Plan ahead before Renovation
Planning a Successful Renovation
Be informed. Don't rush into renovations. Before you pick up a hammer, pick up a book or a few of our many publications on home renovation. Talk to friends and neighbours who have renovated. Get as much information as you can. Explore all the options. Make notes and drawings.
Remember the carpenter's creed: Measure twice, cut once. Mistakes on paper are easy and cheap to fix. Mistakes on the job site are much harder to correct and costly.
Is your renovation practical?
Maintenance renovations are not really a choice: you need to maintain your house to protect your investment. But lifestyle renovations, and even some retrofit renovation ideas, may not stand up to hard scrutiny. Be clear about your expectations. Learn when to draw the line between what is desirable and what is essential.
Almost any renovation you undertake will add to or, at least, protect the equity in your home, but kitchen and bathroom renovations and painting will normally give you the greatest payback when you come to sell. Any resulting increase in property taxes and insurance premiums is usually minor in comparison.
If you make your home more energy efficient, the money you save on energy and water over time may actually pay for the upgrades. Safety also pays. Insurance companies may decrease your premiums when upgrades for wiring, fire prevention and security are completed.
On the other hand, it's possible to overdo a good thing. If you are planning to move within a few years, will the renovation really be worth it? Will it pay to put on an expensive new addition when your house is located in an area of more modest homes?
Is your renovation adaptable?
It's best to take the long view when you're renovating. Your needs may change as time goes by. Try to build maximum flexibility and long-term usefulness into your design. For instance, some day you may want to convert a nursery room into a home office or bathroom. Putting the required wiring and plumbing runs in now will save you time and money later, and provide a selling feature if you decide to move in the interim.
Non-slip flooring, grab bars in the bathroom, extra-wide doorways and lever-type door handles can make your house more livable for an older person or someone who has disabilities. We call this kind of planning FlexHousing.
Is your renovation environmentally friendly?
The planning stage is also an opportunity to apply the principles of Healthy Housing housing that
promotes good health for its occupants
is energy efficient
conserves our natural resources
protects and preserves our environment
is affordable and adaptable
Design your renovation to maximize the use of natural light and passive solar energy. Install energy-efficient appliances, low-flow showerheads and water-saving toilets.
Where possible, choose building materials in a way that helps to conserve our natural resources. You could, for example, use salvaged lumber, or products made with recycled content to build your new addition. The materials you choose should also be durable and easy to maintain and less likely to give off toxic gases that would pollute your living space. Use construction techniques that minimize waste and toxic debris.
Think of your house as an ecosystem - and a part of the larger environment. Observing the Healthy Housing principles will help protect your family and community. And it won't necessarily cost you any extra: in fact, it may help you save money.