Renovation

Why renovate? Well, there are many different reasons. Personal circumstances change that require your living requirements to also change, you find a puddle of water in the basement that requires immediate attention, or it is as simple as just wanting to change your surroundings. 

Renovating may be more practical and a cost-efficient solution than moving if you like where you live and plan to stay there for a while, the services and facilities of the community meet your needs, and/or if your home requires improvement.

In general, there are three types of renovation: lifestyle, retrofit, and maintenance and repair.

• Lifestyle renovations improve your home and your way of life. They might involve building a sun room for pleasure, or converting unused attic space into living quarters to meet your changing needs.
• Retrofit projects usually focus on your home's shell or mechanical systems. Examples are upgrading your insulation, replacing your furnace, or putting on new siding.
• Maintenance and repair renovations protect the investment you have made in your house through activities such as caulking windows, reshingling your roof, or replacing your eavestroughs.

Getting Started

Careful planning is the key to a successful renovation.  When you renovate your home, the most important decisions need to be made before the work begins. With today's housing technology, you can increase the comfort of your home significantly by making it healthier and more energy efficient. This means better living for you and also helps to protect our environment by reducing greenhouse gasses and other pollutants.

Whether you are renovating to improve your living space, or simply making necessary repairs to your home, careful planning lets you get the most from your home renovation dollars.

The first step is to set renovation goals that reflect your lifestyle and priorities. By defining what you want to achieve, the contractors and tradespeople you hire will be able to deliver better results.

There are a number of steps you should take to begin the planning process.

• First, write down your specific goals-the things you want to change in your home.
• Second, give some thought to both your current and future needs, so that renovations made today will accommodate changes in your lifestyle later.
• Third, put together a wish list of the things that must be included in the project as well as other items you would like to include, if your budget allows.

These three steps will help clarify your renovation goals and priorities - essential information when you begin talking to contractors.

Do your research and get as much information you can - Browse through display homes, go to home shows and housing seminars or workshops, get literature from your local Home Builders Association, pick up a book or a video on home renovation and talk to friends and neighbours who have renovated.  

Explore all your options, mistakes are easy and inexpensive to fix­ during the planning stage. Mistakes on the job are not.

There are a number of questions that you can ask yourself to make sure you're heading in the right direction.

1. Is Your Renovation Practical?  While maintenance renovations are not really a choice - they are part of owning a home and protecting your investment - lifestyle renovations and even some retrofit plans may not be practical or do-able.
   
   Be clear about your expectations - determine your needs versus wants.
   
   Almost any renovation will add to, or at least protect, the equity in your home, but kitchen and bathroom renovations and painting normally provide the greatest payback if or when you sell.



2. Are you getting your Money's Worth? Over time, the money you save on heat, light and water by making your home more energy efficient may actually pay for the upgrades.  
   
   On the other hand, if you plan to move within a few years, is the renovation worth it? Will it pay for itself in the time you plan to stay there?  



3. Is your Renovation Adaptable? Look ahead, because your needs are bound to change as time goes by. Try to build the most flexibility and long-term usefulness into your design.  For instance, some day you may want to convert a nursery into a home office. Installing the required wiring now will save you time and money later.



4. Are you making your home healthier? Today, Canadians are much more aware of the link between indoor environments and their health. Poor ventilation, moisture-related mold problems and many common chemicals released in the home can affect your health and well-being.
   
   Home renovations provide the ideal opportunity to make your home a healthier place to live. This is especially important if you or a member of your household suffer from allergies, asthma or other health-related conditions that can be aggravated by poor air quality. As part of your renovation planning, you should determine whether there are any areas of your home that have moisture or air-quality problems that need attention.
   
   Ensuring that your home is a healthy place to live will not only increase your comfort, it will protect your investment-many of the conditions that cause poor air quality can also lead to deterioration of a home's structure. A healthy house is not only better for you and your family; it also makes environmental sense by conserving resources.

Step-By-Step Guide to Renovations

From the first idea to the finished project, there's a great deal to think about when you decide to renovate. By following the eight steps listed below, you'll make sure you have answers to all the important questions, and have a well-laid plan for getting the job done.

Step 1. Set your priorities
Step 2. Know your options and limitations
Step 3. Can you afford to renovate?
Step 4. Picking your Contractor and Tradespeople
Step 5. Get it in writing
Step 6. Living through the renovation
Step 7. Safety first
Step 8. Inspect your expectations
Step 9. A job well done

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