Perhaps you’ve spent the winter months studying the interior of your house, considering the possible improvements, but not sure where to start. Kitchen remodelling is long overdue, an unfinished basement has potential as a family room, or maybe another bedroom needs to be added on. Before launching on those long awaited renovations, take time to decide exactly what will give you the most satisfaction for your present and future lifestyle.
Our climate restricts us to remaining indoors most of the winter time. So it is generally better to upgrade the interior before doing a major overhaul of the the exterior. But if you like the outdoors, consider ways to bring the outside in. For example, rather than adding on a deck which may be used only a limited number of days in the summer, a dining room extension with large windows will take advantage of natural light all year round. This will create the feeling of being connected with the outdoors, from the comfort of indoors, even during the winter months.
There are a number of ways to improve the living conditions inside the house. The cheapest way is to rearrange the spaces inside the confines of the existing exterior walls. You can take advantage of present wasted space which is usually the result of a poorly laid out floor plan. Rooms can become larger or smaller, or shaped to match a particular function. When rearranging walls expect repairs and replacements to finish materials, and possible relocation of plumbing and electrical items.
The next most expensive type of renovation is expanding the present building size. Extensions are possible to the side, front or rear, depending on the limits imposed by municipal regulations. Some modifications to the existing structure are usually required, and expect some impact to the exterior appearance.
The most expensive type of renovating is expanding upwards. Due to land restrictions adding a full or partial story is sometimes the only alternative available. Reinforcement of existing structural members is required, with the corresponding removal of finishes for construction access. The exterior cladding may require complete replacement, especially if the existing type is no longer available.
A common renovation project is adding an apartment for rental income. The house is then considered to be subdivided into two separate dwellings and additional fire safety measures are required. All walls and floors between the two areas must be constructed as fire separations, so if a fire breaks out in one area it will not quickly spread to the other area. As well, each dwelling unit must have an independent fire escape route. When purchasing a house with an apartment, check if the property is registered with the local municipality to ensure conformance with fire safety regulations.
If you are satisfied with the interior of your house, and have decided to make exterior improvements, numerous design opportunities are presented. The aesthetics can be dramatically enhanced and the exterior can be redesigned with an architectural style. Replacement of windows goes hand in hand with new siding, and the window sizes and shapes can be changed at the same time. The shape and style of windows can make or break the look of the house. By selecting correctly proportioned windows the house will have a unified, coherent appearance and increased resale value.
Start any renovation project with a list of things to be changed. The more detailed things are beforehand in written and drawing form the better. Contractors’ prices will be more accurate, and you will have better control during construction by knowing where you are going.
Be prepared for a few headaches along the way, especially if you intend to occupy during construction work. But with good advance planning, any temporary inconvenience will be minimized.
