Renovating vs. New Construction: Which Is Better For Your Project?

Homeowners will eventually have to face the dilemma of renovation vs. new construction. This situation occurs frequently in the situation of owning a home that is a decade or more of age. At Ultimate Construction, we’ve heard of every argument for both sides, which is why we’ve compiled the information below to help you decide whether you should consider renovation or new construction as you plan for your future home.

Renovation Overview

Renovation is a broad term that covers anything from a simple bathroom redesign to the addition of a new wing to your house. Renovation may not grant you complete freedom, but the contractor still needs your input.

The Benefits of Renovating

Renovation comes with many benefits that you may not have even considered:

• Renovations could increase the value of your home
• It is easier to plan and budget for a renovation
• Some changes can make a home more functional or efficient
• You won’t have to leave a home that has sentimental value to you

Sometimes, you might consider a new construction, but you might only need a few renovations to your current home. It’s possible that once you make those updates, you’ll discover that you’re already satisfied.

Considerations for Renovation

While renovation is much more manageable than new construction, there are important questions you must ask yourself before starting.

• Have any renovations been done to my home by the previous owners?
• How will this update affect the value of my home? Will it influence salability?
• Do I need to contact local government or the HOA before I can start?
• What exactly do I want to change and what am I willing to budge on?

These are simply a few factors you need to consider during a renovation, but once you have all the details you need, you’ll be ready to get the project started.

New Construction Overview

As you can imagine, a new construction involves a much larger investment, both in time and in expenses. You’ll need to work closely with your building team to ensure that your new home has been customized to your liking.

The Benefits of Building New Construction

A new construction may seem like a daunting task at first, but you’ll find that there are benefits to building a brand-new house.

• The home is tailored to your needs
• Newly built homes usually have lower maintenance expenses, meaning a lesser cost in the long term
• Your ideas won’t be hindered by pre-existing layouts or structures
• You can choose what goes into your home, which can make it more efficient or environmentally friendly

A new construction allows for everything to be built according to your specifications. Only budget and imagination can stand in the way of your vision.

Comparing Renovation to New Build

When making the decision to construct or renovate, the answer is going to come down to your personal needs. Here are some questions to ask yourself before starting your project:

• Which choice is more cost-effective for me?
• Am I ready for the time commitment this project entails?
• What is my budget, and how far am I willing to stretch it?
• Which project will result in something that best satisfies my needs?

Your needs, situation, and budget help you make your final decision. Your best option is to contact a construction company to help you effectively deal with the problem. At Ultimate Construction, we will help you identify the source of the issue and provide the best solution. To obtain a free quote from a professional with over 26 years of experience, contact David Magill at 210-379-4348.

Retaining construction company FAQs

1. When should I consider renovation instead of new construction?

If you find that you are satisfied with your current home, except for a few small parts of it, we advise renovation against construction. Since there are so many traits you already love, it is likely that updating the parts that you don’t like will bring you more satisfaction than constructing a brand-new home.

2. Which would cost less renovation or new construction?

This depends on the scale of your construction or renovation. In some cases, a large-scale renovation may cost more than a small-scale new construction. However, we’ve found that new construction generally costs more than renovation, due to the amount of different expenses involved.

3. Which is more environmentally friendly?

Again, this can vary from case to case. In general, however, since you have so much freedom of what you put into a new construction, building a new home has the potential to be environmentally friendly depending on the materials and landscaping you opt for. There also are renovations you can make to an existing home that can make them more ecofriendly and energy efficient.

As anyone who lives in the San Antonio area knows, drought is a frequent problem during the warm season. One way to combat its effect on your lawn is to consider sod replacement. Using a hardier species of grass than currently exists on your property can both reduce your water bill and keep your yard looking good during dry spells.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the basics of drought resistance and tolerance. We’ll also consider what particular types of grass are likely to do well during dry conditions. Armed with this information, the reader will be able to make informed decisions about what is best for their lawn.

Four Aspects of Drought-Resistant Grasses

Plants vary in their ability to survive with little or no water. Here in the southwest, a number of species have developed the ability to endure for many months between periods of rainfall. Of course, only a few of these are suitable for residential lawns.

Those that are good choices for this purpose are discussed in the rest of this article. Their ability to withstand extended dry spells falls under four major categories.

1. Drought tolerance

This refers to the variety’s ability to flourish during periods of low watering. Buffalo, Bahia, and some forms of St. Augustine do well during such times.

2. Dehydration tolerance

This refers to the tendency to stay an acceptable shade of green during times when there is little or no rain. Zoysia, Bermuda, and some types of St. Augustine all enjoy strong root density, structure, and low water needs, making them ideally suited for such conditions.

3. Dehydration recovery

This refers to the ability of grasses to withstand drought conditions by going into a dormant state for extended periods. While they may turn brown during such times, they are in fact alive and will respond readily to watering when the dry spell ends. Buffalo and Bahia grasses are especially adept at doing so.

4. Dehydration quantity

This refers to the level of water a type of grass needs in order to avoid turning brown and slipping into a dormant state. This is the point at which many homeowners are misinformed. They plant a grass that they have been assured is highly resistant to drought, only to become upset when they discover that going dormant is the means by which it resists dry conditions. A brown lawn isn’t high on anyone’s list of desirable characteristics for their yard. Such grasses do have other uses, however, such as when strong erosion control is desired during periods of flash floods.

And the winner is….

While no cultivar is perfect, in most instances, sod replacement with St. Augustine grass is the superior choice for drought-prone regions. It withstands dry spells as least as well as Zoysia, Buffalo, and Bermuda grasses, while retaining more of its desirable green shade. FX-10, Floratam, Palmetto, and Raleigh are particularly good choices for the San Antonio area due to the fact that they can endure well under both drought conditions and periods of heavy rain and flash flooding. These qualities also mean that the homeowner will be able to get by with less supplemental watering, making these grasses economical as well as enduring choices for one’s lawn.

A Comprehensive Approach to Drought Management

Choosing a hardy grass for your property is only one aspect of resisting the affects of south Texas climate patterns. Landscape grading and establishing a drainage system are also important steps. Here at Ultimate Construction, we have the tools and experience to help you keep your grounds looking great, no matter what the weather brings your way. Contact us today.