78% of French people believe that public authorities are not sufficiently anticipating the risks of climate change on homes.

The phenomenon of clay shrinkage-swelling (RGA), structural cracks, flooding, exterior deterioration, thermal discomfort are all signs that testify to the vulnerability of our built heritage and are already being experienced in a very concrete way by many households throughout the territory.

To better understand the French perception of this sensitive issue, BigMat, a major player in the housing sector, conducted an exclusive study in collaboration with the OpinionWay institute with a panel of 2.466 respondents. Among the findings: while the French demonstrate a real awareness of the impacts of climate change on their living spaces, many still do not know how to adapt...

When the climate comes into homes: visible and alarming effects

Climate change is also the story of a crack in a wall, a garden that has become impassable, or soil that is slowly eroding beneath the foundations. These worrying upheavals represent significant costs and depreciate the value of a property, especially when they occur repeatedly, but 78% of French people believe that public authorities are not sufficiently taking into account the impact.

Because from the slightest to the most worrying, the impacts of climate change are already being noticed by a significant portion of the population. Thus, the results of the BigMat-OpinionWay study show a deteriorating situation: 59% of those surveyed report observing a proliferation of pests such as mosquitoes, Asian hornets, and rodents, and 45% report a transformation of local flora and fauna.

Nearly 6 out of 10 French people mention repeated droughts making vegetation difficult to maintain and, more generally, one in two French people have already had to give up using their outdoor spaces during heatwaves.

Furthermore, regarding buildings themselves, 50% of French people have already suffered damage due to violent winds, 47% have suffered damage due to sudden alternations of drought and heavy rain, 41% have suffered intense rainfall causing flooding or land subsidence and 30% have experienced frost damaging infrastructure and plantations...

These findings are consistent with field observations relayed by construction professionals. RGA, a well-known phenomenon in several French regions, is intensifying with the frequency of deep droughts and sudden rains. The consequences are visible: cracks in facades, subsidence, waterproofing problems, and even weakening of the structures themselves. Some homes, particularly those built between 1950 and 1990, are particularly vulnerable. Poorly prepared for ground movements, they now require major interventions to maintain their integrity: installation of tie rods, underpinning, wall stapling systems, etc. All of these techniques require expertise, suitable materials, and, above all, foresight.

More than one in two French people plan to adapt their homes

Despite this growing awareness, nearly 45% of French people say they have not yet planned anything. This figure reflects a certain degree of uncertainty about the work to be undertaken, a lack of information and support, and sometimes even difficult economic decisions.

However, the majority of French people are not in denial. Thus, 54% are specifically considering adapting their homes to climate change, particularly in the Île-de-France region (66%), Occitanie (58%), and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur (57%).

With this in mind, their priority development projects include: installing water management systems (24%), choosing plants that are more resistant to drought (24%), creating shaded areas outside (23%), installing energy-saving systems (20%), purchasing equipment to combat extreme heat (16%); choosing more durable and weather-resistant materials (16%), integrating solutions to prevent the risk of damage caused by drought (11%) or to protect their homes from the risk of flooding (9%).

Beyond any considerations related to climate change, when asked about the outdoor landscaping work they would like to carry out, 64% of French people naturally address an energy or climate issue: reducing their water consumption (53%), creating shade or improving thermal insulation (38%) or even installing solar panels (38%)… More than just a leisure space, the garden tends to become a potential climate shield. However, even in this area, the climate itself becomes an obstacle: 40% of respondents say that weather conditions make work more complex and 38% believe that the effects of climate change are such that they risk compromising the sustainability of their investments.

For Fabio Rinaldi, Chairman of the Board of BigMat France, while the construction sector is responsible for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, it is also a key to resilience in the face of climate change: "Building is both a contributor to and a victim of climate change. Today, it is no longer simply a question of building or renovating; we must now build to last, build to resist. And that starts with good information, good materials, and professionals trained in climate issues. What the study conducted by BigMat reveals is a silent but profound change in our relationship with our homes. Homes are no longer just a place of comfort or reasonable energy consumption. They are becoming a space to be defended against climatic hazards, an outpost of the ecological transition, a lever for collective and individual action. Insulation, anchoring foundations, thermal renovation, eco-construction: the solutions exist, but adapting your home to the climate cannot be improvised! This requires advice, technical skills and practical support for households.”

Methodology : survey conducted among a sample of 2.466 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over, constituted according to the quota method, with regard to the criteria of sex, age, socio-professional category, agglomeration category and region of residence. The interviews took place by self-administered online questionnaire from April 25 to May 2, 2025.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.