A renovation involves updating and restoring existing structures to enhance their functionality, aesthetic appeal, or both. Depending on the scope, renovations can include tasks like repainting walls, updating flooring, remodeling kitchens or bathrooms, replacing fixtures, or even overhauling electrical and plumbing systems. As homeowners consider modernizing their homes, attention to vital systems becomes paramount. A frequent query in this regard is: what's the average lifespan of an HVAC system? Understanding such details helps homeowners make informed decisions about whether to repair or replace systems during a renovation, ensuring both comfort and efficiency in the updated space.
In a renovation, a kitchen is still a kitchen and a bedroom is still a bedroom, but repairs and upgrades are done. This usually includes things like painting, installing new floors, and changing items like cabinet knobs and faucets. On the other hand, remodeling involves changes in the structure or design of a house. They work to transform a house instead of updating one or two rooms.
They often involve changing the use of space (or many spaces at once). The words “renovate” and “remodel” are often used interchangeably when it comes to real estate, contracting, and interior design. However, for professionals working in one or more of these industries, these terms actually imply two very different things. Essentially, the difference between them is that a renovation refers to the restoration of something to a previous state, while a remodeling refers to the creation of something new.
Reshaping means “changing the structure or shape of something. If you're looking to remodel your bathroom, you're looking to change its appearance. If you want to renovate your bathroom, you are looking to repair or update it. Renew means restoring to a previous or better state by cleaning, repairing or rebuilding.
Another definition provided by Merriam-Webster for the term renew is to restore life, vigor or activity. Therefore, renovating is a smaller task than remodeling because a renovation focuses on upgrades and repairs rather than restructuring. Its goal is to update the look of a room, rather than a remodeling that changes the distribution of space. Since the renovation also includes repairs, some structural reconstruction or replacement is still necessary, such as replacing the floor or subfloor board if it is out of shape or moldy.