When it is finally time to update or upgrade your bathroom, the terminologies used can sometimes be confusing. Are you looking for a refresh, a complete overhaul, or something in between? Understanding the difference between a bathroom remodel, bathroom renovation, and bathroom reconstruction can help you help you communicate your wants and needs to your contractors or designers.

At Surface Bella, we understand how confusing the differing terminology can be and how it can make it difficult to begin the process. If you don’t know the difference between the three, you might not know where to begin or what to ask for. If you want to update the bathroom in your home, keep reading to learn more about what each of these terms means and which is best for your home. 

What is a Bathroom Remodel?

A bathroom remodel typically involves making cosmetic updates to your space to improve its aesthetics and functionality. This could involve updating old fixtures, replacing dingy tiles, refreshing paint or removing wallpaper, installing new lighting, and upgrading bathroom accessories like towel racks or mirrors. 

Essentially, a bathroom remodel focuses on enhancing the appearance and usability of the existing space without altering its fundamental structure. A bathroom remodel is a great option if you are happy with the layout and overall design of your existing bathroom, but the space requires a modern facelift. 

What is a Bathroom Renovation?

A bathroom renovation goes a step further than a standard bathroom remodel. While a remodel focuses on making surface-level changes, a renovation involves more extensive modifications to the space. These changes may include reconfiguring the layout, replacing existing plumbing and electrical systems, upgrading insulation, installing new flooring, and possibly enlarging or shrinking the space by knocking down or adding walls. Bathroom renovations are ideal for homeowners who want to update their bathroom’s functionality, improve their overall energy efficiency, or address structural issues while retaining the basic layout and footprint of the existing space. 

What is a Bathroom Reconstruction? 

A bathroom reconstruction is the most comprehensive and intensive option of the three. Your bathroom reconstruction will involve completely gutting the existing space and starting from the ground up. When you invest in a bathroom reconstruction, you strip the space down to its bare bones, removing all fixtures, fittings, walls, and flooring.

Bathroom reconstruction allows for a complete redesign of the space, giving homeowners the opportunity to make as many customizations to the space as they see fit. From repositioning plumbing to installing new framing and finishing materials, bathroom reconstruction offers homeowners a blank canvas to ensure the bathroom meets their preferences and needs without having to make compromises. 

Key Differences

When looking at the differences between bathroom remodels, bathroom renovations, and bathroom reconstruction, there are a few key differences to remember. These distinct differences include:

• Bathroom Remodel: Cosmetic changes while retaining your existing layout.
• Bathroom Renovation: Extensive modifications that may involve layout changes while retaining the basic structure of the space.
• Bathroom Reconstruction: A complete overhaul of the space, starting from scratch, to allow for full customization. 

Which is Best for Your Home? 

Deciding between a bathroom remodel, renovation, or reconstruction depends on a variety of factors, including your budget, the condition of the existing space, your design preferences, your needs, and the extent of changes you wish to make. If you are primarily concerned with updating the appearance of your bathroom without major changes to the structure, a remodel might be enough. 

However, if you are looking to improve the functionality of the space, address underlying issues, or completely transform the space, a bathroom reconstruction or renovation may be more suitable. Whether you are aiming for minor upgrades or a total bathroom transformation, understanding the clear distinction between a remodel, renovation, and reconstruction is crucial for effectively communicating your needs and wants with your contractor and achieving your desired results. 

When you align your expectations with the appropriate terminology, you can begin your bathroom upgrade project with confidence and clarity, ultimately creating a space that reflects your style and meets your needs. It is also important to speak to your contractor about what they refer to their services as.

While each term has a distinct difference, your contractor may simply refer to their overall services as a bathroom remodel to make things simpler for everyone to understand. Although they may refer to their services as a bathroom remodel, they may provide services that are more akin to a bathroom reconstruction. Speaking openly with them about your wants and needs will guarantee that they can provide the services you’re looking for. 

All Your Bathroom Update Needs in One Place

Whether you are looking for a minor bathroom remodel, or you want to start a major bathroom reconstruction, you need to work with a reliable contractor, like our team at Surface Bella. With years of experience helping homeowners design and upgrade their bathrooms, we’re confident that we can do the same for you.

In addition to our bathroom remodeling services, we provide homeowners with custom decks and patios, porch and awning covers, upgraded windows, vinyl siding, and much more. If you want to start a bathroom remodeling project or would like to speak to a member of our team about our services, don’t hesitate to contact us today. 

Your home’s siding life expectancy will vary greatly depending on local weather and the chosen material. If your home has vinyl siding, it is expected to last between 10 and 20 years. When it is ready to be replaced, your vinyl siding may look dirty, saggy, or warped. 

If it is time to replace your vinyl siding, there are many variables you should consider before scheduling, including whether it is the best season to schedule this replacement. Not every season is created equal, and some may be a better fit for vinyl siding replacement than others. 

Our team at Surface Bella Restoration wants you to know the benefits and drawbacks of getting your vinyl siding replaced during each season. If you are preparing to replace your vinyl siding, continue reading to determine when to schedule this appointment. 

Replacing Your Vinyl Siding This Fall

Arguably the best time of year to replace your vinyl siding, for both homeowners and vinyl siding professionals, is during the fall months. With its milder and more easily predictable weather, vinyl siding replacement during fall is much easier for your siding professional. 

Weather isn’t the only factor that makes this a great time of year for vinyl siding replacement. If you replace your vinyl siding in the fall, your home is more adequately prepared for winter weather. It will guarantee your home is sealed tightly and stays warm when the cold weather rolls in.

However, a major drawback to replacing your vinyl siding during the fall is the busier schedule for siding professionals. Because the weather is better and homeowners are trying to prepare for cold weather, more homeowners may schedule their vinyl siding appointment in the fall.

This scheduling may lead to longer wait times before your siding gets replaced. In addition to longer wait times, products may be more expensive in the fall because the demand for these goods is greater. Even through these drawbacks, fall is a wonderful time to replace your vinyl siding.

Replacing Your Vinyl Siding This Winter

The winter months provide a variety of obstacles for siding professionals, making them a less appealing time of year to replace your vinyl siding. If the weather is consistently staying under 50° F, you may want to reconsider scheduling any appointments.

The colder winter weather makes the material constrict, meaning the panels may be nailed into the walls of your home too tightly. As the weather warms up, this may damage them. It also makes the materials more brittle, which may result in unexpected damage.

However, there is a benefit to replacing your vinyl siding during the winter months. Because the weather is more inclement, it might be easier to get an appointment scheduled with a well-experienced, reliable vinyl siding professional. 

Winter may also be a good time to replace your vinyl siding if you live in a place that doesn’t have such extreme weather. However, with less extreme weather may come longer scheduling times throughout the year. 

Replacing Your Vinyl Siding This Spring

Spring may be a good time to replace your vinyl siding, though there are certainly some drawbacks to getting it done during these few months. If you live in a place that doesn’t receive a lot of rain through the spring, this may be a great time to schedule this appointment.

If you schedule this appointment early enough, you may even be able to miss out on your vinyl siding professional’s busy schedule. If you’re considering a spring replacement, reach out to your professional in the late winter months to get on their schedule as soon as possible. 

One major problem with replacing your vinyl siding in the spring, however, is the potential exposure to moisture. If your vinyl siding professional begins installing but has to stop due to rain, there is a chance that moisture may get between the siding and the walls of your home.

If this moisture isn’t caught before the replacement is complete, you may notice mold growth on the siding or inside your home. With mold growth, you may find the vinyl siding looking dirty and in need of a thorough cleaning earlier than you had anticipated. 

Replacing Your Vinyl Siding This Summer

You may believe that summer is the perfect time to replace your vinyl siding. However, this isn’t necessarily true in every location, and there are a few things to consider before scheduling your replacement appointment. The weather may be too warm for your professionals to complete the project.

If your vinyl siding is warmed up too much during the summer days, it may be just a bit too long when it is nailed to your home. You won’t notice this elongation until the winter months when the siding is bulging because of this sizing discrepancy. 

However, if you live in a location that has milder summers, it may be a good time to replace your vinyl siding. While this more predictable weather makes it easier to replace your vinyl siding, this may lead to longer wait times, like those that you may experience in the fall. 

Even if you have to wait a bit longer to get your vinyl siding replaced during the summer months, you likely won’t have to worry about as many interruptions. These fewer interruptions from inclement weather means the project may be finished more quickly than during other seasons. 

The Best Season To Replace Your Vinyl Siding With Surface Bella

Whether you’re ready to replace your vinyl siding immediately or just trying to prepare for the project in the near future, there are many variables you need to consider. Ultimately, it is best to replace your vinyl siding when it is most convenient for you and your family. 

If, however, you are still struggling to decide when you should get your vinyl siding replaced, you should reach out to a trustworthy vinyl siding professional for advice. At Surface Bella Restoration, our team has years of experience and happy customers and is confident that we can help you schedule your vinyl siding appointment when it is most convenient for you.

In addition to our vinyl siding services, we provide homeowners across the Greenville, South Carolina, area with window replacements, bathroom remodels, custom decks, and more. If you are interested in scheduling a vinyl replacement appointment or would like to speak to a member of our team about the other services we provide, contact us today.

If you are preparing for a bathroom remodel, you probably have a long list of luxury upgrades you hope to add to the space. When the remodel is complete, you want it to feel like you’re walking through a high-end hotel or beautiful spa retreat. However, you may struggle to plan these luxury upgrades and might not know what upgrades are the best for this space.

There are many upgrades you should consider when planning your bathroom remodel, and our team at Surface Bella has compiled a list of several of the best upgrades, some of which you may not have thought of before. If you want the most luxurious home bathroom, keep reading to learn about the upgrade we recommend you make for your space. 

1. Get A Stand-Alone Tub

Freestanding tubs are one of the best luxury upgrades you can make to your bathroom. For many, these tubs are seen as a high-end upgrade and have quickly climbed the list of homeowner must-haves during the buying process. If you are looking for a bathroom that has a spa-like feel, a stand-alone tub does a great job of portraying that.

While this might not sound like a good investment if you don’t take a lot of baths, a freestanding tub may also make your space feel larger because it isn’t attached to the wall or shower in your bathroom. With so many different freestanding bathtubs on the market, we are certain there is a tub that will match your desired bathroom aesthetic. 

2. Invest In A Heated Towel Rack

Warm towels after getting out of a warm shower or bath make your bathroom feel like the ultimate cozy space. If you are looking for luxury upgrades and want to increase the comfort you feel in this often cooler space in your home, consider investing in a heated towel rack. If you’re still on the fence about heated towel racks, though, there are more benefits than warm towels. It isn’t uncommon for bacteria to grow on your bathroom towels. 

In fact, a study out of the University of Arizona found that over 90% of bathroom towels contain coliform bacteria responsible for stomach aches and gastrointestinal diseases. A heated towel rack can help prevent the growth of bacteria on your towels between use by warming them and allowing them to dry more quickly. To prevent the spread of this bacteria, heated towel racks should be at the top of your list of luxury upgrades.

3. Increase Your Storage Space

One major complaint many people have about their bathroom is that it doesn’t have quite enough storage space to accommodate all of their belongings. If you are investing in luxury upgrades, consider adding more storage space to fit your belongings and to keep household items, like cleaning supplies and extra toiletries, out of sight. 

You may want to consider adding more cabinet space or cutting out some space to add a small closet in your bathroom in order to increase your storage. This added storage space is especially useful if the bathroom is shared by several people. By adding more storage space to your bathroom, you guarantee everything has its own space and doesn’t get knocked around by your everyday use of the space. 

4. Upgrade Your Toilet

While there are many luxury upgrades you can make to your bathroom, your toilet likely isn’t high on that list. But there are many upgrades you can make to your toilet that aid in creating this beautiful, improved bathroom space. While some of the benefits of upgrading your toilet may include the appearance of your bathroom, there is more to it than that.

An upgraded toilet may be more efficient than an older model. If you are looking for worthwhile luxury upgrades, your new toilet can save you money on your water bill, as well as improve the flushing system and removal of debris. While this might not seem like the most luxurious upgrade on our list, it is certainly well worth the investment. 

5. Add A Second Sink

If you are tired of having to wait for your turn in front of the bathroom sink while getting ready in the morning, you should consider adding a second sink to your vanity. Whether you are adding a sink to the bathroom in your home’s primary suite or a shared children’s bathroom, two sinks will always be beneficial for anyone using them.

Not only does a second sink improve the time spent in the bathroom, allowing its users to spend less time waiting, but it may also increase counter space. Dual sinks are also high on the list of luxury upgrades homebuyers are looking for in bathrooms, helping to improve the value of your bathroom remodel. 

6. Add A Shower Bench

Having somewhere to sit while showering is a great investment to make for your bathroom remodel for everyone. Whether the people using your shower have disabilities that make standing for extended periods of time uncomfortable, or you are simply looking for somewhere to sit while shaving your legs or washing your body, a shower bench is a great upgrade.

If you are investing in luxury upgrades, you want them to be something you can get used out of as often as possible. By adding a shower bench to your shower, you almost certainly guarantee that you will get your money’s worth out of this upgrade. 

7. Get Better Lighting

When thinking about luxury upgrades in your bathroom, you probably aren’t thinking about new lighting fixtures. But, you may find that you dislike your bathroom lighting when you start to consider this upgrade. Whether you’re looking for new ceiling lights or improved vanity lighting, better lights can greatly improve the appearance of your bathroom. 

Unfortunately, some builder-grade lighting may leave your bathroom darker than it should or cast an unpleasant yellow glow over the space. If you are looking for luxury upgrades, finding better lighting will make the space feel much nicer. Rid your bathroom of these builder-grade lights and invest in recessed lighting to clear the ceiling of bulky, old overhead lights and upgrade your bathroom with a better vanity light.

Investing In Luxury Upgrades During Your Surface Bella Bathroom Remodel 

Choosing the best luxury upgrades during your bathroom remodel can help you create a serene, beautiful space in your home that you’ll be unable to resist showing off. If you’re investing in luxury upgrades, you should work with the best team to ensure your bathroom remodel goes well. 

Our team at Surface Bella has years of experience creating beautiful, upgraded bathroom spaces for homeowners across the Greenville, South Carolina, area, and we’re confident that we can do the same for you.

In addition to our bathroom remodels, we create custom decks and patios, install new vinyl windows, and more. If you are interested in scheduling a bathroom remodel or would like to speak to a member of our team about the other services we provide, contact us today.