“To renovate or build a new house?” This is one of the eternal questions homeowners find themselves facing. It doesn’t come with easy answers. However, you have come to the right place to find solutions. Advanced Builders & Contractors has a long history of serving Los Angeles area homeowners with all types of construction projects, from basic additions and renovations to full home construction. Below we’re going to go into a bit more depth about the “renovation vs. new construction” question.

What “Renovation” Means

Renovation isn’t the same thing as remodeling , although you often hear them swapped around for each other when talking to people who aren’t professional contractors. But to contractors, the terms mean different things. In a remodel, we’re making something new out of the current space. With renovation, we’re returning a space to its previous condition. If you’d like a newly designed kitchen or wish to convert one space to another use, that’s remodeling. If you have an older house that needs to be restored to its original condition, that’s renovation.

Is One More Cost-Effective Than the Other?

Yes, but which one depends on the situation. There isn’t a single answer to this question, which is why we recommend consulting closely with a professional contractor before you make a decision.

Although it may seem at first that a renovation is more cost-effective, there are issues involving building codes, extensive system upgrades, the condition of the current home, removal of hazardous materials, and energy efficiency. 

We’ll take that last example: when building a new house, you can create one that’s up to the best in modern energy efficiency standards—a true “green” building that reduces energy costs over the long-term. A renovation for an older home may not be able to provide the same benefit and the costs involved would make it less desirable than new home construction. The new house will also require less maintenance. 

Personal Taste

Honestly, when it comes down to making this decision, your own personal tastes for the type of living space you want may be the deciding factor. With new home construction, you have full control over creating the space you want, with the layout that fits your lifestyle and your family. On the other hand, a renovation may give you back what you loved about your home in the first place, and with some later remodeling, you can make any changes you need. 

Budget

Obviously, your budget will play a large part in your decision. New home construction costs more than renovation, and the first option may simply be off the table when you look at the numbers. However, you’ll have the factors above to weigh when looking at the long-term benefits of both. 

You don’t have to make any of these choices alone: we are here to help with a team that handles every step of both a renovation or a new home construction in Santa Monica, CA . Get in touch with us today for an estimate, and we can go from there with helping you make the important decision about the future of your living space, whether a new one or a renovation.

Advanced Builders & Contractors has served the Los Angeles Area for over 16 years. Request an estimate today.