Whether it is easier to renovate or rebuild is an age-old question in the renovation and construction industry. Sometimes you may look at a project and wonder if you’d be better off just knocking the whole thing down, sending the rubble on the back of a skip to the dump, and starting over.

But deciding whether it’s worth doing that or modifying the existing structure can be a challenge. It’s not always clear which path you should take. It might seem as if painstakingly renovating the walls or foundations is too much hassle, but sometimes you just can’t tell ahead of time.

What’s more, whether you tear down and rebuild or renovate isn’t a purely financial decision. It’s also about retaining the original charm of the building. Sometimes it’s worth spending a lot of time and money on renovation if the result will be something characterful and unique.

In this article, we’re going to describe when you should tear everything down and start over. We’re also going to talk about when remodeling is the best policy. By the end of this post, you should have a better idea of what you should do on your specific project.

When You Should Tear Down & Rebuild

Sometimes tearing everything down and rebuilding IS necessary. Usually, people do this when the price of renovation dramatically exceeds the construction cost from scratch, but there are many other factors at play.

When You Want To Ensure That Everything Is New

New is, in some situations, better than old. Some people feel more comfortable living in a new space, knowing that things have been built to a modern standard. Knowing that there are no lurking, unforeseen issues waiting to pounce gives people peace of mind.

When You Want To Reclaim VAT

New projects are zero-VAT rated, which means that you don’t have to pay VAT on them. Modifying existing homes, however, usually incurs VAT.

When Your Current Orientation Doesn’t Take Advantage Of Your Plot

If there are great views to the south of your home, but it faces east, then you might not be taking full advantage of your plot. Changing the orientation of the property could, therefore, increase its value.

When You Want To Boost Your Green Credentials

Sometimes making use of old assets, especially houses, isn’t efficient or beneficial from an environmental perspective. The only way to rectify the problem is often to knock down and start from scratch. Over the long term, the new build will consume fewer resources.

When You Should Remodel

Sometimes, however, it’s better to remodel. People renovate for all kinds of reasons. Here are the most common.

Planning Issues

It is usually much easier to get planning permission to renovate an existing building than it is to get it for an entirely new build. Local authorities may worry about how you will dispose of the rubble or how your new build might affect the character of an area. For renovations, it’s unlikely that the modification you make will have lasting changes.

The Charm, Character Or Architectural Merit Of The Building

Some buildings are worth spending a little extra on, especially if they have unique appeal or architectural merit. What’s more, you cannot knock down listed homes and start again from scratch. Often you’re prevented by law from making radical changes to a particular building.

Drywall & Paint

Drywall can, unfortunately, develop holes and blemishes which, sadly, don’t go away by themselves. It’s usually better to repair drywall and then paint over the repair work than to replace the wall entirely. Repairing drywall is relatively straightforward with the right skills. Clean the hole with a knife, cutting the exterior larger than the interior. Next, fill with painter’s putty to make it level with the surface of the wall. Then, leave it to dry, and sand down. Once you’ve done that, check to see if it’s flush. If it is, then you’re ready to paint, preferably in a color similar to the surrounding area.

Foundation & Structural Repair

Foundations can fail over time for all kinds of reasons, including subsidence, damp, and poor practices during the construction of the building.

In the past, foundation and structural issues were a significant problem and difficult to repair. Since the 1970s, though, new techniques have emerged that make the process easier and more robust. Professionals repair foundations using a variety of methods, including:

• Steel piers
• Helical piers
• High-density polyurethane foam
• Spot piers
• Segmented piers

Plumbing, Heating, & Electrical Systems

Should you renovate your plumbing, heating and electrical systems, or replace them with new? If the systems are old, then it’s best to replace them. Old electrical systems require replacement every fifty years or so otherwise they pose a fire hazard. Old plumbing systems may contain lead which, again, necessitates replacement. Traditional heating systems are much less efficient than their modern counterparts, making the case overwhelming for replacement over renovation.

Garage Remodel

Garages rarely require knocking down. Instead, it’s usually better to transform the space into something more useful. Whether you should remodel your garage or not depends on what both you and future buyers would like to get out of your home.

If you live in a neighborhood where the majority of properties do not have a garage, then you may benefit from keeping yours. The rarity of such a feature may push up the sale price of your property if selling is what you plan on doing. If however, you want to stay in your current dwelling for the long run, then the advantages of creating a new space might outweigh the disadvantages.

Adding Living Space

Adding living space helps you increase the size of your home and is a good idea if you want to avoid the costs associated with moving. Added living space is a home improvement that can make a big difference in your quality of life.

You could add living space in the following ways:

• Create a side return extension to increase the size of your kitchen
• Convert your attic into a bedroom
• Convert your garage into another reception room
• Renovate your basement and make it into a games room or a music room