What’s Difference Between Renovation, Rehabilitation, and Restoration?

Managing construction projects that deal with historic buildings is not an easy feat. Compared to renovating relatively new commercial buildings, restoring historic buildings are largely more finicky. The structure has become more delicate and fragile. Historic building codes are somewhat unique. And old buildings just aren’t built the same as the one’s today.

Undertaking a big project like this can be a scary thing. But with the best construction workers in your crew and the knowledge to handle it, completing this will be very fulfilling.

How construction management software can help

Having a good and stable construction crew management software is a must for contractors and project managers, especially for special projects like historic building restoration. Although keen attention to detail is vital, you cannot be everywhere at once, overseeing each member’s task or monitoring all sub-projects. Here’s where task management software comes in.

With this single tool, contractors can virtually be everywhere at once. You will be able to collaborate in real-time with your team even if you aren’t onsite. You can send them blueprints, changed plans, detailed instruction on the go. Plus, you can create a crew schedule to help monitor your team.

More than that, management software allows you to keep track of the entire project. If the tool spots a potential issue, you can immediately take care of it before it becomes an even bigger problem. The risk of mistakes is decreased, productivity and efficiency are increased, and the building can be properly preserved.

Remodeling vs. Renovation vs. Rehabilitation vs. Restoration

If you are a novice to working on historical structures, it can be tricky to figure out what you should do. Would you be renovating, rehabilitating, or restoring the structure? They all sound like the same thing: fixing an old building. However, there are notable differences between them. Here are their key differences to guide you with your project.

Remodeling

Remodeling involves the most work out of everything on the list because it’s changing the entire space. Adding ductwork, raising ceilings, adding plumbing, and gutting, removing, and adding walls are just things done during this process.

They are also the most expensive out of the floor because they require the most time and materials to finish.

Typically, remodeling happens when a building misses major elements it needs to function properly and serve its purpose.

Renovation

Simply put, renovation is fixing or improving what’s already there to “renew” a structure without changing the space’s purpose. Sometimes, new components are added rather than repairing old ones. They are often done in conjunction with building restorations. For instance, outdated HVAC systems are replaced with new ones to accommodate modern necessities.

Rehabilitation

Compared to renovation, which fixes a space, rehabilitation saves a deteriorated property through alterations and repairs and returning it to a state where it can be of modern use. However, it’s vital to preserve the historically, culturally, and architecturally significant structures of the structure.

Restoration

Restoration is essentially returning an old building to its original state, which is commonly done to historic buildings.

Commonly, restoration projects involve repairing holes and old fixtures, replacing damaged elements with exact replicas, and refinishing wood floors.

Restoration is also considered an environmentally-friendly process, as it used less energy and fewer resources. If the building’s foundational integrity is strong and only needs minimal repairs, it can also be a cost-effective choice.

What To Do When Restoring Historic Buildings

Do your research

As with any project, whether construction or not, research is crucial, with it, you can better understand the building itself, both its history and its construction aspects.

Once you have adequately learned about the building’s past, you can actively work on its future. Throughout researching, you’ll see patterns, colors, and fixtures pop up. You’ll also come across the technical side, such as the HVAC and electrical systems. From there, you can work on the plan to restore these aspects of the building.

1. Review and understand codes and regulations

As previously said, historical building codes and regulations are different than those of commercial buildings. Apart from the occupants’ safety and security, these projects prioritize the building’s resources and ultimately preserve them.

It’s also imperative that these codes and regulations be followed. So, from the beginning of the planning and designing phase, you should be working closely with code officials, designers, and facility managers. This gives them ample time to look over the plans, check for potential challenges and issues, and address them.

Additionally, through consultation, preservation experts and code authorities must be involved in applying the codes. This ensures that issues such as fire and smoke separation, detection, suppression, and egress are addressed.

2. Secure funding

Historic building projects aren’t exactly cheap. Luckily, they can qualify for different federal grant programs. But be sure to know the project parameters and goals because if a project meets the various requirements, the program can offset these preservation and restoration projects’ high cost.

Since the 1980s, new market tax credits and federal historic tax credits have been a funding source for these projects. Add to that state historic tax credits, and a significant percentage can cover the project’s cost.

3. Make sure the building can support modern utilities.

The general rule is that you must keep as much of the original building as possible. However, it’s not uncommon for historic buildings to experience problems that directly affect their integrity. So, even though you were tasked to restore a building, you may find that modern amenities may be needed, like a new HVAC and plumbing system.

But before you get to work on the ducts and pipes, make sure that the old building can handle these additions. Due to their age, most historic structures require great care and sensitivity when modifying or repairing their components.

4. Keep the building’s character.

A vital step in building restoration is knowing and understanding the structure’s significance to its surrounding community. Determining the building’s architectural, cultural, and historical relevance is also vital for raising awareness. By restoring the building, you can educate community members who know little about it and why it’s an integral part of the community.

The significance can guide you to know the building’s essential details that you must preserve, emphasize, or enhance. The building has gone through history but is also filled with unique layouts, antique design details, and vintage architectural design details that are no longer present in today’s modern construction.

The building is a physical part of history and restoring them allows you to keep its art and history alive — that’s why it’s a must to retain its character. It’s recommended that you get past owners, community leaders, and local historians involved to gather as much information on the building as possible.

5. Keep as much of the building’s original features.

This is perhaps an essential rule in historic building restoration. The character lies within the original building and retaining its features is the best way of keeping its character. So, as much as possible, work with what you have. Repair rather than replace; fix rather than destroy.

However, in the matter of the structure’s integrity, new additions must sometimes be incorporated. In situations like this, make sure to respect the building’s history and character. When making any modifications or upgrades, keep in mind the design intent of the original architect. Choose equipment that would work well with the building, both mechanically and aesthetically. Also, take extra care when installing these as not to damage or massively change finishes and features.

If a disturbance is unavoidable, ensure that the replacement would match the original color, texture, materials, design, and overall appearance perfectly, or at least as closely as possible.

6. Work with the right people.

Restoring historic buildings is unlike any general contracting construction project. It requires attention to detail, careful and steady hands, and the right knowledge on working with historic buildings. This means you would need additional people on your construction crew.

As said before, preserving the building’s history and character is vital to the project. To help with this, you would need local historians, researchers, capable designers, community leaders as part of your team. Furthermore, following historical building codes is crucial, so code officials, preservation experts, and inspectors should be onboard to help you follow codes and regulations and address any issues regarding these.

The Bottomline

A historic building restoration project may be a daunting task to take on, especially for those who have little to no experience with it. But it’s not as scary as many think if they have the right people and adequate knowledge behind them.

As with any project, there will be a few hiccups down the road. But once it’s completed, everyone on the team will feel fulfilled and relish that they were a part of bringing history back to life.