Remodeling contractors and renovation contractors both come into your home and make improvements that add value to your home and your life. While they do similar jobs, they do not do the exact same job, and their titles are not interchangeable.
What is a Renovation Contractor?
A renovation contractor upgrades and enhances your home. The types of things they may do include installing new floors, changing your lighting or installing new lighting. They even do things such as changing out cabinet knobs and faucets.
While a renovation contractor doesn’t structurally change your home, they may make structural repairs and also do carpentry work if repairs are needed. They do not remake rooms or homes, however they do repair and upgrade them.
What is a Remodeling Contractor?
A remodeling contractor actually changes the structure of your home. This means that during the remodeling process, rooms may be changed from their original purpose, repurposed, moved, added or eliminated altogether.
Another way to look at it, is when you have a kitchen remodel done, the sink may be in a totally new place. For example, one wall may be gone while another divider wall has appeared. When remodeling, a home or room is reimagined and re-engineered.
The Difference Between Renovating and Remodeling
If you aren’t sure of the difference between home renovating and home remodeling, here are some key ways that they are not alike.
- Renovations Repair and Upgrade: When a space is renovated, what is broken is fixed and what is old is updated. New lighting for your bathroom would be a renovation. This is because it upgrades the bathroom, but it does not change the purpose of the room.
- Remodeling Changes Design and Structure: When a room is remodeled, it’s entire layout and even purpose may be changed. When a home is remodeled, it may have a completely new layout with entirely different rooms.
- Renovations Often Involve Smaller Jobs: Because renovations don’t make structural changes, they can be smaller, less dangerous jobs than remodeling. This means that many times, a renovation job may not require a permit. As a result, it may even be suitable for a handyman or DIY.
- Remodeling Tends to Cost More: Remodeling can be more invasive and expansive than renovating. Which means that it is more likely to affect things like plumbing, wiring and ductwork. This in turn makes costs go up. This also means that renovations are likely to bring a better ROI than remodeling, especially in the short term.
- Remodeling Can Fix Some Poor Home Design: If you have to walk through a bedroom to get to your only bathroom or your front door opens into your kitchen, there is no amount of renovating that will ever fix that. Remodeling, on the other hand, can reorganize the layout of your home and solve those problems forever.
- Some Historic Homes and Neighborhoods Only Allow Renovations: If you live in a community governed by an HOA or your home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, there are rules you will have to follow when making changes to your home. Homes on the National Register of Historic Places can not be remodeled and can only be renovated. There are very strict rules pertaining to the renovations as well.
For those in HOA governed neighborhoods, your bylaws will lay out the specifics of what renovations and remodeling can be done to your home. You may also require the approval of your board before you can start any major projects. It is good to consult your governing documents before you make any dedicated plans.
Hire an Experienced Contractor in Utah
If you are looking for a contractor along the Utah Wasatch Front, contact Allied Remodeling Contractors. We have specialists in both renovations and remodeling. They would love to show you what they can do for your home. Call to schedule an appointment for an estimate now.
What’s the Difference Between a General Contractor and a Handyman?