You’ve heard of people “renovating” a home, and you’ve also heard of people refer to a home improvement project as a “remodeling” project. What’s the difference between the two terms? Is there a difference or is it just a question of semantics? The two terms are often used interchangeably by laymen, but to designers and builders, they’re two entirely different things …
Renovating
“To restore to a former better state (as by cleaning, repairing, or rebuilding)”
– Merriam-Webster Dictionary
You’ll often hear a designer or builder use the word “renovating” when they’re referring to an older or even an historic home which the owner wants to restore to its original glory. Renovating something is making something old new again. For example, when you have your old hardwood floor sanded and refinished, you’re actually “renovating” it — bringing it back to its original beauty.
Remodeling
“To alter the structure of; remake”
– Merriam-Webster Dictionary
A builder can either build something new from scratch, as in a brand new home, or he can “remodel” an existing home by changing it. Remodeling refers to changing the structure of something. A good example of this is a kitchen remodeling project. Let’s say your current kitchen is closed off from the rest of the house, and you want a new “open concept” kitchen. Achieving this would involve tearing down a wall to “open up” the kitchen to the dining room, for instance. You’re changing the way the room looks now for something entirely new. Or perhaps you want a different kitchen layout — something that’s more in keeping with how you like to cook and entertain, so you change the floor plan to revolve around a kitchen island. When you’re remodeling, you’re literally changing a room completely, as opposed to just renewing it as it currently exists.
When you remodel, you’ll usually need the services of a designer as well as a building contractor. You can get both in your Boston-area home with R.H. Blanchard Contract & Design! For more than a decade now, we’ve been serving the needs of Massachusetts residents and businesses with comprehensive design, home remodeling, and handyman services at reasonable prices.
Why hire a separate designer and contractor, when you can get both with just one company? Got a remodeling project in mind? Contact us today to learn more about our services, and let’s get started together!
