Learn How To Renovate, Remodel, & Restore with Architectural Design Firms

Today we tell you more about how to renovate, remodel and restore using architectural design services. Few domestic endeavors are as time-consuming and resource-demanding as home improvement projects like building restoration, home renovation, or remodeling. Chances are you pretty much understand the concept of restoration in which the project revolves around repairs to bring a building into its original design and identity. The terms renovation and remodel are, on the other hand, quite tricky to separate as many people use them interchangeably.

While they are technically different, most contractors and architectural design firms will not bother explaining to you what each term refers to, as long as they know what changes you want. Especially with the renovation and remodel, word choice does not matter much. What matters is that the contractors have a clear understanding of your expectations.

However, suppose you are still concerned about being technically accurate about what you ask for in a home improvement project. In that case, you may find these general descriptions of restoration, renovation, and remodel useful.

Restoration

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines restoration as the work of repairing and cleaning an object so that its condition is as good as it was initially. Based on that definition, a restored house or building must have the same specifications. These include the exterior design, interior layout, dimensions, and material. All must be as intended by the original designers or builders. For example, a city in the United States is considering restoring a pre-civil war era building.

Residents want to see it as an enduring historical icon to tell the city’s role before, during, and after the war. Since the building has been used as a commercial establishment by many different businesses for decades, some repairs and changes have altered many parts of the building to the point where it only has little resemblance to its original look in the 1800s. A restoration project requires the city not only to undo the changes but also to bring it back to the original design.

Common Examples of Restoration Projects

Fixing old fixtures
Replacement of damaged decorations with replicas of the originals
Repainting the exterior and interior parts
Removal of any new addition to the building
Reconstruction or refurbishing using materials and items consistent with the building’s time period
3D modeling services

Restoration projects don’t always have to involve historical buildings. Sometimes even modern homes that have switched ownerships multiple times over the years have drastic design changes. Even something as simple as wallpapers and rugs can hide a building’s true identity and intended beauty.

Historic restoration

As discussed earlier, the sole purpose of historical restoration is to change a building back into its original design. During a restoration project, building owners sometimes must update things like the plumbing system and electrical wiring to comply with local building codes.

That also includes certain materials that are by modern standards considered unsafe, such as asbestos and lead-based paint. If the original building had them at some point in history, they would have to be updated or replaced. Certain decorations may no longer exist now, so custom-made ones or salvaged items can be good options.

Four ways to do complete restorations

Using modern materials and tools easily available today to style the house based on historical photos, making it look the way it did. Architectural style and general appearance are the main focus. For example, building owners opt for an energy-efficient window configuration to replace an old single-pane wooden window frame. To keep it similar to the old one, the new window may feature an identical pattern. The same method applies to other parts such as bathroom, plumbing equipment, lighting, etc. in order to keep maintenance easy.

Using the same historic material produced in modern manufacturing facilities. Every repair and replacement is done using the exact materials as the original building. It does not matter if the new parts are reproductions, as long as they look identical to the old ones.

Restorations done using historical tools and materials. In this method, all the damaged parts will be replaced to resemble not only their original looks but the craftsmanship or artistry of the time period too.

Approved or Certified Restoration. This is done using method 3. Although, a combination with any other aforementioned method is possible due to regulatory updates to building codes or limitation of materials and equipment. The final result will be reviewed by an authoritative organization to determine whether the building is sufficiently restored.

Restoration can be inexpensive, but it depends on the details of the original building relative to its current condition. A larger budget is necessary if the project involves manufacturing a replica of specific furnishings or purchasing antique furniture and decorations.

Disaster restoration

Calamity has severely stricken many modern buildings. Several disastrous events such as earthquakes, floods, fire, or other accidents make them candidates for restoration. Owners can use the same blueprint to rebuild the damaged parts instead of constructing a new house. Assuming the property is insured and a covered peril causes the damage, the insurance company will be involved in a restoration project of this type. The insurer covers all the reconstruction and drafting services costs to bring the house back to its pre-disaster condition.

There will be no upgrades, and the owner typically has few options to determine which contractor to use. If you want to use a different contractor or some upgrades, the insurer may not be willing to cover the cost. A house is private property, so there are not a lot of requirements to meet, except building codes. That said, restoration – strictly speaking – does not include upgrades and changes to the original layout. Both historic and disaster restorations must retain the original structure and layout of the building. There will be no additions. Otherwise, it would be considered a remodeling project.

Renovation

The main idea of a home renovation project is to introduce a freshly upgraded look to an existing structure. You are already pleased with the layout but want some significant aesthetic changes. Renovation focuses heavily on appearance, and as long as you don’t change the layout in any way, there is no limit in completing the beautification process. For example, let’s assume they designed the living room to your exact specification. However, you recently decided to replace the fireplace with a more modern version. The project involves removing the old parts and putting the new ones in the same spot without altering the layout. That’s what is meant by a renovation.

Common examples of renovation projects

Installation of new lighting fixtures
Flooring upgrades or replacement
Windows and doors replacements
Complete re-installation of plumbing system
Repainting or replacing wallpaper
Adding new cabinets and hardware to the kitchen
Updates to energy-efficient lighting and appliances

A renovation project essentially includes every home improvement project that does not alter its layout. The options are endless, from bathroom tile replacements to molding installation, from setting new fish tanks to installing innovative home technology. In other words, renovation is an update but without any structural change, big or small, to the house.

Remodel

For the most part, a remodel has little regard for the existing structure and layout. It is the least limiting home improvement project of the three. You have the freedom to make all sorts of changes in any way you like. Since there is practically no restriction, it potentially is also the most resource-demanding. There can be many reasons to remodel. Be careful, though. Most homeowners shouldn’t do too many remodeling projects of the same house (twice is reasonable, whereas the third time seems like a bit of a stretch). You may want to do this only when the house is too cramped, the structure fails, or it becomes hazardous.

Examples of remodeling efforts

Expansion of the square footage of the house
Conversion of one room or space into another for a different purpose (like turning an attic into a bedroom)
Grand change in ceiling height
Removal, replacement, or addition of walls to create new space
Complete overhaul of kitchen or bathroom
A new floor plan

There is often no limit to the resources at your disposal. Therefore, the only thing that is guaranteed to be left unchanged in a major remodeling project is the home address. The cost depends on many variables, but mostly it will be determined by the project’s focus. Changing the floor plan will require a substantial amount of money, in addition to CAD services. That’s because there could be new walls, which necessitate reinstallation of electrical wiring, HVAC system, plumbing, etc.

The more complex the remodeling gets, the more money it takes. Ultimately, restoration means repair and replacement to imitate the building’s original design. Renovation refers to fresh looks and updates to the existing structure by adding or replacing furnishings. Remodeling means significant changes to a building’s structure and layout.

Difference in cost

The most affordable route is a home renovation project because the changes are superficial. Only the surface details undergo an improvement, and many cosmetic works do not take much time and money to complete. Furthermore, renovation usually comes with very few surprises (if any) thanks to the easily predictable labor and material cost. Project parameters are limited, and so are the chances of anything going wrong in the process.

Bigger changes in a remodeling project are almost certainly more expensive than a renovation. Depending on the scale of the project, the permits alone can cost anywhere between $400 and upwards of $2,000. When receiving bids from contractors, consider that many focus on the more extensive works involving structural elements and leave out additional items like paint and furniture pieces. You must factor in those items to prepare the budget more accurately. To be on the safe side, add at least 10% on top of the actual budget.

Restoration can be either most costly than remodeling or even cheaper compared to renovation. If the building still is structurally sound, restoration may take fewer resources than you expect. As long as you can accept the reproduction of furnishings manufactured using modern methods, which are more affordable, you can keep the budget under control. Unfortunately, some restoration projects must involve remodeling on both exterior and interior; considering you have to consider matching the furnishing to a particular period and architectural style, the project would take some serious budgeting.

Home value

Even if you are not planning to sell, a reasonable home value estimate could be helpful when you want to get rid of private mortgage insurance (PMI) or apply for a home equity product and refinance. Either restoration, renovation, or remodel is how you can increase the estimate. Remodeling costs more money than renovation, but it also gives a higher contribution to home value. In a remodeling project, some rooms can cost more than others. For example, a change in the layout of the living room takes more time and labor compared to a bathroom redesign.

However, major remodeling means you have a lot of updated products and materials in the home, which helps increase value. When done correctly, renovation focused on sought-after features like environment-friendly electrical installation and recyclable furniture material can substantially boost the estimate too.

Special considerations

On the other hand, restoration of a private house does not happen that often unless the property once belonged to an important person or was a pivotal property during a memorable event. That means that changing the layout or bringing updates to the house would negatively affect the historical value. Restoration is an attempt to preserve the sentimental aspects of the building. The increase in value tends to be from the story about the building itself, although it is built using traditional methods and centuries-old wood materials also play a factor.

Because you cannot put an objective number to a story or an emotional aspect of a building, the estimate of a restored historical building can go either monumentally high to a buyer or down low to another. No matter which route you take, each is essentially a home improvement project and will cost you money. Consider your options when looking for contractors as well as 3D rendering services firms make sure whichever option you choose is skilled and experienced in the specific works you request.

There might not be a big difference between contractors specializing in renovation and remodeling. Still, restoration projects are a lot trickier because they can and will involve a lot of historical research just to find suitable materials, old furniture reproduction, salvaged architectural items, and sometimes traditional approaches to house construction.

How Cad Crowd can help

At Cad Crowd, we have the privilege of working with some of the best rendering experts in the world. If you are looking for help with a home rendering project, get a free quote today.