Technically, a renovation and a remodel are defined differently. While a remodel changes the shape of something (for example, adding a new shower to an existing bathroom), a renovation focuses more on restoring something old so that it's in good shape (fixing a creaking floor, for example). Many wonder what the difference is when it comes to renovation and often people use both concepts as synonyms. While a renovation may include repairs, it focuses on refreshing and renovating a building or room with updates and replacements.
Any room you are renovating retains its function. For example, a bedroom is still a bedroom. More professional labor is usually required in a remodel, and the cost of the material is also often higher, since many remodeling projects involve the construction of new additions. Even if a community allows homeowners to do their own remodeling, the average DIYer may not have the skills to tackle a project that involves placing a new base for an addition or framing walls and ceilings.
While both renovation and remodeling will improve and update your living space, the two types of projects are very different and each has its own benefits and considerations. In a renovation, a kitchen is still a kitchen and a bedroom is still a bedroom, but repairs and updates are being made. Because renovation usually costs less and because it involves repairing and updating the basic features of the home, homeowners often see a better return on investment in renovation projects than in remodeling projects when they sell their house. Since remodeling can involve changing the physical structure of a house, it is often necessary to reconfigure the wiring, pipes and ducts, making the project more complex and expensive.
If you have to walk through one room to get to another, or if the water supply pipes that go to the kitchen sink are installed on an outside wall and freeze almost every winter, renovations won't solve the problems. You could spend a lot of money adding a large three-season room to the back of your house (remodeling), but if the roof is leaking and the heating isn't working, buyers will go somewhere else. While the final cost comparison depends on the scope of the project and the quality of the materials, since renovations are usually less complex, they are also more in line with the budget. A remodel transforms the purpose of an area, a renovation repairs and updates an area without changing its purpose, and a restoration restores a space to its original state with replicas or original materials.
If you have the skills, time, and desire to make an improvement to your home yourself, consider renovating rather than remodeling. For this reason, remodeling often involves changing the structure of the building, which costs more than renovating and restoring. However, a major kitchen remodel will only generate an ROI of around 60 percent and adding a master suite to the house will only generate an ROI of approximately 50 percent hundred. Simple renovations, such as painting and installing new carpets, don't require permits, but replacing a roof (a renovation project because the design and function don't change) usually does.
While some room for maneuver may be allowed, such as allowing storm windows to be installed over old steel windows, no remodeling can be done to alter the design or purpose.
