Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The Goal

“If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan, but never the goal.” (Anonymous)

Clear communication between owner, contractor, and architect is critical to a successful home design project. Your building could use some improvements, but you're not sure how to go about that. Should you restore, remodel, or renovate? Most of us believe all three of these words mean the same thing, but do they?

Deciding on whether to restore, renovate or remodel your home comes to what your plans are for your home once the work is completed. If you’re planning on selling, you won’t want to remodel. Why go to all the trouble and expense so the next homeowners can enjoy it? If you don't know the difference between these three important words, it’s time to learn something:

Remodeling is to model again, reconstruct, or make over. It can involve changing the character, a portion of, or use of a space in a house. It involves making changes to a building's structure. Remodeling examples include expanding the square footage of a building, gutting, removing, or adding walls, raising ceilings, adding plumbing, or adding heating/cooling ducts. Remodels often include making modifications to the building’s actual structure; transforming it into something other than what it was previously. It could be anything from tearing out a wall to make one room out of two, to adding an entire addition.

Renovating is the process of renewing a building by fixing what's already present and sometimes adding new components, or updating. An out-of-date kitchen updated with new finishes and fixtures, replacing old windows with new ones, or taking the old bathtub out of your bathroom and replacing it with a shower surround are all examples of renovation projects. The main difference between restoring and renovating is that with renovations there isn’t as much concern about keeping the original integrity of the structure itself

Restoring is returning a space to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition. (It is the opposite of renovation.) Removing vinyl siding and fixing up the original wood siding and trim is a restoration project.  Historic buildings are common sites for restoration projects, but modern buildings also undergo restoration as well. Restoration projects typically involve repairing holes in walls, fixing old fixtures, replacing old fixtures with replicas of the original, removing old carpet, and refinishing wood floors

·        Budget-A full remodel will typically cost between 7 percent and 10 percent of the value of your building. If you're remodeling a room in a $500,000 commercial building, for example, expect to pay between $35,000 and $50,000. If you can't afford to put that much money aside, a renovation or simple restoration is the best way to go.

·        Customization Options-Renovations can give your building a more modern appearance and add many functional elements to your building, but they can't change the structure altogether. If you want to open up the room by tearing down a wall or completely transform the space to make it your own, you'll need to do a complete remodel.

·        Price-No matter what you decide to do with your space, a remodel will always cost more than a renovation since it often requires complex construction, electrical, and plumbing work. You might also need to obtain permits for a complete remodeling project, which could add hundreds of dollars to your bill.

·        Project Scope-Renovation projects mainly focus on the appearance of your home or commercial building, while remodels alter its entire functionality. With a renovation, you can install new appliances and fixtures and upgrade your building's technology. On the other hand, a remodel allows you to completely transform your space when cosmetic changes aren't enough to fix the issue.

·        Time-While you can perform minor cosmetic touch-ups quickly; any remodeling will require a significantly longer timeline. Expect the planning and construction of your remodel to take several months. Living rooms and bathrooms are typically finished around three months after you start planning while kitchens can take up to five months.

“Living through a home renovation is like living in the wild…you do whatever it takes to survive.”  (womenwholiveonrocks.com)[i]




[i] Sources used:
·        “Building Restoration vs. Renovation vs. Remodel? What's The Difference and Which Is Best for My Project?” By Designblendz
·        “Remodel, Renovate or Restore? Start with Clear Definition of Terms” by Richard Taylor
·       “Renovation, Restoration, Remodeling: What’s the Difference?” By Jonathan
·        “Should You Remodel, Renovate or Restore?” by Richard Taylor
 
 

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