Sicily Builds — Restored Casale in Northern Sicily

Project Overview

A stone casale restored into modern quiet.

This proposal outlines the restoration of a two-level stone casale in the Sicilian countryside — a traditional farmhouse built centuries ago and brought back to life with the same materials, methods, and eye for the landscape that first put it there.

The ground floor holds the kitchen, dining, and living rooms — original stone walls, terracotta floors, and reclaimed olive-wood beams overhead. The upper level serves as bedrooms and quiet living, with the traditional Sicilian coppo roof restored to keep the interior cool through summer.

The full restoration honors the original footprint. What was working is kept. What time took away is rebuilt to the same standard. The result is a home that looks and feels like it has always been there — because it has.

Dimensions

TBD m² Ground Floor

TBD m² Upper Level

TBD m² Total Built Area

2 Levels · Stone Casale

Phase 1 Proposal

Structural Restoration & Weatherproofing.

This phase focuses on restoring the structural integrity of the casale — the stone walls, the roof, and the load-bearing beams — and getting the building weatherproof so all interior work can happen on schedule. Interior finishes, plumbing, electrical, and plaster come in Phase 2.

Scope of Work

Land clearing, site access, and preparation of the work area
Stone wall assessment, cleaning, and structural reinforcement where needed
Removal of failed sections of the original coppo terracotta roof
Sourcing and installing replacement olive-wood beams (travi d’ulivo)
Rebuilding the roof structure with new supports and reclaimed terracotta tiles
Repointing exterior stonework with traditional lime mortar (calce)
Weatherproof shell complete — ready for interior work in Phase 2

Materials

Recent quote — core materials.

Core Materials

Reclaimed olive-wood beams (travi d’ulivo)

TBD

Terracotta roof tiles (coppo Siciliano, reclaimed)

TBD

Natural lime mortar (calce naturale)

TBD

Local limestone for wall reinforcement

TBD

Chestnut timber for window and door frames

TBD

Roof structural supports (secondary beams)

TBD

Iron fittings, brackets, traditional hardware

TBD

Terracotta floor tiles (interior, ground floor)

TBD

Weatherproofing membranes and underlayment

TBD

Transport & delivery

TBD

Total Core Materials

€ TBD

Note: Additional budget is allocated for scaffolding, incidentals, and any hidden structural work that emerges once the roof and wall assessment is complete. Final numbers are refined once the specific casale site is confirmed and a Sicilian construction partner walks the property.

Cost Breakdown

Labor, timeline, and total estimate.

Labor

Sicilian Crew

€ TBD / week

Local Sicilian crew experienced in traditional casale restoration. Rate and crew size confirmed at contract, based on the specific project site.

Timeline

Phase 1 Duration

TBD weeks

Structural restoration typically runs 10–16 weeks depending on the condition of the original stonework and the size of the casale. Firm timeline confirmed after site walkthrough.

Contingency

Hidden Work

€ TBD

Reserved for structural surprises common in restoration — older foundations, unexpected repointing needs, or additional beams. Unspent contingency stays with the owner.

Total Phase 1 Estimate

€ TBD

Materials + labor + contingency. Final figure confirmed once the specific casale is chosen and walked with the crew.

Ready to build a Sicilian casale?

The specific site, the specific stone, and the specific numbers are worked through once we know what you’re after. Reach out and we’ll walk you through the current lineup of scoped casali and what it takes to bring one back.

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Il Casale