Remodel and renovation may sound like potato, patata but there’s a bigger difference than pronunciation. These two construction types vary in scope, price, and timeframe. To help clarify those differences and provide guidance on which type is right for your commercial property in Virginia, let’s settle this debate: remodel vs renovation. Which is right for you?
Renovation in Virginia
Want to spruce up your space? A renovation can give a new twist to what is already there. But here’s the thing: in construction, we call these finishes. A finish in construction could be trim, wallpaper, cabinets, paint, flooring, plumbing fixtures, etc. It’s anything that helps “finish” a space.
Commercial Renovation Examples
Reading a definition and seeing a project type in action are different. The latter is much more effective.
To help you find examples of commercial renovations easily, we compiled a list of three stand-out renovation projects:
- Industrial retail property in Chesapeake, Virginia
- AAMCO in Chesapeake, Virginia
- Pursuit in Lynnhaven Mall
Remodel in Virginia
Your project made fall under the “remodel category” if it changes the building’s structure, such as moving or building a wall. Raising a ceiling to make your retail space more spacious or adding walls to create more patient rooms in your healthcare practice both fall under the “remodel category.” Often, these changes also impact other parts of your space, such as flooring, electrical, plumbing, or the HVAC system.
Compared to a renovation project, a remodel doesn’t just renew the surface of the space, it changes the structure of a building. Because of this, it’s a bigger investment in your building’s future and should be used on spaces in need of a complete transformation.
Commercial Remodel Examples
Most likely, you now have a better understanding of what a remodel vs a renovation looks like. But definitions don’t tell the whole story. To better understand what a remodel can do for the bottom line, check out these three commercial remodels in Hampton Roads, Tidewater areas:
Remodel vs Renovation
A renovation and remodel have the same goal: bring new life to a commercial space. Where they differ is in project scope. A renovation tends to be a smaller project. Typically, it creates surface level changes, like new paint or flooring. These small tweaks can have big impacts on the bottom line, but they don’t recreate a space.
A remodel goes deeper. It transforms the structure of your space and can sometimes be a good fit if you want to use the building for a new purpose. It’s also ideal for a commercial property landlord who wants to increase rent for the new tenant because a remodel changes the space’s structure.
Who should choose a remodel?
We touched a bit on this already, but here are the companies in the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Hampton Roads area that I would encourage to undergo a remodel:
- Landlords who want to attract a specific tennant type, such as a healthcare practice or restaurants with drive-throughs
- A business who wants to change the structure of a space
- Someone who recently bought a new space and wants to remodel before opening up their own business
- A legacy business in a building with good bones, but serious wear and tear over time
- A business who has grown rapidly, resulting in changing demands for their physical space
Who should choose a renovation?
If any of these commercial property personas sound like you, it may be time for a renovation:
- A business in a building with good bones, but some minor wear and wear
- Anyone looking to refresh their physical space on a budget
- Landlords who want to attract a new tenant with a similar business to the last one, but who want to increase rent when doing so
- Someone who is proactive at keeping their space modern and comfortable
- A business who needs to update their space, but is limited on time or financial resources
Choosing a contractor
Now that you know whether you need a renovation or a remodel, it’s time to choose the right commercial contractor for your project. When searching for a contractor, consider these criteria:
- Commercial: this one may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people attempt to hire a residential contractor for a commercial project. Even if you’re a landlord renovating a multi-family home, you still need to hire a commercial contractor over a residential one since commercial contractors understand how the physical space impacts the bottom line.
- Local: it can be tempting to hire a cheaper, larger company that isn’t local to your area. However, these companies often have difficulties getting permits and renovating or remodeling in a way that meets your company’s expectations. Instead, choose a local contractor who is familiar with the permit process and invested in your community.
- Communicative: construction projects are a significant time and energy suck. You want to ensure your contractor makes the process as smooth as possible and communicates regularly about how the project is going. A great sign of excellent communication is if a company provides weekly status updates on the project.
- Price: before choosing a contractor, shop around and ask for quotes. Once you have at least three quotes, compare them. If any are extremely higher or lower than the others, it’s a red flag. While it’s tempting to accept a lower quote, that price is often too good to be true and indicates that you’ll have to pay someone more to fix the contractor’s mistakes down the line.
- Process: when asking for a quote, a contractor should also deliver a project proposal. Pay attention to the timeline and any details on the contractor’s process in that proposal. The more thought-out the timeline, the smoother the process will be.
Ready to work with a commercial contractor who builds the future of businesses in Hampton Roads, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach? Contact Carlton Building Services for a free estimate on your project.
