Cosmetic vs. Structural Changes
Improvements or additions to your home come
under two headings; structural and cosmetic. What is the difference?
As the name might imply, structural changes include changes that are
done to the deep structure of the house. This includes a new roof,
electrical wiring or plumbing, and work on the foundations. If you
decide to tear out a wall, that will be structural because it
affects the internal structure. Consultation with a building
professional should be sought to ensure there is no loss of strength
to the rest of the house. You will also need to know if there is
electrical wiring or plumbing behind the plaster. Damaging things
unnecessarily is foolish and can lead to cost blowouts.
Structural work is often done to bring a dwelling up to local
building standards. It could be that the flooring is not stable, or
vermin have chewed through the wiring. The roof could leak and cause
damage, so structural improvements are necessary. The trouble is,
although it is necessary, it doesn’t add that much to the actual
look of the place, so if you are upgrading to resell it is not a
money-spinner like cosmetic renovations often are. The buyer has a
right to expect that structural conditions of the house are adequate
and up to code, therefore you cannot offer that feature as a selling
point to any great extent.
When planning structural work, you need to factor in the weather
equation. You don’t want to have the roof off in the blizzard
season. If snow or wet weather is imminent, don’t plan on
reconstructing the flooring or pouring concrete.
Cosmetic changes, on the other hand, are what affects the look of
the place and gives the property a wow factor. They include fresh
paint or wall-paper, new carpet and window fittings, light-fitting
and faucet replacements, light alterations such as new kitchen
cupboards and landscaping. In general, they don’t cost quite as much
as structural changes, yet they add a great deal of value to the
property. This is because they can be seen, and everyone wants the
chance to rent or own a house that looks great.
One of the best ways to add perceived value to your property is with
cosmetic changes. Often you can do them yourself, thus cutting costs
even further. You don’t usually need any permits or permission to do
cosmetic changes. They can be done without regard to the weather in
most cases, though painting requires a certain temperature range to
be effective. Cosmetic changes will modernize your house and give it
a good resale value, or just allow you to enjoy it more.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
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