Oakland, CA - Comparing & Differences Between Home Remodeling & Renovation

It turns out, home renovations and remodels are not exactly synonymous with one another. While they both involve upgrading the home to improve livability, function, and design, they have several differences which make them unique, as we’ll discuss below.

Tasks Involved

Common renovation tasks might include repainting the walls, switching out light fixtures, replacing floors, installing new cabinets, or restoring old or damaged elements of a home.

Remodeling a home, on the other hand, often involves tasks such as changing the layout of a room, adding or taking down walls, turning a room into another type of room, or adding an additional room onto a home. A remodel can also involve turning a basement or attic into a livable space with insulation, heating and cooling, and more.

Overall Goal

The goal of a home renovation is to make improvements to what’s already in a home. These improvements may be quick, light, and simple, but they can have an immense impact on a living space in terms of how it feels, looks, and functions.

The overall goal of a remodel, however, is usually to completely transform a space. Things often get added which the space once lacked, the flow of the home may change, and at times, the home may be unrecognizable when it’s completed.

Permitting Requirements

Because there’s more comprehensive work involved in remodels, many of the tasks done, like removing non-load-bearing walls or putting up new walls, are going to require permits. Permits are designed to prevent shoddy work from being done and ensure building codes are met for optimal safety reasons.

Renovations usually don’t require permits at all since they don’t involve changing the structure of a home or deep construction work. Their work is more on-the-surface and not as risky. Therefore, they don’t need to be approved or checked on by building inspectors.

Cost

Since there’s much more work involved in a remodel, it’s no surprise to hear it costs more. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to have to take out a loan for a remodel due to the costs involved.

Renovations are more budget friendly as they are easier to plan, don’t typically require special-order materials, and involve less work and fewer specialized tasks.

Time of Completion

Because it often necessitates applying for permits and involves a more rigorous level of work, it’s no surprise remodels take more time than their renovation counterparts.

What is more, remodels are often done in stages based on budget constraints, construction crew availability, and also not to disrupt the current livability of the home too much at one time. With this said, projects like this are bound to take longer, usually weeks or months.

With a renovation, these can often be done in a few days or a couple of weeks at a lower cost with less skills required to complete and no permits, all while disrupting family members’ day-to-day lives less, making them smoother and faster projects.

Is your home in need of renovation or remodel? Contact Build BLVD for a professional refresh of your space.