HOME REMODELING

Consider renovation as being similar to restoring or reviving an existing room or building without changing its basic layout and purpose. A kitchen renovation might involve updating all the cupboards, countertops, flooring, appliances, and paint, however, the basic size, shape, location, and intent of the room remains the same. It was a kitchen, and it remains a kitchen. Some structural repairs or reinforcements may be required, such as replacing rotted subfloors. 

 Remodelling your kitchen could include knocking down walls, moving your kitchen into a different area of the house, expanding the footprint of the house, or making other major structural changes.  

 Simply put, renovations take what’s there and make it new again. Remodelling is taking something that exists and turning it into something different. For example, updating older homes that have multiple separate rooms and remodelling it into an open concept style. Remodelling typically will involve working with the structural integrity of your home whereas renovating is centred on the look and feel. Some projects involve both, others are just one or the other.

 Assume remodelling will affect the structure or envelope of your home. Typical examples of each are shown below. This is an abbreviated list for example purposes only.

 Renovating:

• Repair and maintenance of the roof & shingles
• Filling cracks in exterior walls or basement floors
• Basement waterproofing against leaks or damage
• Insulating the attic or walls
• Replace worn, damaged, or leaky windows 
• Replacing an existing furnace, air conditioner or water heating system
• Removing partitions (non-supporting walls)

 Remodelling: 

• Adding or removing walls, or changing the home structure. This might include changing the overall footprint or elevation, as might happen when adding a second floor
• Adding or removing windows that previously did not exist
• Adding or removing ingress/egress services such as 
• natural gas, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
• Expand or build new footings
• Move, add or remove load-bearing walls, wide-span beams and/or load-bearing posts
• and other structural and functional changes within your home.

Who needs to be involved

Remodelling generally requires the services of architects and/or engineers (structural/mechanical), your construction team, your general contractor or construction project manager, and designers. Each of these service providers needs to understand the changes you desire and are there to help you prepare for and execute your project. 

 Architects, engineers, and designers will help prepare the appropriate plans and diagrams your construction team will need. Some of these documents are required to obtain building permits, and some are used to inform your building contractors what to build. A professional engineer will help to ensure all current safety regulations and standards are accounted for. For these types of projects, you may or may not need a designer, but you will need skilled and licensed contractors to perform the construction work. 

 Professional designers are usually engaged in home remodelling projects for beautification and livability purposes, meaning your home will look great and flow well. A good designer isn’t just looking at colours and lines, they’re also considering how you will use that space, what is the best layout for your kitchen, do all the cabinet doors have enough space to open properly, and other more ‘technical’ aspects of design.

 Designers may be needed in renovation projects too, depending on the nature of the changes that are happening.  Replacing a furnace or fixing a roof will not need a designer, however, a designer can add a lot of value in a kitchen renovation as they will be knowledgeable about the latest innovations in kitchen design.