Ottawa Home Improvement Blog

In this life, sometimes we are given unmistakable signs of the inevitable.  Clouds mean rain.  Winter means cold.  And these 20 signs mean it’s time for kitchen renovations:

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … the plumbing under the sink is falling apart, and you run out of Band Aids.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … your guests all marvel at how you achieved such an “authentic” retro look.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … so many floor tiles have been chipped and filled in that visitors stop to guess “What is that a mosaic of?”

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … counters start to crack and chip. And fade. And swell. And moan with agony.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … mould accumulating in the corners is preparing to launch an assault on the refrigerator.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … your kitchen gadgets sign a petition demanding more space before letting in any more “immigrant gadgets” at Christmas.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … the lighting that served you so well in your 20s, no longer serves your octogenarian eyes.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … you can’t scrub the dirt off the kitchen cupboard doors, because it’s the dirt that holds them together.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … your smoke alarm strikes for overtime pay.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … you recount the highlights of past dinner parties corresponding to the knife cuts in your counter.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … cupboard bottoms and shelves start to sag more than your middle-aged body.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … hinges keep falling off and the Home Depot guy tells you that this time there are no bigger screws available.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … your brand new table is just as wobbly on the floor as the old one you replaced.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … your family anthem includes dishwasher grinding, refrigerator groans and oven clangs.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … the window panes and the windows drapes are starting to look suspiciously like the same colour.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … you run out of outlets for the latest “George Foreman grill”.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … you spill a glass of blueberry juice on the floor, and nobody notices.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … you no longer require mouse traps to repel rodents.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … you can’t decide what your kitchen smells like, a nauseous grizzly bear, a dying penguin or last Tuesday’s overcooked corned beef.

You know it’s time to redo your kitchen when … it looks like this:

The good news is that, with the economy still struggling to get back on its feet, prices for building material have dropped significantly.  So right now is a great time to plan some of those bathroom renovations you have been putting off.

The following 10 tips will help you complete your bathroom renovation with the minimum cost required to ensurte good quality.

1. Plan ahead
Planning ahead will not only help you to stay within budget but it will give you the needed time to find the best deals on materials. Many homeowners think a renovation is an all-or-nothing affair where you have to purchase everything right away, gut the room to the bare bones and then renovate. If you plan ahead, with design ideas and colour schemes, you can slowly acquire the needed items and materials as you find deals or sales. It takes a little research, but ultimately you will save some money.  Give yourself 4 or 5 months to search for the best deals on each item you’ll need..

2. Research for materials and prices
Planning ahead leaves you time to conduct research on materials and where to find better prices. Some specialty stores, specifically ceramic tile stores, sell off their old stock at a fraction of the price.  Timing is everything. You also search through the classified ads in your local newspaper or on the Internet to see who is trying to offload some excess materials.

3. Order Online
You can also save money by ordering materials online. Some online retailers have coupon codes available to reduce prices and many places offer the option to have the materials shipped to the store, which will save you money on shipping fees.

4. Never pay full price
As any good contractor knows, you should never pay full price for materials. Although they usually order it in bulk, Big Box Stores do not always have the best deal on materials, especially if you want to go with higher quality. Going through a contractor to get your materials is usually your best bet at getting insider discounts.

5. Go for quality materials
Just because they may initially be cheaper you should never go for the substandard materials. In the long run the cheap stuff may just end up costing you more to replace when it breaks or wears out. You’ll not only save money but ehadaches, as well, by choosing quality materials.

6. Replace or modernize
When doing a bathroom renovation you essentially have two choices, you can either replace it completely or modernize it. If you are just going for a different look and want to save some money, you can very simply modernize your bathroom with new fixtures, a fresh coat of paint or even have the bathtub and sinks reglazed. With some research, and careful planning you can give your bathroom a stylish update at a fraction of the cost of new materials.

7. Reuse items
Another way to save some money on your bathroom renovation is to reuse items that do not need changing or updating. Even if you are going for the full bathroom renovation you can still reuse certain items, such as vanities, toilets and even tile, and incorporate them into your new design.   You’ll also be doing the responsible thing for the environment.

8. Reduce items
There are many programs that are now offering rebates, credits or other incentives for upgrading to energy efficient products, such as installing water conserving low-flow toilets, faucets or showerheads. Taking advantage of these incentives will also help reduce your monthly utility expenses.  Just like choosing quality materials, an investment in reductions like this can save you money over the long-term.

9. DIY
If you are a bit handy there are parts of your bathroom renovation you may want to do yourself. Although this will help save you money be sure not to go outside your abilities as mistakes could cost you. When in doubt hire a professional. (You don’t want to pay to replace substandard workmanship any more than to replace substandard materials.)

10. Hiring Professionals
Hiring a professional is always a good idea. With building material costs down you are already saving money, but to save more make sure you get a few different quotes and to compare prices.  Remember, just because a quote may be cheaper, it does not necessarily mean the work will be better, so always get at least three references of a contractors works and take the time to look into them before making your decision.

In the world of home renovations there are many fears. The one fear common to all contractors and clients alike is the fear of drywall dust. Many renovators assure clients that the dust will be cleaned up, and try as they might, the dust seems to reappear despite best efforts.  However, drywall dust can actually be a homeowner’s best friend as there are a number of hidden benefits that are often overlooked. Things to do with drywall dust

• Lost your pen, can’t find a piece of paper? Write down those important things in the dust on a table.
• Need to find your pet in a hurry? Follow the trail of drywall footprints.
• Need to sneeze? Forget looking at a light, just having the drywall dust in the air will give you all the right conditions for a great big Ahchoo!
• Want to be an amateur detective? Examine fingerprints in the dust. Soon you will have all the skills as Sherlock Holmes.

Renovators fall into two camps; those who clean up dust right away and those who wait until later. For the most part now or later does not matter, as many renovators have not really taken the time to understand dust and how to properly deal with it. At ServiceBlocks Inc., our renovation team takes the time to look at problems and find practical solutions.

Our solution to drywall dust is simple and follows the following principle; dust on the move will never be caught!

• Contain: Seal off heating vents with plastic to protect the heating and ventilation system.
• Wait: Let dust settle to the floor.
• Cover: Apply a layer of Sweeping Compound – available at most building supply stores or janitorial supply.
• Sweep: Sweep the compound covered dust into a pile.
• Pick-up: Shovel piles into large heavy-duty garbage bags – 3-millimeter or better – and make sure no other items allowed in those garbage bags. A ripped bad will cause more clean-up time.
• Dispose: Remove garbage bag from worksite.
• Wipe Down: Wipe all walls and ceilings with a damp large automobile sponge, changing the water when streaks appear.
• Vacuum: Now is the time for the shop-vac with a HEPA filter. Start with the people on the job, removing dust from their clothing. Then vacuum the walls, nooks and crannies, then the floors and corners around the work area to pick up any remaining dust.
• Result: A clean works site ready for the next day’s work.
• Repeat: Stay on top of the process, by the end of the job the dust accumulation will be at a minimum, while the client appreciation will be at the maximum.

With this plan in mind, you will never have to fear drywall dust again.