Home renovations are inherently noisy. With hammers hammering, drills drilling and workers scurrying in and out of your space, the noise, hustle and bustle of it all can be overwhelming. During a home reno, your first instinct is probably to find a different place to stay, but, this may not be necessary. In certain situations, staying at home is the best choice. Plus, you get to avoid costs associated with finding temporary accommodation. Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not to stay at home during your renovation:
1. Safety
There are different types of home renovations – some safer than others. The safety level of your renovation is a huge factor when deciding whether to stay put or move out for the time being. Major roof remodeling, wood floor refinishing and asbestos or mold removal are examples of projects that definitely require moving due to health and safety concerns. In cases like these, there’s really no decision to make. Always prioritize your health and safety above anything else.
2. Timeline
Before packing your bags and hurrying into a hotel, you want to consider the timeline of your renovation. Some projects can be completed in less than a month, so you’ll be able to have your space to yourself in no time. However, for bigger renovations like kitchen remodels which take over a month to complete, you may want to look into housing options as it can be difficult dealing with the noise and clutter for an extended period of time.
3. Project scale
It’s important to think about the scale of your renovations. Some projects like a complete home remodel, make it practically impossible to live at home while they’re being worked on, while others only place little restrictions on your movement within the home.
4. Access to necessities
Regardless of the scale of your renovation, you have to consider the access you have to necessities such as your bathroom, kitchen or even your home office. As a general rule of thumb, when a home reno restricts access to any part of the home you consider an integral part of your day-to-day routine, it’s probably best to live elsewhere for the time being.
5. Effects on project outcome
Some homeowners choose to stay at home during a renovation to avoid excess costs. However, in some cases, trying to avoid these costs can actually affect the project outcome. Living at home could extend the timeline of your renovation as workers have to adjust their schedules to accommodate your daily routine – and the longer the timeline, the higher your budget. If your presence in the home stops workers from doing their work efficiently, moving out may be a better choice. Your bank account will thank you for it!
6. Personal boundaries
As previously mentioned, renovations come with a lot of noise. Depending on the project, you may have restricted access to various parts of your home. Also, different tradesmen coming in and out of your space could impact your privacy. It’s up to you to decide whether or not you can deal with the impacts of a home reno on your day-to-day life. This may even be the biggest factor to consider.
Deciding where to stay during a home renovation isn’t as cut and dry as it seems. However, if your project has a short timeline, is small in scale and affects small unintegral parts of your home, then it’s okay to live in while renovations occur.
Thinking of renovating your home? Get in touch with us today!
When remodeling their homes, many often ask “do I really need an interior designer?” It may seem like an unnecessary expense up front, or even a bit frivolous, however, if you are spending time and money on remodeling your house, it may very well be worth it. Here are some reasons why.
1. Save Yourself Some Money
When doing a remodel, paying an interior designer might not seem like it will save you money, but creating a cohesive look in your home can be a daunting task, and costly mistakes can easily be made. For example, do you know with certainty that the paint colour you picked will work with your lighting and furniture choices? Or if you’re shopping for furniture, are you certain that you’ll be just as happy having it in your home as you were seeing it on the showroom floor?
Additionally, a designer will know how to get the best value out of your design budget. They work with you to ensure you understand where every dollar of your money is going. Plus, they have access to resources and know of products that you may not even be aware of. This will save you endless hours of researching and comparing products and prices, which, of course, is valuable when you have other important things to attend to.
2. Increase Your Home’s Future Resale Value
Hiring an interior designer can help boost the appeal of your home when you eventually decide to sell. Their professional touches can add an appealing aesthetic to your home, which translates into an increase in showings. Plus, this increased appeal means your house will sell faster and won’t be sitting on the market for an extended period of time, which means money in your pocket much sooner.
3. Receive Invaluable Professional Guidance
A good designer can help you determine your personal style without pushing their own preferences and style on you. While they may give some nudges to help you think of ideas that you haven’t thought of yourself, they’ll be adaptable in integrating your feedback and personal tastes. Also, they are trained to expand on your vision and bring it to life. A lot of designers also offer 3D modeling or sketch boards to help you visualize what your new space will look like. With that being said, it’s always good to choose someone who takes the time to understand your tastes and your lifestyle. If it doesn’t feel like a good fit when speaking with a prospective interior designer, move on until you find someone you can trust and connect with.
4. Get the Wow Factor
Have you ever walked into a showhome, seen photos online, or visited a showroom and said ‘wow! how did they do that? This looks fantastic!’? Designers are always the ones behind the vision that make people feel an ineffable sense of awe. They are the ones that bring all the components of a room together beautifully. And rightfully so – they do this all the time! They are trained to think differently and can see the overall picture of a room while knowing the little components that pull it together. With an interior designer, not only will you get good design, you’ll also get an attention to detail that ensures everything fits perfectly and is truly unique to you and your home.
It can be difficult to determine your bathroom remodel budget because of the many components that go into making a bathroom functional and beautiful. There are countertops to choose from, bathtubs to consider, and design styles to sift through. Here are some things to keep in mind when building a bathroom renovation budget:
Set a budget as early in the process as you can
Ideally, the bathroom renovation process starts months before the first hammer falls. This ensures that you can come into the process well informed about the products you’d like, and set realistic expectations about how a remodeler can work within your budget. While your cost estimates may change as you learn more about the options and your project goals, having a realistic budget in mind helps guide the entire process.
Deciding on the scope of work
Your budget will largely be dependent on your project’s scope of work. Of course, just replacing a bathroom vanity is cheaper than a full gut-and-replace renovation. The scope of work will also affect soft costs – the larger the job, the more time a remodel will take so things like jobsite cleanup, debris removal, and project management will cost more.
Your cost will also be dependent on the amount of design work needed, as well as building permits, especially if you plan on removing walls, rewiring lighting, or rerouting plumbing. If layout changes are required, expect the total cost of the remodel to increase by 10-20%.
Which bathroom are you remodeling?
The bathroom you remodel also affects the overall cost. For example, a powder room (or small half bath) will be a lot less costly than a hall bath or master bath because there are less materials, and less hours required to complete the renovation. For reference, a powder room remodel takes 2 to 3 weeks, a hall bathroom takes 3-4 weeks, and a master bathroom can take 6-8 weeks.
Average costs for vanities
If you’re looking to update your bathroom for the lowest cost, replacing the vanity and countertop can make a huge difference. This can be done inexpensively with an all-in-one vanity (where the cabinet, counter and sink are included). Alternatively, you can go the custom route.
All-in-one vanities are a great option to save money, but be aware that the quality varies significantly. For this reason, you’ll see whole packages ranging from $200 to $3,000. There are limitations to all-in-one vanities though – they come in limited style and size options that may not work with your personal tastes or bathroom layout.
A custom vanity, on the other hand, is designed and ordered to fit your space, and comes in a multitude of design options, including custom storage solutions and detailing work on cabinet doors. Custom vanities start around $1,000, and go up from there, depending on the level of detail you want. However, unlike all-in-one vanities, you will need a sink (which can range from $50 to over $2000) and a countertop.
Average cost for countertops
Every countertop material has its advantage and disadvantages, so it’s a personal decision to weigh price versus quality of materials. Laminate countertops are the cheapest option at $40-65 per square foot, but aren’t as durable as stone options. Granite countertops are durable and versatile, but can run you around $50-$200 per square foot. And unlike laminate, you can’t just buy what you need – you’ll have to buy a slab and have it cut to your bathroom’s dimensions. Resin countertops will cost about $50-$125 per square foot and are very durable – an attractive option if granite is too pricey.
Average cost for bathtub and showers
Again, the cost is largely dependent on your choice of materials and style. If you are looking to replace and install a bathtub or shower, it will cost between $1,500-$6,000 plus the cost of labour. There may also be other costs associated with replacing a bathtub or shower, such as moving walls, re-plumbing, and installing a new waterproofing system.
Do you have any questions about how much it will cost to renovate your bathroom? Give us a call today at 289.780.0748 for a free, no-obligation estimate.
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