While some people use the terms remodeling and renovation interchangeably, there are key differences between the two that are helpful to understand before undergoing any major or minor projects. It is also important to keep in mind that both whole house remodeling or renovating require significantly more planning, management, and tradecraft skills than other smaller types of projects.

First, an important question to ask to understand the difference is whether you want to undergo structural changes or not. Essentially, renovating usually deals with restoration and modernization such as fresh paint or new cabinets, while remodeling often involves big structural changes to create something new -such as altering a floor plan to alter how your home looks and functions regarding flow, use of space, and more. Renovation work is often done on older homes and requires more expertise with issues such as water damage, mold, lead paint removal, wood rot, foundation repair, outdated electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. Keep reading for more specific differences to see which home update is best for you.

• Cost
  • Usually remodeling projects are costlier than renovations. This is due to renovations being less complex and remodels often involving professional labor where construction, plumbing, and electrical costs are a factor. Material costs for remodels are also generally more due to many projects requiring additions and/or structural changes. Consulting with a design-build contractor can be helpful to calculate costs, which is what we provide to our clients in Northern Virginia, parts of Maryland, and D.C.
• Permits
  • Remodeling projects almost always require permits and sometimes renovations do, especially roofing endeavors, to ensure building regulations are enforced.
• Return on Investment
  • Relating back to the cost, both renovations and remodels produce return on investment (or ROI) for homeowners. The amount is typically based on the specific type of project. Kitchens, for example, have a very high ROI overall.
• DIY-able
  • Renovation projects such as painting or installing doors or trim are the most beginner friendly, but sometimes more labor-intensive work such as electrical rewiring or plumbing are not permitted to be done by unlicensed homeowners. In cases like these, hiring a contractor is a good option to make sure there are no major issues with your project that can cost you more down the line.

It’s good to understand the difference to help you decide what works best for you. Asking yourself questions such as – what is your overall goal for the space? What are you prepared to keep or change, and how much money are you willing to spend for the updates?

Understanding what you are looking for can also help when selecting a contractor, because in some cases, renovating and remodeling require different sets of skills. Metro Building and Remodeling Group (MBRG) has a team of skilled professionals with extensive experience in all aspects of home remodeling and custom home building with customer satisfaction as our number one goal. Visit the Projects page to see examples of our work. Lastly, please reach out today if you are considering a remodel, addition, or a custom home build. We would be happy to discuss your next project