HOME RENOVATION: WHAT THE HECK DO I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE I START
So if you are looking at this page, I assume that you are considering doing some type of renovation. Now, it seems like you are not sure where to start, what you need and how to go around this. Here are a few things to consider before starting a renovation.
1. Determine your budget and estimate construction cost
Determine the budget and try to research whether it is possible to do what you need with the money you've got. Remember, you'll need to account for materials, labor and potentially building permits. I know this is something that no regular human being would have any idea about. However, there are many tools nowadays that can help you with that. Good place to inquire about construction cost would be websites like TrustedPros (Canada) or HomeAdvisor (US) or a local constructor. You will not receive an exact estimate unless you have all the drawings ready, materials selected and a constructor came to your house to estimate potential work. However, you can be provided with a ballpark figure such as dollar value per sq ft or an average cost of a project you have in mind. It's a good place to start in order to understand that the project you have in mind is feasible.
2. Get to know whether it can be done - building regulations
When it comes to building construction, there are number of regulations that one needs to comply with. In most cities, there are zoning by-laws that regulate what can be built and where. Compliance with zoning by-law comes into play when you want to change exterior of the building, add driveway, add a legal suite or an addition, etc. The regulated sections depend on the municipality, some are less and others are more restrictive.
Another set of regulations is a Building Code and Building Code Act. If you are in Canada, you have to comply either with the National Building Code or a provincial Building Code such as Ontario Building Code. Building Code regulates building safety, such as fire safety, structural and construction integrity, etc. Building Code Act regulated the procedures that one has to undertake during the construction project, starting from obtaining building permits, scheduling inspections, to obtaining occupancy permits.
There are also regulations that control your plumbing and electrical work, however if you hire a licenced electrician or plumber to do the work for you (which is advised), they should take care of that side of the project.
If you decide to do the renovation on your own and not to involve any design and construction professionals into your renovation, you still have to comply with all the rules whether you are aware of them or not. Not complying with the regulations can be very costly and sometimes come with hefty fines that any of us would like to avoid.
3. Decide whether you would like to hire professionals to help you
Now, a lot of those things that were described earlier can be made much easier on you if you decide to hire professionals (presumably you come across an ethical professional) to help you with your renovation. Depending on the type of the renovation, you would need different professionals.
For example, if you are just replacing your kitchen cabinets without touching any walls, plumbing or electrical work, you can just go to a company that specializes on renovating kitchens. They will take care of the design, supplying and installing new cabinets for you. They will also do other small jobs like installing backsplash. If you decide to take a more affordable way and purchase IKEA cabinets, you can do most of the work yourself and safe a lot of money that way (you will probably pay with your time and nerve cells, but that is the cost of saving money).
If you are planning a bigger job, such as adding or removing walls, cutting new windows, building an addition, in most municipalities you will require a building permit. Getting a building permit involves providing construction drawings and application forms to the city. As a house owner, a lot of municipalities will allow you to prepare and submit an application process on your own, however you still need to make sure that your design complies with the regulations. And if you decide to build on your own, you also need to make sure that your construction technique complies with the regulations.
A lot of companies offer free initial consultations, so you could consult with a number of companies for no cost before you are ready to make up your mind.
This should be enough to make you ask the right questions and decide whether your project is feasible. If you decide that it is, I am glad that you are making an informed decision and hopefully will avoid potential issues during your renovation.
Good luck and till the next post!