The art of home renovation
We're never really happy, are we? Whether you're a first-time homeowner or an empty nester with grand plans for the kids' vacated rooms, chances are you have got a list of projects in mind to make your house your dream home. Unfortunately, reality-in the form of limited finances-often gets in the way of achieving our dreams. But it doesn't have to be that way. With a little planning and some creative ideas, you can shave dollars off the cost of renovations and get what you really want.
Do it yourself
There's something to be said for a professional job. But if you're a reader of this magazine, odds are you're pretty handy. And there's no better way to save money on renovation projects than doing them yourself.
Even if you don't have the time or patience to tackle an entire project, such as a kitchen makeover, for example, you can reduce the bottom line by doing parts of it yourself.
Ever since the time a friend handed me a sledgehammer and crowbar and said, “Take down that wall,” I've been partial to DIY demolition. It can be a great stress release and you don't have to be as finicky as you do at the finishing stage. Just make sure you have a clear understanding with your contractor about what goes and what stays.
If you're comfortable with pipe cutters and a torch, you can save money by doing your own plumbing rough-ins or, easier still, by connecting the new fixtures. Even some seemingly intimidating tasks are pretty straightforward, once you know how to do them. Check out DIY books, TV shows and magazines for how-to inspiration and guided steps. You can replace that dated pink toilet with a stylish, modern commode in less than an hour, for example, and save yourself a couple hundred dollars in the process (see “Price Check”).
At the end of the job, painting is something any budget-conscious renovator should consider doing themselves.
Contractor shopping
Whether you plan on pitching in or leaving the whole thing to the pros, when it comes to choosing a contractor, this can't be stressed enough: you must get a minimum of three estimates.
This past summer, my wife and I solicited estimates for a relatively minor basement reno project that involved moving part of a non-load-bearing wall to make better use of the space. Of the five estimates we had, the quotes ranged from $2,000 to more than $11,000 for the exact same job. An added bonus to multiple quotes is that each contractor can suggest different ideas, products or options for doing things that you probably wouldn't have thought of on your own.
One almost guaranteed way to save money is to use a (recommended) independent contractor for smaller projects. By having the guy or gal who's going to do the work come and give you the estimate, you automatically eliminate a salesperson's commission, which adds about 10 per cent to the cost of most home-improvement jobs. Larger renovation companies also build in their numerous costs of doing business-fancy showrooms, support-staff salaries and so on-into the price of every job they sell.
This is certainly not to say that you shouldn't use a reputable home-
improvement company. In fact, for larger projects, such as an addition or custom-built home, you're better off using a large company.
“Good project managers are worth their weight in gold,” says Susan Easson, author of The Wise Renovator. Not only do project managers have a solid grasp of the order in which various tradesmen need to be called in, they also have a stable of contacts they keep regularly employed to get you a better rate. In the Toronto market, Easson says, a well-connected project manager “can get an electrician for about $40 an hour, [while] a DIYer homeowner calling an electrician from the phone book is going to be looking at about $75 an hour.”
Material world
While there's certainly some truth to the saying “you get what you pay for,” sometimes you can pick up a lot more for a lot less. For almost any home-reno project, there are a number of choices in products and materials that can make or break a budget.
“With kitchen and bathroom renovations in particular, finishing materials are what dictate the amount that project is going to cost,” says Easson.
It becomes a matter of picking and choosing what's right for you. Do you spend $1,200 or $200 on a kitchen faucet? A granite countertop is gorgeous, but you can have laminate installed for half the price. (That said, Ed McDonald, owner of Victoria's MAC Renovations, says counters might be one area in which to splurge: “When you're trying to make a cheaper kitchen look nicer, the countertops are what people notice.”) Custom cabinets are nice, but you can pick up ready-made, mix-and-match components for a fraction of the cost. Ikea's DIY kitchens, for example, start at $65 per linear foot. And the range in flooring runs from peel-and-stick linoleum starting at less than $1 per sq. ft. to marble tiles at $20 or more for the same dimensions.
Trim is another area in which you can save money. If you're going to paint window casings and baseboards, you can buy finger-joint or composite products for a third less than their solid-wood equivalents.
Similar logic applies to outdoor projects. “The same deck design can go for $7,000 in pressure-treated wood and up to $20,000 in composite,” says Your Deck Company's Todd Mounsey.
Material choices made, you can save even more money by shopping around. You don't even have to leave the house to do it. A few minutes online or a couple of phone calls and you can easily find out who has the cheapest lumber, drywall or light fixtures. While I've done both to research pricing, I'm generally a more tactile person and like to have things in my hand to help suss out what they're worth. I'm lucky enough to have a plaza near my downtown Toronto home with a Rona, Home Depot and monster-sized Canadian Tire. Always budget-conscious, I'll gladly criss-cross the parking lot to save a dime per board foot of lumber here, a few dollars on light fixtures there. (Prices should get even more competitive when the U.S. chain Lowe's begins to open its first Canadian stores sometime in 2007.)
But don't limit your shopping to the big-box stores. Habitat for Humanity runs ReStore outlets across the country at which you can pick up discount renovation supplies, at the same time reducing landfill waste and helping to support the organization's homebuilding projects. Web shoppers know they can find anything imaginable on eBay or Craigslist. And my wife has picked up everything from a chandelier to area rugs at the local auction house for a fraction of what those furnishings retail for new.
Finally, ask your contractor for advice. Many have trade discounts from suppliers that they can pass on to you. They may even have old samples or mis-ordered windows and doors cluttering up their warehouse that they'd be happy to sell for a song.
Regardless of project size, Easson advises homeowners to make a list of all the finish materials they'll need and to “start shopping around before construction. That way, you're not feeling pressured and rushing into decisions.”
That's good advice to take as you budget for your next big reno.
Reno rebates
Although the federal government has cancelled the national EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive program that provided rebates to Canadians who improved the energy efficiency of their homes (see “Feds Pull the Plug,” CHW, September 2006, page 74), there are still numerous programs offering cash for energy-efficient upgrades.
Enbridge Gas in New Brunswick is offering up to $2,700 off the cost of converting to natural-gas heating and hot-water systems-plus Natural Resources Canada (NRC) kicks in an additional $400 for the water tank. On the other side of the country, BC Hydro gives customers a $1 per sq. ft. rebate for installing Energy Star-labelled windows. And, in countless communities in between, you can get a price break on everything from water-conserving toilets and washing machines to energy-efficient kitchen appliances. Contractors and retailers should know which programs are available in your area. There's also a list of programs on the NRC Office of Energy Efficiency website at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca.
Prep work
Before you start calling contractors to get estimates, you should have a pretty clear idea of what exactly you want done. As the saying goes, time is money.
“The more information you give me about what you want to do with the space, the less time I have to spend coming up with a design that's going to suit you,” says Todd Mounsey, a deck builder and regular Canadian Home Workshop contributor. “The less time I have to spend designing it, the more you'll save.”
Price check
Here's a sampling of estimated renovation costs for a professional contractor, compiled from the website, ontariocontractors.com. Of course, prices will vary by province and even from one city to the next. But they can help you judge if an estimate seems fair. You'll find a more thorough list on the website.
Project (incl. materials) Estimated fees
Replace asphalt shingles $1.50-$1.75/sq. ft.
Replace aluminum or vinyl siding $1.50-$6/sq. ft.
Install a wood deck $15/sq. ft. and up
Install a bow or bay window $1,200 and up
Install a skylight $1,000 and up
Replace kitchen cabinets $150/linear foot and up
Replace kitchen counter $20/linear foot and up
Replace a toilet $225 and up
Upgrade electrical to 100 amp with new breakers $650-$900
Install light switches $10-$20
