What’s the difference between remodeling and renovation? Aren’t they essentially the same thing? Both remodeling and renovating mean to make improvements on an existing building or home. However, they refer to two slightly different types of construction.
In general, renovations typically involve some sort of restoration work—repainting walls or cabinets, replacing fixtures or hardware, or updating old or outdated features. Renovations are intended to revive a room or property, not entirely replace it or change it. They also may be used to add value to a home before listing it for sale. Because of this, renovations are often smaller-scale projects.
Remodeling, on the other hand, are generally include changes to a home’s structure or layout, and they function more like a transformation of the property, rather than just an update to one or two rooms. They often involve changing the use of space (or several spaces at once).
Examples of common renovations:
- Repainting
- Refacing cabinets
- Installing new light fixtures
- Replacing windows
- Updating appliances
- Adding new hardware
- Replacing tiles or flooring
- Replacing outdated systems
Examples of common remodeling projects:
- Combining two rooms into one
- Installing a kitchen island
- Removing walls
- Raising ceilings
- Changing the layout of a room