Renovation Talk - Advice you want to hear

Contributed by Bonnie Moore, Patefacio Design Inc.

As a self-taught kitchen designer/design manager for a large builder, I must say that I am in a small category of people that can visualize and conceptualize from a floor plan or blueprint. Most people need to see it.

When beginning any project, whether it be swapping a faucet, a weekend project or a full kitchen renovation, it begins with the concept of your idea, your dream and your vision. A designer helps guide your vision into reality. Sometimes the reality is different from the expectation. Inevitably, issues will arise. This is how avoid those pitfalls. Plan, plan, and then plan again. The more prepared you are for a renovation or change, the more smoothly the project will move ahead.

Start with the simple things to execute. Keep detailed notes. Meetings, phone calls, receipts and selections. Your headaches will be eased if you keep track.

If your General Contractor doesn’t keep the area tidy, hire a cleaning lady. It’s important to keep it clean of debris, not only for your safety, but to actually see the progress moving ahead. Your time is valuable, hire someone to assist and ease the agony of staying on top of it all. Keep in mind that trades are required to wear their safety boots in your home.

It is imperative to set and stay on (or close to) your budget. Many clients say they are not sure of the budget, which is a sure fire way to go over. Work with your designer to determine a close estimate. You may believe that $10,000 is a reasonable amount when in reality you have envisioned $230,000 worth of work. Additionally, factor in a 5% contingency for overlooked costs.

I hear horror stories of people get into a renovation and half way through the project they realize that they cannot afford to finish it as they envisioned, which are heartbreaking! Here are some steps to help bring the financial anxiety of renovating to a minimum.

Change Orders. It is going to happen where there will be a change of plan, design or product. Original quotes are created from your plan. Your trade’s people will adjust this for any changes. So when something changes, the client should expect a change order fee to be attached to the final invoice.

Order Extra. Particularly when it comes to a special order item. It is my recommendation that you always order 10% extra more tiles. If you need to move a wall or change the layout you will have enough to cover it. If you need to order more later, you run the risk of it being out of stock, being more costly, having a long shipping time, or an even larger problem of possibly no colour match! I also recommend that you keep a few extra tiles to replace a broken tile later on.

Deadlines. Be ready for your project to go over in time, have extra meals prepared, a few extra dollars tucked away and plan a yoga class to reduce your stress! With each renovation you need several trades such as framers, plumbers, electricians, tilers and flooring installers. Many times there can be 2-8 people on the premises at the same time. When a project begins, you or your General Contractor will set a schedule of who is there and when.

Search for qualified trades. Although referrals are excellent, it is also a good idea to look into how long your contractor has been in operation. It will speak to their longevity. Look at work they have done. Are they licensed, bonded and insured (Liability, WSIB, etc.)? Do they carry the New Home Warranty?

There will be something that just can’t be completed to perfection. Staircases, framing dimensions, trim that may change, windows that can’t be moved; not every item can be symmetrically installed to 100% accuracy. The backsplash in my own project is a daily bee in my bonnet! Because of the shape of the tile I chose and the location of the window, it has 1-1/2 tiles on one side of the window and a full tile on the other side to keep the pattern in line throughout the whole backsplash. This really bothers a designer who thinks in symmetry!

To confidently go full steam into a renovation, plan, plan, and plan again. The more prepared you are for a renovation, the smoother the project will move ahead. Just remember two things. One, it’s a renovation and you are in a temporary situation. Two, this is a bonus that is of huge benefit to your home and the function of your family. So, relax, enjoy some meals out, and keep your minds eye on the end result!

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