Additionally, renovation can refer to making something new, or bringing something back to life and can apply in social contexts.
[6] Technology has had a meaningful effect on the renovation process, increasing the significance and strength of the planning stage.
Many local codes require a professional to complete work in the built environment such as structural changes, new walls, new plumbing, or many others.
The processes and services required for renovations are quite specific and, once plans are signed off, building a new home is relatively predictable.
In case of a so-called "fix-and-flip" (repair and resell) objective, an ROI (return on investment) can result from changes to fix a structural issue, to fix design flow yield,[8] or to use light and color to make rooms appear more spacious.
Because interior renovation could change of the internal structure of the house, ceiling construction, circuit configuration and partition walls, etc., such work related to the structure of the house, of course, also includes renovation of wallpaper posting, furniture settings, lighting, etc often times an interior designer is required as well.
[12] Also, over time, a homeowner’s personal preferences and needs may change, and the home will be renovated for improved aesthetics, comfort, or functionality.
Renovations can also occur as companies increase size which could lead to needed additional retail, office, or other types of spaces.
Few homeowners or professional remodelers possess the skill and equipment that is required to alter steel-frame or concrete structures.
[15] In North America, most structures are demolished because of external forces such as zoning changes and rising land values.
The four top reasons for demolition were "area redevelopment" (35%), "building’s physical condition" (31%), "not suitable for anticipated use" (22%), and "fire damage" (7%).
Lack of maintenance was cited as the specific problem for 54 of the 70 buildings where physical condition was given as the reason for demolition.
Use of angle grinder is not preferred as large amounts of harmful sparks and fumes (and particulates) are generated when compared with using reciprocating saw or band saw.
[26] It requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and pre-schools (any child occupied facility) built before 1978 be certified by EPA and use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices.
Through authority vested in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), lead-based-paint removal by dry scraping, dry sanding, torching and burning, the use of heat guns over 1100°F, and machine-sanding / grinding without a HEPA-filtered vacuum or a HEPA filtered dust collection system, is prohibited, as these methods have been proven to produce significant amount of lead dust during renovation, remodeling and painting.
[28] At the end of any remodeling or repainting job, a dust test performed by an independent third-party professional is also required by HUD for "clearance".
Lead evaluations are done using a method called X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), which gives a result in 4–8 seconds with a 95% accuracy at the 2-sigma level.