When beginning a project in your home, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is what am I trying achieve? What design, or color scheme am I going for? Do I like modern, contemporary, rustic, traditional, or a combination? The good news is, you probably already have a style in mind. However, did you know there is a big difference between a rehab, renovation, and a remodel? Most people use these terms incorrectly, so I decided write this article to explain the differences.
Rehabilitation
When I hear the word rehabilitation I think of the Rehab Addict on TV. Nicole Curtis is a great contractor and she really does a beautiful job in preserving the original features of the home. Rehabilitation is making an old house compatible for modern use (through repair and updates) while staying sympathetic to the features that show the historical, cultural, or architectural values.
In other words, the house looks “old” but has modern functionality.
Examples of rehabilitation include:
Updating the bathroom’s plumbing to today’s standard code but leaving the clawfoot tub
Installing period-appropriate kitchen cabinets that reflect the home’s Victorian style, plus a new appliances
Sanding down old plank floors and staining to preserve the natural wood
If you own an old house and are making alterations to make it more functional and livable for your modern lifestyle, but are sensitive to the historic features that define the character and history of the house, then you are rehabbing your old house.
Renovation
When I think of renovation, I think of ripping out the old and replacing with new updated features. Renovation literally means “to make new or improve”. Renovation is renewing a building by fixing what already exists and often adding new pieces. It’s when a homeowner repairs or improves a portion of a house but doesn’t change the use of the room.
This term has focus on removing outdated building components and replacing with new elements. From a simple perspective, it’s the opposite of restoration. Renovation is moving forward and modernizing, while restoration is going back in time.
Examples of renovation include:
Updating an out-of-date kitchen with new cabinets and fixtures
Replacing old windows with new
Replacing an old bathroom with new tile, vanity, and shower doors
If you are looking to make updates and transform your old house into a more modern style, then you are undergoing a renovation. Preservationists and old house purists are not huge fans of this type of work, since renovation usually entails removing the original charm and character of the old house.
Remodel
When I hear someone wants to remodel their home, this usually means they want to change they layout of the existing home. This could mean a several things. Remodeling means to convert the structure or form of a building. If you remodel a room or part of your home, you are changing its use.
Remember that the last term “renovate” does not include changing the use of the room, while “remodel” does. Renovate also tends to suggest repair, remodeling doesn’t have that same focus. Remodeling is gutting the old and reconfiguring to make way for the new.
Examples of remodeling include:
Finishing a basement for a family room or converting the attic into a bedroom
Expanding the square footage of a building
Gutting, removing, or adding walls (example, removing walls and combining a kitchen and living room for an open plan)
Raising ceilings
Adding central air conditioning
Choosing the right path for your project can be confusing. After reading this article, my hopes are you have a better understanding of the common remodeling terms, and how you want to design your home. This will also give you contractor a better understating of your style. Whether you decide to remodel, renovate, or rehab, Temprano Construction can help with your needs.
