What is a characteristic of extensive renovations?

Extensive renovations are typically characterized by significant structural changes, which can involve alterations to the building's framework, envelope, or foundational elements. This may include reconfiguring the layout of rooms, adding or removing walls, upgrading systems such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, or even expanding the building's footprint. Such changes often require adherence to updated building codes and regulations, which can be more stringent than those in place at the time of the original construction.

In contrast, minor improvements focus on cosmetic updates or small-scale modifications without altering the building's structure, while minimal compliance changes do not involve substantial modifications to the code compliance requirements. Reduced resource requirements implies a lesser use of materials and labor, which does not align with the nature of extensive renovations that typically necessitate a more robust allocation of resources to accommodate the degree of change involved. Therefore, the characteristic of extensive renovations being significant structural changes accurately captures the essence of what such projects entail.