the level of energy improvement achieved. Our team assesses each project's eligibility and prepares the application documentation.

Statutory warranties are those established by the LOE: one year for finishing defects, three years for defects affecting habitability and ten years for structural defects in new builds. Beyond the legal framework, our after-sales team addresses any issue during the first twelve months at no additional cost and without red tape. We document all works with process photographs and provide a maintenance dossier with every project.

Decennial insurance covers structural defects for ten years from the date of practical completion. It is mandatory for all residential buildings where a developer intends to transfer the property to a third party. In self-build projects it may be waived by public deed, though we advise against this if there is any possibility of a future sale. We manage the policy placement with approved insurers as part of our standard process.

Yes. We offer an annual maintenance service covering periodic inspection of services, minor repairs, touch-up painting and technical assistance for breakdowns. The maintenance protocol is designed specifically for each property based on its materials and services. It is particularly valued by owners of second homes or rental properties.