For most people outside of the building industry, the terms “restoring,” “renovating,” and “remodeling” are used interchangeably, but they are not the same; they also don’t carry the same labor intensity, materials, or overall costs. If you are looking to revamp your home, it is important to know what the differences are, what is worth paying more for, and what you really need so that you can find the right historic restoration company in Charleston, SC. That way, you avoid the risk of losing the charm and historical beauty of your existing gem!
How to Hire the Right Historic Renovations Company in Charleston, SC
There is likely a reason you chose to buy the home you did; if it is historical, that was probably a big factor. Historic renovations and remodels cost more than just tearing down and starting new or adding on. This is because they take a special kind of attention to detail. A historic remodel or renovation has two main goals: to update while retaining the beauty and integrity of what exists. Not every contractor is suited for historic work, just like not every contractor can take a new home build from start to finish. The expertise of the company you hire does impact what your finished product looks like, so proceed with caution and find someone you can trust!
Historic Restoring
The act of restoring means that you bring something back to life or that you revert it to its original state. In terms of buildings, a historic restoration means that you work to restore a building or dwelling to its condition and what it looked like when it was originally built. Restoring typically uses less labor and lower material costs. For a home, if the foundation is solid and the home only needs minimal repairs, restoration can be the most cost-effective choice. For homeowners who just want to give their home a facelift, repairing wall blemishes, removing carpet, and refinishing floors might be enough to make the space livable and lovely again!
Historic Renovating
Historic renovations involve taking a historic home and making it look much better by adding new features and life to it. Renovations take what is already there and then add on new features and updates to bring it up to date. The original floorplan and other parts of the design are typically kept in place, but a lot of updating is done to make it look and feel more modern. Of the three types of construction, renovations are somewhere in between restoring and remodeling. Renovating typically also adds equity to your home and is a great way to reduce your energy costs; you can replace things like windows and doors with higher-efficiency substitutes.
Historic Remodeling
A historic remodel is when you take an existing home and you completely remodel and change it. Remodeling usually is the costliest in terms of materials and labor costs. Because it requires things like plumbing and electrical upgrades, it is the most time-intensive of the three. Remodeling also involves “gutting” a building to start fresh, and although you can retain some of the original charms, the majority of the building is entirely new at the end of the process.
If you bought or own a historic home, which is not uncommon in Charleston, you might be looking for a company that handles historic renovation in Charleston, SC to make all that is old new again. However, it is important to know the distinctions between the three terms to find an experienced constructor who fits the bill and has the skill set to preserve what’s yours! At O’Connor Homes, we can do all three with perfection, and have the experience and attention to detail to make sure that it is done 100% right to your home’s period. Contact us today to get started.