Renovation Vs Rebuild

Renovation vs. Rebuild: How Do You Decide?

Should you renovate or tear down that old cottage or home? The answer is rarely straightforward. It’s a balancing act between economics, functionality and sentimental value.

While everyone loves the idea of preserving an old family property, the reality is that renovations—especially significant ones—can come with hidden costs and challenges that might make building new a more sensible option. But not always!

Cost versus sentiment

A building that has been in the family for generations has value that’s beyond the sum of its parts. It’s full of memories and stories that will fade more quickly if it is replaced with something new. However, when assessing whether to renovate or build afresh, it’s smart to consider the financial picture.

If you’re debating between tearing down and renovating in the first place, you’re probably looking at substantial renovations. And that’s not inexpensive. The question is, does it make sense to pour money into modernizing a building that might have major limitations? Or would building anew provide better long-term value, especially if the spirit of the original building can be preserved?

The limitations of renovating older homes & cottages

Design elements that seem straightforward on a new build, like removing walls or adding a second story, can be difficult, very costly or impossible with older buildings, especially old cottages. Take, for example, cottages that were home-built before building codes came into effect.

Adding a second story or lifting the building to add a basement might seem like great ideas, but it can lead to more collateral damage than anticipated. Electrical systems, plumbing and heating systems all get disrupted, walls may not bear extra weight, joists that have settled or have some dry rot may need a renovation themselves. These things can make the overall renovation much more complicated (and expensive) than anticipated.

When DeCarli Contractors is asked to renovate an older building, we carry out an initial assessment. We peel back a few layers and share what we find. Often, we can move forward. But occasionally we have to press ‘pause’ on a project.

For example, we recently exposed portions of a building that don’t need to be altered, but rather repaired…so that the building can continue to stand. In this case, the issue was dry-rotted structural wood that could not be observed prior to getting under way with the renovation. Then there were foundation concerns where portions of the foundation were sinking. There was clearly something wrong there; the foundation would need to be excavated and ultimately redone.

PeelING back a few layers and share what we find. Often, we can move forward. But occasionally we have to press ‘pause’ on a project.

We ended up asking our client to engage a trusted third party to carry out their own inspection and come to their own conclusions. In the end, we unanimously agreed to halt renovations and design a new cottage.

Code compliance & the domino effect

Few older buildings comply with current building codes. This doesn’t mean that you’re required to make improvements unless you’re directly affecting structural integrity with your renovation. For example, if we’re replacing a window and there’s no proper lintel above it, we’re obligated to bring it up to code.

In many cases, the building system can remain as-is. In others it needs to be reinforced, altered or upgraded, sometimes substantially. For instance, adding more windows to an old cottage or home can require a substantial wall rebuild. That can mean rerouting wiring (which may need upgrading to comply with code) and re-insulating. Getting rid of an interior wall may require an I-beam across the building, which normally requires exterior wall reinforcement.

Meeting your needs

Before making any decisions about renovating versus building anew, we ask clients to consider their long-term plans. Are they looking to pass this property down to future generations, or is it something they plan on selling? Are their current needs being met by the existing structure?

If a property needs more than modernization or upgrading (that is to say it doesn’t meet your needs without structural renovation or adding on), the next question is whether a renovation or an addition can realistically achieve what you desire.

Our job is to help you navigate that gray area and come to the best conclusion for yourself.

For instance, if you have an 800-square-foot cottage and want to add three more bedrooms, the practicality of renovating is questionable. At what point does adding on a thousand square feet make more sense than just building anew? The answer often has more to do with the wish to hold onto something original and close to the heart than dollars and cents. And that is understandable.

It comes down to how you feel about it

Even with the best planning, there are always risks of unforeseen issues when dealing with an older building that can dramatically alter the scope of a project. That’s why we conduct proper assessments upfront, but even then, not everything can be predicted.

As with the case of the dry rot and foundation issues, it’s crucial to go back and revisit the original plan. Does it still make sense to move forward with the renovation, or has the balance tipped toward a new build?

Ultimately, whether to renovate or build anew is a deeply personal decision. Sometimes deciding to renovate or add on is a no-brainer. In other cases, clients are happy to have chosen renovation even if, in hindsight, they can

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