Clear communication between owner, contractor, and architect is critical to a successful home or tenant improvement design projects. Agreement on some simple definitions is a good place to start.
“Remodeling” is often broadly used to describe any kind of change to an existing house or tenant improvement commercial. Technically, it’s more accurate to say that remodel means to change the character of a building or a portion of a thereof. So when you convert a den into a master bedroom you’re remodeling the den. When you combine a kitchen and dining room into one large eat-in kitchen you’re remodeling the kitchen and dining room. The same would apply for changing a new tenant build out for a new lease. (This is an extremely popular type of project in our office right now.)
“Renovating” is a much more specific term. It means, quite literally, to make new again. An out-of-date kitchen or bathroom, updated with new finishes and fixtures, has been renovated. Replacing old windows with new ones is a renovation project.