BUILDING & RENOVATION
R E N O VAT I N G O R R E M O D E L I N G :
What’s in a Word?
Get the lingo down and you’ll sound savvy.
BY DIANE M . S TERRET T
The words renovating and remodeling often get used
interchangeably, but there is a difference in types of projects and their budgets.
Shawn Harris of Sixteen on Center in Tiverton helped us nail down some
definitions.
RENOVATE: Work within the existing structure of the home and update to meet
today’s decor standards. Think changing flooring, light fixtures, wall covering /
painting and / or refacing cabinets.
Changing the home’s structure or systems to improve the function.
Could involve an addition, tearing down / moving walls, moving plumbing,
electrical, etc.
REMODEL:
Take the bathroom as an example. “If you’re just taking out existing fixtures and
finishes and replacing like for like, that falls in renovation category,” explains DJ
54 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’S NEST |
2020
Fernandes, AIA at Site Specific in Providence. “But let’s say you’re making it larger
and incorporating the master closet, growing outside the room’s existing boundaries
— that kicks it into the remodel bucket.”
Same thing goes for the kitchen. If you’re swapping out appliances and
countertops and leaving the room’s layout the same, that’s renovating. But if you’re
knocking down walls and rearranging the room’s flow, that’s a remodel.
WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Harris asks two questions to help his clients decide. “We want to understand what
a family wants to accomplish,” he says. “First, how well does the space function
for your daily life and the way you interact with it? If the flow doesn’t work or the
space is cramped, consider remodeling. Second, what is the state of your existing
plumbing, heat and electrical systems — are they in good shape with no outstanding
issues? Insulation and windows are part of the discussion, too. A home has to
perform efficiently both in function and in energy use.”