House renovations is always stressful and just having a decision on what renovation company to go with is not enough.
We've came along with some frequently asked questions to help you understand the process and be prepared to your renovations.
The main thing to remember, in case your main goal is adding a value to your home, is no matter which areas you decide to focus on, make sure your renovation budget is relative to the overall value of your house. If prices are modest in your neighborhood, for instance, there’s no point in installing a new state-of-the-art kitchen or a fancy outdoor fireplace.
General House Renovation FAQ
Before you start knocking down walls, consider the costs of the renovations you’re undertaking, and compare this to the return you’ll see on the money you’re spending. That new bathroom, for example, may look great, but do you know if it will make a sufficient return on your investment when it comes time to sell?
Ultimately, the answer to this question depends on the area that you live, the condition of the property, as well as where your home fits within your neighborhood. It is more likely to estimate around a 50% return on kitchen and bathroom renovations, for example. While for every dollar you spend on turning a three-bedroom home into a four-bedroom one, you’re likely to double your money.
Generally speaking, most experts agree that a good return on your investment is at least double what you spend on it. For example, a $5,000 kitchen renovation should ideally result in a $10,000 increase in the value of your home.
This is difficult to answer, as different work in different parts of the house will cost varying amounts. E.g. If you are simply adding a new wall to create a new bedroom, the cost is lower than adding a new bathroom. To change the external perimeter of your home, you will need to involve an architect and engineer, which will add costs. If you only need internal modifications but want to update your kitchen, bathroom and ensuite, they are the three most expensive areas of your home to change - your costs will be more significant.
Once the concept plans are completed and approved by you, Toronto House Renovation can provide an accurate price estimate.
When making the changes to plumbing, drainage or electrics, then you may require a permit or at the very least an inspection by the relevant authority. A direct replacement of old and worn out fixtures will not need consent. All structural changes need consent. Laws vary for each province; so ensure you check with your renovation builder.
FAQs for a kitchen renovation
To get on your way to getting your new dream kitchen, start by gathering together ideas, designs, and your own thoughts to a new kitchen scrapbook. This might be a physical book with written, printed and cut out ideas. Or for the modern world a collection of web-links in a favorites file. This step can take as long or as short as you like.
Measure up the available space for the new kitchen.
You will need a professional measure later in the process however it is important to make a start on your design. The available space might include removal of walls and other building works like windows and doors. Measure as if these were already complete.
Importantly also make a list of the appliances that you are intending to build into your new kitchen. Model numbers are usually enough to find the accurate dimensions online. Your new kitchen cabinets will need to be able to accommodate these whether they are new or recycled from your current kitchen.
This is difficult to answer, as different work in different parts of the house will cost varying amounts. E.g. If you are simply adding a new wall to create a new bedroom, the cost is lower than adding a new bathroom. To change the external perimeter of your home, you will need to involve an architect and engineer, which will add costs. If you only need internal modifications but want to update your kitchen, bathroom and ensuite, they are the three most expensive areas of your home to change - your costs will be more significant.
Once the concept plans are completed and approved by you, Toronto House Renovation can provide an accurate price estimate.
When making the changes to plumbing, drainage or electrics, then you may require a permit or at the very least an inspection by the relevant authority. A direct replacement of old and worn out fixtures will not need consent. All structural changes need consent. Laws vary for each province; so ensure you check with your renovation builder.
FAQs for a bathroom renovation
Yes, you can. You need to consider the condition of the existing tiles, the additional weight of the new tile and ensure you use the right adhesive. The existing tiles and grouting must be thoroughly cleaned, otherwise the adhesive will not bond. Remove the glaze off the existing tiles with a sander or grinder for better adhesion.
Heat pumps are popular. They usually come with a built-in extractor fan and as long as your ceiling is a standard height, you will feel the maximum warmth from the lamps. A more luxurious option is radiant floor heating. Electrically-heated coils or tubing are installed under your bathroom flooring and provide heat from the ground up. A plug-in heated towel rail is another relatively inexpensive option.
Typically a bathroom will take between 4 - 6 weeks depending on the degree of difficulty and amount of tiling involved. Acrylic shower option and minimal tiling is around 3 weeks and a fully tiled bathroom with custom glass can be 5 - 6 weeks.
FAQs for a staircase renovation
There are a host of options for getting you to the next level. Each style delivers patterns and shapes that can visually elevate the look and feel of your home.
L shape or Quarter turn stairs offer the simplest solution to maximizing space constraints especially in corner locations. They create a sense of privacy and can also contain sound transmission between the floors. The L-shape occurs when a flight is split in two and connected by a 90°- quarter turn landing. A 180° (U) turn is known as a half landing. Winder steps are used to navigate 90° turns without a landing. They require less space than other types of stairs but are deemed less safe. They are more commonly used as secondary staircases.
Floating stairs in their truest form are straight flights, cantilevered from the wall so they appear to hang in space.
Spiral staircases literally pivot around a center-pole. They add an attractive organic form and work best where space is limited. On the flip-side they can be difficult to climb and impractical for moving larger items. Best suited as a secondary staircase.
A curving staircase is usually found in larger homes. Elegant, and easy to climb they do require more space and are considered the most difficult to build, therefore more expensive. An opulent bifurcated staircase climbs to a landing before bifurcating (splitting) at either end into two smaller flights. Best suited for atrium and grand entrance-ways.
There are three things, that should be considered before planning your staircases:
- Budget. As with any renovation your budget will dictate the style and size of your stairs plus balustrade, and the materials you use to construct them.
- Space. Be mindful of how much room you actually have.
- Safety. The primary function of stairs is to provide safe access between floors. The safest staircases are those with a landing and a return.