Facelift Home Renovation: What is it and is it right for my project?

Ready to transform your living space without breaking the bank or enduring weeks of construction chaos? 

Say hello to facelift home renovation – where you can revitalize your kitchen, rejuvenate your bathroom, and reignite your love for your home, all while keeping time and budget constraints in check. Home remodeling often has a bad reputation for having high prices, high stress, and lengthy time commitments. But with facelift renovations, your home project doesn’t have to have any of these deterrents.

At JSB Home Solutions, with over four decades of expertise in home renovations, we’ve worked with budgets and timelines of all shapes and sizes. While we are not a facelift renovation company, some of our services overlap with facelift services (for example, kitchen cabinet refacing). Facelift renovations are the best option for many home projects and our seasoned team is adept at guiding you in the right direction for your project.

Table of Contents

• What is Facelift Home Renovation?
• Cost of Facelift Home Renovation
• Timeline of Facelift Home Renovation
• 3 Advantages of Facelift Home Renovation
• 3 Disadvantages of Facelift Home Renovation

By the end of this article, you’ll be confident in knowing whether the facelift home renovation approach is right for your project.

What is Facelift Home Renovation?

A facelift renovation approach involves making subtle changes to breathe new life into your surroundings. This method is also known as over-existing, one-day, or same-day remodeling. 

In a kitchen facelift project, options abound such as updating cabinet hardware, replacing faucets, repainting or refacing kitchen cabinets, upgrading lighting fixtures, or refinishing floors.

Similarly, in a bathroom facelift project, tasks like replacing the toilet or sink, updating cabinet hardware, reglazing the tub or shower, or installing a tub or shower overlay can completely transform your space. Some facelift remodeling companies specialize in “wet space only” renovations, which typically encompass tubs, showers, and sometimes flooring. It’s essential to clarify with your bathroom contractor whether their services are limited to wet spaces only.

For homeowners like yourselves, the primary considerations typically revolve around the project cost and timeline.

Cost of Facelift Home Renovation

Budget is a crucial factor when embarking on any home renovation project. Ensuring that the project aligns with your financial resources is key.

According to Forbes Home, a small kitchen remodel can range from $12,000 to $22,000, with the kitchen’s size being a significant cost factor.

For bathroom projects, costs vary depending on factors such as half-baths, full-baths, or master baths. On average, a facelift or one-day bathroom remodel may cost between $5,000 to $15,000, as reported by Home Advisor.

Timeline of Facelift Home Renovation

The amount of time that your space will be out of commission is an important consideration when planning a home renovation project. Fortunately, facelift renovation typically has the shortest project timelines of all the remodeling methods.

Kitchen facelift projects can usually be completed in 3-5 days. Many companies will start jobs on Mondays, which means you will not be without a kitchen over a weekend. Some larger projects may require an extra day or two depending on the size of the kitchen and what other features are included in the project (i.e. countertops, lighting, and backsplash).

Many bathroom facelift companies advertise one-day or same-day renovations. Even for larger facelift projects (full bathrooms or master bathrooms), you are looking at around 3 days of bathroom work.

Before you hire a facelift renovation company, you should consider all the advantages and disadvantages of facelift remodeling.

3 Advantages of Facelift Home Renovation

#1 Usually the Lowest Project Cost

Because facelift renovation companies often have select materials that they offer, they can buy materials in bulk and store them in a warehouse. They also tend to use lower-quality materials than the other remodeling methods. When the cost of materials goes down, your price as the homeowner should also go down.

There is a caveat to be aware of. Many homeowners like yourself, will receive competitive quotes from facelift companies and remove & replace remodeling companies. It would be worth your time to explore both types of companies in your search for the best kitchen contractors or best bathroom contractors. 

#2 Short Project Timeline

There is no denying that facelift remodeling will take the least amount of time to complete. Facelift remodeling has very straightforward processes to follow and products that are simple to install which shortens project timelines. Depending on the work being done, remove & replace remodeling may be able to match the timeline of a facelift project. But they would be hard-pressed to beat it.

#3 Minimal Effect on Lifestyle

Quick project timelines mean that your bathroom or kitchen might be a flurry of activity during the project. But the organized chaos will be short-lived and you can resume the full function of your space in record time. If your kitchen is under construction, this means limited days of eating out. And you won’t have to go knocking on a neighbor’s door to use their bathroom either.

3 Disadvantages of Facelift Home Renovation

  #1 Potential for Lesser Quality Work and Products

It is a fact of life that you get what you pay for. Less expensive products can be a great way to cut costs in a remodel project. However, you run the risk of also sacrificing the quality and longevity of those products. Solace Showers out of North Carolina explains it this way: 

“With the one-day shower installers and bath remodel price tags averaging over $9500 while using acrylics and fiberglass its like buying a plastic bowl for $25 when you could get a stainless steel bowl for $28. We’re not comparing apples to apples here, but instead apples to apple pie!…Lesson here…..be cautious with who you spend your money and make sure that you are a name in their books, not just another number.”

The same warning can apply to the work being done. Most facelift companies have certifications and training for their technicians but the speed at which these projects are completed can easily lead to missed steps. You may find yourself having to remodel again sooner than you would like. You could end up with higher expenses in the long run due to the need for repairs or replacements.

#2 Limited Customization and Flexibility

To be able to stock materials in-house, facelift renovation only offers certain products, colors, or patterns. If you are looking for a unique bathroom or kitchen, a facelift renovation company may not be the best fit for you. You will likely end up choosing products that many other people in your area have also selected. It is also much more difficult to find unique color palettes for your space, as shown below when you are limited on what you have to choose from.

However, if you want to avoid decision fatigue, having a limited selection could be appealing to you.

#3 Little to No Return on Investment

When a house is built, usually the builder will install inexpensive materials to cut his cost and maximize his profit. That’s just good business on his part! You may be considering remodeling your bathroom or kitchen because these builder-grade products have worn out or gone out of style.

The products that facelift companies install are very similar to builder-grade products. They will not increase the value of your home by very much. They are just a newer version of what you bought when you purchased your home.

Facelift remodeling has the advantage of making seemingly unattainable remodeling projects fit into a smaller budget and time scale. While the disadvantages can sound scary, you can avoid these problems by thoroughly vetting your chosen company. Reputable facelift remodeling companies will be aware of these problem areas and have solutions to minimize their impact.

Is Facelift Home Remodeling Right for My Home Renovation Project?

Home renovations can let you breathe a sigh of relief and relaxation when you enter your home. If you are looking for simple, quick, and inexpensive answers to your home issues, facelift remodeling may be the right road for you.

There will be many components to consider as you plan your remodel project. You may also want to explore other remodeling approaches to make sure that facelift remodeling is the right fit for you. At the beginning of this article, we mentioned that JSB is not a facelift remodel company. We do something that’s between facelift and full custom called remove & replace remodeling. If you found this article helpful, and think we could help you further, you must read about the advantages and disadvantages of remove & replace remodeling next to learn about what JSB does.

Success on your project starts by choosing the right company to partner with you in your journey. Start your search by narrowing down the type of contractor that you need and you will be on your way to building your dream home.