If you’re planning to work on your house, it helps to know the difference between home remodelling vs renovation when talking to construction companies.
Home renovation and home remodelling are often used interchangeably by builders but actually mean different things.
Think of home renovation as being similar to restoration. So, fixing, improving and modernising but basically maintaining the same design, layout and functionality. For example, updating—but not moving—bathroom sanitaryware or kitchen appliances. Also, installing new fittings, tiles, carpets and decorating.
By contrast, home remodelling is more in-depth and involves changing the layout, use or design of an individual room or entire house. This might include structural changes and additions like building an extension, a loft conversion or a kitchen or bathroom redesign. Or it could be as simple as turning a bedroom into an office.
In general, remodelling is more complex, costly and more likely to require planning permission.
You should renovate your house if you’re on a tight budget since it usually involves less structural work or complex jobs like major rewiring or plumbing. Also, a home renovation will improve the look and feel of your home no end but with a higher return on investment short-term if you’re planning to sell. Complex remodelling is best left to the next owners according to their tastes and needs.
Renovating is also best if you want to do DIY since it normally involves smaller jobs and more simple fixes like updating insulation, tiling or decoration. You can even tackle minor electrical rewiring or plumbing tasks if you know what you’re doing, but leave complex stuff to the professionals.
If you live in a listed building or conservation area, you may not be allowed to make major remodelling alterations to the aesthetics, function or structure anyway. Even small home renovations or work on your garden may call for traditional, compatible materials, skilled experts and planning permission. This last can be tricky to obtain even if you want to update the house to modern standards, such as by installing double glazing. And you’ll need Listed Buildings Consent from your local council to do any work on the interior either way.
You should remodel your home if you need more space, for example, with an extension or a garage or loft conversion. These are costly projects but, along with kitchen or bathroom upgrades, great for adding value to your home, especially if you create extra bedrooms or bathrooms.
You should also remodel if you want to change how you use a particular space. For example, by converting an unused garage into a home gym or a bigger living room or turning an office into a guest bedroom, bathroom or playroom. If you live in an older home that was built before modern regulations, remodelling may also be the only solution to poor design. If guests have to walk through the master bedroom to access the bathroom, for example, you’ll need to either re-locate the bathroom or create another one somewhere else. Similarly, you may need to re-think your kitchen so your washing machine doesn’t annoy your neighbours.
Remodelling is also best for radically modernising, redesigning or improving the functionality and aesthetics of an individual room. Top remodel candidates are kitchens and bathrooms, especially in homes that haven’t been updated in a while, if ever. Lifestyles and home renovation trends change and what was acceptable decades ago just won’t fly now. For example, you can open up a cramped bathroom by knocking through into an unused box room, or re-site sanitaryware to accommodate a walk-in shower. In the kitchen, breakfast bars or islands are big home renovation trends these days, as is connecting kitchen and dining room to create open plan living space.
Remodelling may also be necessary to bring your home into line with modern standards, for example, by widening doorways and stairs or installing double glazing and modern security doors.
Hopefully, we’ve cleared up any confusion about home renovation vs remodelling but don’t worry if you’re still a bit lost. Any good construction company will understand what you mean and be able to advise accordingly.