Renovation Or Remodel

Remodel Vs. Renovation What’s The Difference?

A renovation consists of cosmetic changes that involves repair and minor modernization.  Renovations don't typically require permits (or as much permiting). A remodel involves more changes to the home’s structure or floor plan.  To understand which option is the best match for you we’ll have to take a closer look at both options. Let’s get started!

What Is a Renovation?

When we renovate a property, we’re updating an older property and making it feel new. A home renovation involves repairing, updating and making safety upgrades to a property.  For example, renovating your kitchen. might include refacing the cabinets, replacing the countertops, or updating 50-year-old plumbing and wiring. You might want to consider replacing older windows with new energy-efficient windows.

Renovation has some major benefits when compared to remodeling.  Renovation can be done one room at a time instead of doing multiple rooms at once. Also, renovations are significantly more affordable than remodels.

What Is a Remodel?

When you think about the word “remodel,” it’s a broad term. You’re remaking your homes floor plan according to a new model. So, where a renovation is a repair or a minor change or upgrade, a remodel literally reshapes the room or even the entire house.

Let’s go back to our earlier example of a kitchen renovation to understand the difference. Suppose we made all the same changes, however we also knocked out a wall between the kitchen and the living room to combine the two rooms. Then we move some of the cabinets to create an island, completely transforming the entire space. A job of this scope would be considered a remodel, not a renovation.

A remodel is any job that alters the floor plan. Changes that substantially alter the home’s style can also be considered remodeling – example, if you were to replace all your old plaster walls with sheetrock, that would be considered a remodel.

Remodels tend to be more extensive than renovations, and involve a larger scope of work. That said, a remodel gives you the freedom to make changes you couldn’t otherwise make. You can add or combine rooms, change the home’s floor plan, or change its entire style. If you want to get the best use of your space, a remodel is often your best option.