Renovating means “restoring to a good state of conservation”. For design and construction professionals, the words “remodel” and “renovate” have two very different meanings, although they are used interchangeably. As you can see, in the broadest sense, “renewing” means re-doing something new in order to revive. When this definition is applied to the world of home construction, “reviving” can mean anything from repainting and coating cabinets to installing new luminaires or adding other finishes and accessories.
Regardless of the task at hand, the original design is never drastically altered. Rather, it is simply updated or adjusted to comply with a new or revised standard. Remodeling is the process of changing the functionality and design of an area. It may involve tearing out a wall to expand a bathroom and reconfiguring the kitchen layout so that the cabinets, refrigerator, sink and stove are in different locations.
Building an addition to your home would also be considered a remodel. However, remodeling doesn't always have to involve major structural changes; it can be as simple as turning a guest room into a home office. If the purpose of the area has been altered, it has been remodeled. Technically, a renovation and a remodeling are defined differently.
While a remodel changes the shape of something (like adding a new shower to an existing bathroom), a renovation focuses more on restoring something old to be in good condition (fixing a creaky floor, for example). Do you need an architect or interior designer in your “ideal team”? Every major renovation project requires a general contractor to handle the construction work done. However, some renovations require a home remodeling architect trained for technical and design services. This may include creating architectural drawings for permits and approvals from the board or the Department of Buildings (or its local equivalent).
Some renovators hire architects to provide them with a level of style, detail and administration. Some believe it's worth the expense, sometimes estimated at 20% of the budget. Because renovation usually costs less, and because it involves repairing and updating the basic features of a home, homeowners often see a better ROI on renovation projects than on remodeling projects when they sell their home. Remodeling Magazine publishes an annual cost-versus-value analysis of common home improvement projects and notes that renovation projects, such as replacing a front door or garage door, or changing the coating of a house, will generate an ROI of approximately 75 percent, 98 percent and 76 percent, respectively, when the house is sold.
