Showrooms Online

Last Updated on February 21, 2022 by Showrooms Online

Home Renovations – Plan, Design, Build

Home renovations start with a dream. Then, you set your goals and complete the detailed design before you start to build. In fact, the design is the plan once your main goals and priorities are determined.

Step one is to be as clear as possible on what it is that you would like to do and why. All ideas are worth considering at this stage.

One option, always open at the beginning, is to do nothing. The further down the road you get, the more time, effort, and expense will be involved in changing direction.

Figure out how much you can afford. How much savings and financing are available? What you can afford to pay monthly, including mortgage or loan, utilities, maintenance, insurance, and taxes?

Your home renovation is now a home renovation project.

The Renovation Challenge

A homeowner will only do a renovation a couple of times in a lifetime, at most. Everyone else, from designers to suppliers to contractors and trades does this every day for a living. You face a steep learning curve.

Your project success depends on contracting with experienced and reliable people to do the work. But, how do you identify and choose the right professionals and companies? Also, when the market is busy, as it is in 2022, it becomes even difficult to find available contractors.

Renovation Alternatives

Renovation projects are generally larger and involve more design and coordination of trades than redecorating, improvements, and maintenance or equipment replacement. A new roof, a furnace replacement, new windows, new gutters, an upgraded electrical panel, or a new toilet can be done by calling a company that specializes in that service and having them come to do it. This is true even if you shop around and get competitive prices.

Renovations need a general contractor with a single responsibility for the design, permits, suppliers, and the various skilled trades involved from the various companies that will complete the work. The general contractor will assign a project manager to oversee the renovation. The project manager will be responsible for the coordination, scheduling, cost control, and quality control.

There are several alternative ways to execute a renovation project.

1. Hire an Architect or an Interior Designer and get quotes from several general contractors based on the completed design with drawings and specifications.
2. Hire a design-build contractor and have them do the design and the general contracting.
3. Be your own general contractor and hire the designer and coordinate the sub trades yourself, procure the materials and equipment, and get the approvals, permits,, and inspections as required.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Be Aware of Energy Code Requirements

There is any number of local bylaws, amendments, regulations, and standards that may apply to your project.

Your designer and contractor are the ones that need to keep up with the current code requirements. Currently, as a result of climate change, the energy codes are seeing the greatest number of changes and the evolution of best practices.

Your renovation may involve an opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of your home and save energy costs. The best practices of Net-Zero housing construction will likely exceed the current minimum requirements of the building codes in most areas. However, the extra cost may not be very great if it is done at the same time as a major renovation or replacement of windows or an existing HVAC system. There may be rebates that apply to further reduce the cost.

An energy-efficient home will enhance the value of your home.

Building Codes and Energy Efficiency, a related blog on Showrooms Online

The current goal is that all new housing will be net-zero-ready by 2030.

The Real Renovation Challenge

A homeowner can acquire the information and knowledge needed to launch into a renovation.

However, the experience of a general contractor is the key ingredient for a stress-free and successful renovation of any real size or complexity. Experience means you have seen all of it before and can anticipate problems. Experience also means you have a long-term working relationship with the sub-trades and suppliers and know their capabilities. The sub-trades also know that you know what to reasonably expect.

How To Be Your Own General Contractor?

You Just Found Your Reno Solution

Start by reading the book by Peter Glaw of Premier Quality Renovations

How to be Your Own General Contractor. It’s As Easy As 1-2-3

Peter has captured his experience of over 40 years as a renovator and home building contractor. If it were just that easy . . .

Reading the book is a great way to avoid some of the pitfalls. However, to quote Peter Glaw in the book- ” if you tried to be your own GC with only book learning as training, you’ll likely run into problems”

ONLINE RENOVATION CONSULTANTS

That’s not all.

Premier Quality Renovations also offers Renovation Consulting on-site and online.

An experienced builder holding your hand while you learn to be your own general contractor.

Let us be your online partner in completing your home improvements or renovations. Homeowners can execute their projects just as if your contractor were right beside you guiding you through every step of the renovation process.

Premier Access Card

The concept that ties this all together is the Premier Access Card. Premier Quality Renovations has years and years of working with various subcontractors and suppliers in the process of managing their own jobs. This is the network you need in order to function as a successful contractor.

Premier’s Access Card gives you wholesale prices at hundreds of trusted trades and suppliers. We’ve done the heavy lifting and vetted each and every company in our network. We’re adding more all the time.

You Just Found Your Reno Solution