In Spring of 2021, a Sea Pines homeowner came to Hammerhead Custom Builders looking to modernize their 1971 home which previous owners added to in 2004. Residential designer Christa Fortney took on the architectural plans and interior design. The scope of work gradually expanded to the entire home and an addition. It was then, project manager Tyler Gartner asked, “should we just tear it down?”
A quarter of homes on Hilton Head Island were built before 1980. The lack of updates to these vintage homes does not fit the aesthetics and function of life today. So, this begs the question: should homeowners take on a large-scale remodel or should they replace their antique with a new bespoke home? Time, environmental impact, accessibility and building codes are key elements when making such a large decision, but typical homeowners consider cost to be most crucial.
Are remodels faster? If the existing home is below flood level, FEMA limits the amount of renovation to under 50% of the building’s value not including the value of the land. Renovations might require multiple phases which adds to the timeline. Conversely, Mother Nature impacts building new. Rain can wash away foundation forms, and the house must be watertight before rough ins and finish-work can occur.
A major benefit of a remodel is avoiding unnecessary waste. Usually, homeowners choose to replace all windows and exterior doors to be impact resistant but can opt to reuse other items, limiting construction material in landfills. Another benefit could be accessibility. Builders of yesteryear regularly built homes on ground level which avoids the need for an elevator and is more amenable to aging-in-place. The negative to a home built on grade is flood risk. If rebuilt, bringing in dirt can raise the ground level or elevating the home is an option. No matter whether remodeling or building new, the community architectural review board must authorize the exterior appearance and the town of Hilton Head must approve all plans.
When choosing to replace the existing home, one must consider the cost of demolishing the house, price per square foot and lot size. It cost approximately 25K to demo and prep the lot for a new build. The price per square foot is contingent on level of finishes, amount of unconditioned space such as covered porches and garages, and how wide versus tall the house will be. A taller house with a smaller footprint will cost less than a shorter expansive home due to the need for more foundation and roofing. A full-scale remodel can save costs, but there are also unknown opportunities lurking behind the walls. It is best to have budget contingencies for surprises that occur when renovating.
What happened with the Hammerhead project? The homeowners, “did the quick math and thought that it was cheaper to just remodel it.” The custom-building company completed the renovation in the Fall of 2023 with the owner’s sharing, “we’re super-happy with how it turned out… and we could never build from scratch what we built with a remodel.”
ARITCLE AND PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HAMMERHEAD CUSTOM BUILDERS