In recent years, the Romanian construction market has been flooded with materials and systems developed for mature Western European markets. High-performance, certified products, heavily promoted and promising energy efficiency, durability, and lower long-term costs. In practice, however, many of these technologies deliver results below expectations. Not because they are inadequate, but because they are used in a context for which they were not designed.

The first major difference is climate. Many solutions are engineered for areas with moderate temperature variations, controlled humidity, and predictable operating conditions. In Romania, rapid freeze–thaw cycles, prolonged heatwaves, high humidity, or the lack of proper ventilation can compromise the performance of materials considered “standard” in the West. Systems may work in theory, but fail in practice when taken out of the environment in which they were tested.

The second issue is labor. Advanced technologies require precise execution, strict adherence to details, and a culture of correct installation. In the local reality, where the shortage of skilled labor is chronic and construction sites often operate under time pressure, sophisticated materials end up being installed “by eye.” Small, seemingly insignificant errors cancel out technological advantages and lead to premature defects.

Third, technical culture comes into play. In many cases, materials are chosen because “that’s what is required” or because they look good in the documentation, not because they are fully understood. The lack of real training, consistent technical support, and long-term accountability turns modern solutions into simple checklist items in the bill of quantities.

The result is paradoxical: more expensive buildings, but not necessarily more performant ones. Importing technology without local adaptation creates frustration, additional costs, and a generalized distrust of innovation.

True performance does not come from copying Western solutions, but from intelligently adapting them to Eastern realities: climate, people, and ways of working. Without this adaptation, good materials will continue to be used poorly.

(Photo: Freepik)