Restoring vs. Renovating: What's the Difference?

Thanks to HGTV and shows like Flip it or Fix it, it's virtually impossible to watch any home improvement show, YouTube clip, or even listen to the conversations of passersby, without hearing the terms "restoration" and "renovation" used interchangeably. While there is overlap between the two, there are some key differences as well, and knowing which method to use can be an important consideration with your project.

Let's start with the basics. First, restoration can be generally considered to be the process of returning something back to it's original state or condition without adding, subtracting, or modification. Think of a door that is showing its age (whether chipped paint, scratch marks, dings and dents, or tarnished hardware). The process of restoring the door would include a) removing all paint and varnish, sanding and refinishing the wood to remove all scratches, dents, and dings, staining and sealing the wood, and polishing and buffing hardware to return its original luster.

Now, on to renovating. The process of renovating can be considered the act of adding or subtracting from something original. In our door example, adding new hardware, new trim, moulding or architectural designs to the original door - could all be considered renovation. Here, we're taking the original door, and adding things to it (but we could also be subtracting things by replacing the hardware - it's a bit of both).

There's also the process of performing both a restoration and renovation simultaneously. In our door example, this would include returning the door to it's original state, while adding things to it. For example, removing paint, refinishing the wood, and adding new, updated hardware, hinges, or other finishes. We find most homeowners (both historic and non-historic) tend to incorporate a mixture of both restoration and renovation design principles - and there's nothing wrong with that.

(Wait a minute...what about the 800 lb gorilla in the room - cost?).

Cost is certainly a factor when comparing a restoration vs. renovation. Our experience in the industry has shown that, for all practical purposes, a restoration tends to be a bit more costly. The main factors contributing to this include things like sourcing original materials, finding artisans and craftsmen to perform historically accurate labor practices, and time. When you add each of these things up, dollars start to add up, too. In the end, a restoration is mostly a matter of supply scarcity and time. With a renovation, there are ways to save a few bucks, such as purchasing reproductions and sourcing contractors who are more familiar with contemporary materials and construction methods, thus saving time.

So which is better? While we can't say for certain, what we can say is that each client has their own unique preferences and needs, whether restoring or renovating, we've got it covered.

-LH