To renovate or to rebuild, that is the question. If you’re looking for a custom design, both are viable options, but which one suits you best depends on numerous factors. Calgary renovations can be a good choice if the home you purchase has good bones and you like the overall flow and feel.
However, building from the ground up makes more sense if your home requires extensive modifications, has structural issues, or you want a completely custom home.
Each case is unique—as it should be when it comes to custom home design. After purchasing a home you plan to renovate or rebuild, give our team a call. We can help you determine the best choice for your property based on the current condition of your home and your vision, needs, and long-term goals.
When a Calgary Renovation Is a Good Choice
The first questions we ask when our clients are facing this decision are: Is there value in renovating your home? And, is your home actually renovatable? If the foundation, framing, and overall structure can support a renovation, then we’ll look deeper into factors such as:
You Like Your Existing Floor Plan
Renovation can be a good idea if you don’t want to modify your floor plan, or it can be altered without major structural changes. Maybe an addition is all you need.
Your Home Has Historical or Sentimental Value
If your home has been in your family for decades and you want to keep as much of it as possible, a renovation can help modernize and fit it to your family’s needs while preserving the character and memories.
Renovating Is More Cost-Effective for Your Goals
If you’d like to add a custom kitchen, additional space, or a more modern look, renovating can make sense financially.
You’re Happy with Your Home’s Size & Placement
Some homes maximize lot space and orientation. Some don’t. If you like the direction your home is facing, how it sits on your lot, and its size, a renovation may be all that’s needed.
Zoning & Permitting Don’t Support a New Build
Some lots have zoning restrictions that can complicate building a new home in Calgary. Understanding what’s possible can help you find the best way forward.
You Want to Stay in Your Home During Construction
A renovation may make more sense if you need to live in your new home during construction. Since home building takes several months, it can potentially save you a lot of money and frustration.
Your Timeline Favours a Renovation
Renovations are usually completed more quickly than rebuilds since rebuilding requires demolitions, permitting, and longer construction times.
When a Rebuild Is a Better Fit
Sometimes, the quality of the home construction isn’t worth keeping, and if you choose to renovate, much of what you hope to change won’t be possible.
People choose Ellergodt Design because of our bespoke approach. We’re interested in designing homes unique to each client’s needs. Sometimes, this is possible through renovation. Sometimes it’s not. When it’s not, we recommend rebuilding. Some factors we look at to help clients make this decision include:
Your Home Has Major Structural Issues
From settling and water damage to outdated materials, these problems can be costly and limit what renovations are possible. Rebuilding completely can open up a lot of possibilities.
You Want a Completely Custom Home
Renovation design can be tailored to your lifestyle, needs, and preferred aesthetic, but it often comes with constraints. A new build allows for total creative freedom.
Your Home’s Layout Doesn’t Work for You
If you’d like changes such as higher ceilings and room reorientation, renovation can be tricky, resulting in massive, costly changes. It can make a lot more sense to start from scratch.
Your Lot Has More Potential
Not every home is built with lot orientation in mind. If you’d like more sun exposure throughout the day, better views, or more space to move around, starting from scratch can help you maximize your lot’s potential in ways a renovation can’t.
Renovation Costs Approach or Exceed Those of a New Build
Depending on your home and needs, you may be looking to make 10-20 modifications to get the home you’re envisioning.
If this is the case, you should be prepared for hefty renovation costs. Changes such as gutting the interior, replacing electrical and plumbing, and reinforcing the structure can rival the costs of a new build.
Building Codes Have Changes
In some cases, older homes don’t comply with current building codes or energy efficiency standards. This means that if you choose to renovate, you’ll first need to bring your home up to code before certain modifications can be made.
In this event, a new build makes much more sense and will leave you with the confidence your home is safer, more energy efficiency, and potentially more valuable.
You Want a More Energy-Efficient Home
Increasing the energy efficiency of your home is often limited by the home’s original construction. New builds can include modern insulation, solar energy, and high-efficiency HVAC systems.
You Need a More Predictable Timeline
Though Calgary renovations are believed to be faster, it isn’t always the case. Major renovations can sometimes uncover unexpected problems, resulting in longer timelines and greater costs.
A new build follows a structured design and construction process, and while delays are possible, they’re less likely.
The Cost of Calgary Renovation vs. Rebuilding
Calgary renovations cost more than most people think. While a new build doesn’t usually cost less upfront, the value is much greater than renovating. When juggling the costs of a renovation vs. a re-build, be sure to:
- Know what you’re giving up: With a renovation, you’ll either sacrifice some of the benefits of custom home design, or you’ll need to make so many changes you may as well have rebuilt.
- Be realistic: Sometimes, just getting a home up to quality to renovate is expensive—for projects as simple as adding a small amount of square footage. Don’t base your decision to renovate on the costs you see on home renovation shows! The realities of building in Calgary can be much different.
- Talk to a structural engineer: Hire a structural engineer to assess your home’s foundation and structural features. Some pre-1980s roofs are amazing, others sag. Some old floor joists will have a lot of bounce. Some beams are notched and can break under added weight. Understanding what you’re working with can set you up for a more educated decision.
- Ask us for advice: We’re happy to take a look at your home and discuss what renovations are possible, considering bylaws, home structure, and more. Let’s get real about your needs and end goals and work together to get you the home you’ve been dreaming of.
Informed Design with Your Needs in Mind
At Ellergodt Design, we guide homeowners through this decision with a bespoke approach, ensuring that whether you renovate or rebuild, your home truly reflects your vision, lifestyle, and long-term goals.
Give us a call today and take the first step toward the home of your dreams.