by Nisha Sharma

Home improvements are a great way to bring up the property value of your house. However, there are some hazards that you should avoid when you are making improvements to your home. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they are renovating their homes is over-expanding. When a homeowner over-expands their house, they tend to add more features than is necessary for basic living. Over-expanding and ensuring fire safety of a home not only costs a lot of money to complete, it can bring up the utility costs as well. Avoid over-expanding your home unless you plan on living there for a very long time.

Another hazard that people should avoid when making home improvements is changing the general architecture. If you have a stylized home –a rancher for instance- you should not be implementing modernized aspects such as doors or windows. When you go to sell the house, potential buyers could be turned off by this strange transformation. In the same vein as this, people should also avoid changing the function of a room in their home. Sure, turning a spare bedroom into a game room is fine, but leave your bathroom as a bathroom.

There is a major difference between a “do-it-yourselfer” and a contractor. If you have a leaky faucet or a spot on your floor, feel free to fix the issue. However, a professional should always do home improvements. If you are looking to expand a room, install a bathroom or rewire any part of your house, you should always have a professional complete the task. There are a lot of codes in residential living that you should be aware of. If not, you could be setting a fire hazard or breaking residential code.

If you do decide to make home improvements yourself or through a contractor it’s best to over budget than to under budget. One of the most frequent hazards of home improvements is under budgeting for a renovation. And under budgeting doesn’t just refer to money. Knowing the amount of time that your home is going to be in disarray is essential to keeping a schedule for your home improvement. This is why it’s best to go through a contractor. Contractors know how to keep schedules and will get your improvements done within that time frame.

Once the home improvements are done on your home, it is important to maintain them. Making sure that you are cleaning the gutters and checking for any termites in your improvement is essential to keeping your improvement in good standing. If you aren’t keeping up with your improvements, the work will be for nothing.

Home improvements are great for any home. They can expand the functionality of the house while giving you more of a return if you are thinking about selling the property. But if you are going to make improvements to your home, there are hazards you should avoid. Follow this guideline before you start your home improvements and you should see a great return on your initial investment.

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About the Contributor

My name is Nisha Sharma, I am the Editor for FireSafetyStore.co.uk. If you would like to find out more information about fire safety products, such as fire blankets, fire extinguisher, or for safety items around the home feel free to visit my site.

by miltteacom

In the United States and around the world, subway glass tiles have played an integral part of our underground transit history. Admired for its beauty, while recognized for its amazing durability, the classic 3×6 subway glass tiles have stood the test of time. Glass subway tiles made their entrance upon the opening of the New York City Subway in 1904.

The small white subway tiles covered all the walls of the underground transit system, giving a timeless and artistic elegance for millions of travelers and visitors to see. Their mosaic artwork gave elegance and inspired many other subway systems throughout the globe, to follow in their path. Even today, much of the original tiles and artwork remain intact, and are still the prime choice when new subway walls and floors when designed.

A Natural Transition

Are you looking for an economical and cost-effective choice when doing renovations for the home? Then let us introduce you to the subway glass tile. With an endless selection of colors, textures and finishes, the subway glass tile’s versatility, eloquence, and durable surface, make it an irresistible choice for any home. Glass tiles have a depth of beauty that is simply unmatched by the finest ceramic tiles. Incorporating these tiles into your home is comparable to enhancing every area with a unique beauty, a showcase of artwork all on its own.

A Wise Choice

There are so many advantages when choosing this beautiful tile to install in your home. They are impervious to moisture and heat, making them an ideal, economical, and practical choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and even swimming pools. Whether you are considering subway glass tiles for a kitchen backsplash or a beveled edge subway tile for your bathroom or shower walls, you will never be disappointed. When you bring this timeless classic tile design into your home, you join and share in the echoes of its rich historical past.

With the combination of fresh and vivid colors of glass, and the traditional design of ceramic subway tiles, a new design has been created catching the eyes of high-end designers, especially in trendy restaurants. Restaurant owners know how important it is that their image and structures reflect just the right ambiance, while preserving its beauty. Subway glass tiles withstand heavy traffic, while easily holding up to the splatters of food and wine. With its popularity rising, whether in high-rise apartments, or in the most fashionable homes, these small subway tiles remain affordable to all.

The Green Effect:  Subway glass tiles are not only visually appealing, but they are eco-friendly. For all of you environmentalists out there who are serious about not using non-recyclable materials, all subway tile glass is recycled and considered safe for the environment.

Subway glass tiles are perfect for any renovation project, whether you need a modern or present-day design.  They are beautiful, durable, and best of all – easy to keep clean, and hard to damage.  Glass subway tiles keep it simple, while remaining the most economical and practical alternative – for any room – anytime and anywhere.

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This Article was provided by Glass Tile Oasis. At Glass Tile Oasis we carry glass tiles in a wide range of colors and styles at  low prices visit our website today at wwww.glasstileoasis.com

The National Property "After"

Home Renovation Guide gets the dish from Stacey and Megan Valnes (from Sunset Park Realtors), on a recent project success. They had a property that had been appraised at $875,000. After spending $11,000 on exterior improvements, the property’s value went up to $1,025,000.

1. How did you decide on which home improvements projects to do and did you have a budget in mind?

As Realtors, our makeovers usually consist of an update and beautification of the outside of the building or home. For example, we paint, landscape, change out hardware (garage door handles, light fixtures, window screens, etc.) and stage when needed. We decide on a case to case basis which makeovers to do, depending on the state of the property at hand. If a property is old, shabby, or we believe it could be sold for more once improved, we improve it. The National property screamed for help because it was very dated, needed painting, and it’s landscaping was an overgrown unattractive jungle of a mess. Creating great curb appeal is simple and shouldn’t cost too much money. We always have a budget in mind, which comes from our seller. For $10,000 we can usually get everything done.

"Before"

2. What inspired your design choices in terms of improving curb appeal?

For the National property, our design choices were inspired by more modern buildings with a contemporary feeling to them. Our sellers were open to color and fresh ideas, so we used that to our advantage. The building was a big square block type, so in order to make it look more homey and appealing, we used warm colors (greens, olives, creams, and orange) in the paint and really popped it out with lots of colorful flowers in the landscaping. In the end, the building looked like a very distant cousin of it’s old self and was truly beautiful.

3. Were there any surprises that came up – i.e.: challenges that were unexpected or some of the work ended up being easier than expected?

The biggest challenge on this project was picking the paint colors. The sellers really wanted something bold and outspoken, like blue and purple, and we had to get them to acknowledge that the general public doesn’t find blue and purple attractive on a building, and we should use more trendy colors. Property styles change in fashion like clothes and one has to follow trends closely in order to stay in the game. Stacey and I decided to compromise and give them their bold color by including a fabulous orange for the door colors. Other than that, it was smooth sailing.

4. Was the work DIY or professional? From this experience, what would you recommend should definitely be done by a pro or what could a homeowner tackle himself/herself?

All the work, with the exception of the design, was professional. Stacey and I are Realtors, not painters. We contract out whatever needs to be done to our trusted group of people. We have a man for every job. Stacey and I choose paint colors, flowers, and communicate how the general look and feel of the building should be, and the professionals take it from there. Of course, a homeowner can tackle whatever they feel competent at and do it themselves, if they choose to. For example, if someone is an avid gardener and really wants to get into the landscaping job, by all means go for it. However, this can slow the process and end up being more expensive.

5. Is there anything you learned from this experience that you can apply to future projects?

We learn something from every project. From the National property, we learned that an array of color in the flower landscaping can change the whole face and feel of the building. Many people stick with green plants because it’s easy, but color in the garden is spectacularly beautiful and most everyone appreciates it.

6. Do you have any tips to share with those who are looking to increase their home’s value that are good for the budget-conscious?

If you want to increase your home’s value, you should be able to do so significantly for $10,000 or less. Make it look pretty on the outside. Remember that old saying about first impressions? It applies to homes and properties as well. The outside of your property is the first thing a potential buyer sees when stepping out of their car or walking by, so impress them with fabulous paint, meticulous pride-of-ownership, and beautiful landscaping!

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About the Contributor

Stacey and Megan Valnes from Sunset Park Realtors (follow them at @svalnes or check them out at: www.Sunsetparkrealtors.com

by Mr. Appliance

Refrigerator and Freezer Tips to Reduce Energy Costs

Summer is finally here and as the temperature rises, so does your energy bill. Beat the heat this summer by taking the time for preventative maintenance to not only cool down your fridge, but the heat inside your wallet too.

“As the temperature rises, more strain is placed on your refrigerator and freezer to keep it cold,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance® Corp. “Appliances run more efficiently with some extra upkeep. The better you take care of them, the longer they’ll last.”

Use these simple tips from Mr. Appliance Corp. to keep your fridge operating at its best this summer:

1. Clean beyond the refrigerator shelves by cleaning the condenser coils located behind your fridge at least once a year. Use a brush or handheld vacuum to remove loose particles, including dirt, dust and pet hair.

2. Give your refrigerator some breathing room by keeping the appliance at least two or three inches away from the wall. Also, place your refrigerator away from direct sunlight and appliances that produce heat to make your refrigerator run more efficiently.

3. Do you crave a midnight snack, but can’t decide what to eat? Keep your fridge full, not only to satisfy all of your midnight munchies, but to also help the fridge save energy after recovery from the door being open.

4. Check and care for the rubber seals surrounding the inside of your fridge by using mild soap twice a year to help prevent cracked and torn seals. Use your money to test the seals by placing a dollar bill halfway inside the refrigerator door. If the dollar pulls out easily, then your losing money in more than one way and it may be time to replace the rubber seals.

5. Take your refrigerator’s temperature and see if you are wasting energy. Make sure that the refrigerator runs between 36°F and 40°F and the freezer runs between 0°F and 5°F. If it is kept 10°F colder than recommended, you may be using 25% more energy than needed.

6. All refrigerators need maintenance, but if your refrigerator is an older model, it is important to make sure it’s operating efficiently. Refrigerators manufactured after 2001 use at least 30 percent less energy than models made in the 1990s or earlier.

Follow these do-it-yourself energy efficient tips periodically by adding them to your family calendar. To help prolong the life of your fridge, combine these tips with regular visits from your local appliance repair professional.

For recipes, appliance and energy tips, follow Mr. Appliance on Twitter at @MrApplianceCorp and on Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MrApplianceCorp.

by Karen Lawes

Your Roof: There is a time in every roof’s life when it needs to be replaced. But, do you really need that new roof now? It’s a difficult decision given that a new roof can cost from $2K to $6K. Just because the roof is leaking a bit does not necessary mean it needs a full replacement.

Replace it if:

• It is 20 years old or more. The average roof life is 15 years.
• There 1/3 or more of the shingles are damage, missing, cracked or curling.
• You see sagging roof boards or mold in your attic.
• It was significantly damaged by a storm. Your insurance may cover this!

Repair it if:

• Ice dams appear on the roof.
• You see minimal water damage in your home. Most water leaks can be repaired.
• You are only missing a few shingles. Repairing a few shingles may only cost $75 – $250.

Your TV: It’s a sad day when the tube stops working. It’s usually very high on the list of priorities, but a decision has to be made to fix or replace first

Replace it if:

• There is a recall for a defective TV. Sony is replacing certain models of their TVs for a great discount because they have defective parts.
• It’s old. New technology is better than ever and has become more affordable. You will likely get a better TV at a lower price than your previous one.
• The repair will cost more than half the price of a new TV.

Repair it if:

• You bought the extended warranty.
• It’s a really big expensive TV.  It will not be easy to afford to replace this and will be worth the cost of a repair.

Your Business Copier: An office copier can be an expensive investment. What do you do when you your copy machine isn’t working properly.

Replace it if:

• The cost of repairs over the last six months adds up to more than fifty percent of the cost of the copier.
• It’s not reliable and you are losing money on your business without it.
• Leasing a copier is cheaper than your monthly repair bills.

Repair it if:

• Your warranty has not expired.
• You can purchase the broken part on the cheap and replace it yourself.
• It doesn’t break down very often.

Your Gutter System: Gutters carry out an important function for your home: Carrying water away. It’s important that they are functioning properly, so action needs to be taken when you notice something is wrong.

Replace it if:

• You notice that the system is rusting out or the nails are pulling away from your home.
• Water is pouring over even when the gutters are clear of debris. The system may be too small for your home.

Repair it if:

• They simply need to be cleaned. Some gutters leak because they are full of leaves. Gutter cleaning only costs $150 to $300 per day.
• Less than 2 or 3 sections are damaged.

Your Hardwood Floors: A hardwood floor can hold up for more than 100 years! Refinishing your hardwood floors can make them look like new again in most cases, but there are a few exceptions when you will need to replace them.

Replace them if:

• You want a different grain or much lighter color.
• There isn’t enough material left to refinish it again. It has been sanded many times and the nail heads are showing at the seams.
• Water damage has caused the floors to warp or buckle.
• They have very deep holes or cracks.

Repair (or refinish) them if:

• There are scratches or traffic wear, but plenty of material left to sand.
• You found them underneath your old carpet or vinyl floor.  Old hardwood is very valuable and a refinish will take off any material left from the carpet or vinyl.

by Level One Contracting

As a homeowner, you are not legally permitted to perform your own renovation work, with the exception of the electrical, but it is strongly recommended amateurs not do this as disastrous results can occur.

You are legally responsible for obtaining any building permits required. However, your renovator should look after this on your behalf, specifying which permits are required and who will get them. You will need to provide a letter of authorization before your renovator can apply for a permit for your renovation.

A reputable contractor hires licensed trades to do your work.

Any structural, heating, plumbing, electrical, gas or sprinkler changes require a building permit from the City. Avoid any contractors or designers who tell you otherwise. They must have a Building Code Identification Number to apply for a building permit.

A permit is for your protection. Permits are based on building codes to promote health and safety, and structural integrity.  Some minor cosmetic changes may not require a permit. Confirm with your renovator or check with your municipal building permit office to be sure.

When do I need a permit?

Generally, a building permit is required for renovations that involve changes to the structure or systems of your home.

Types of Permits

Whether you are building or renovating your home, there are basically five types of permits that may be required.

Building Permits

Permits may be required for many repair, renovation and addition projects in existing homes.

Renovating a Strata Lot

If you own a condominium or a townhouse, you may be subject to your strata bylaws and restrictions.

This article was provided by Level One – Renovations Experts. For more details on the topics above and others such as: Who should get the permit – Me or my renovator? What happens if I don’t get a permit? – visit Level One’s Blog.

About the Contributor

Level One Renovations Experts is a full service renovation company with over 12 years in the market. Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations from demolition to finish, our goal is to continue exceeding our client’s expectations and building to the highest standards possible.

by Robert Wright

There are always things that need to be worked on or required on your home. This is the time of year when you really see what happens to your home when you have not taken care of certain things.

It’s all about home maintenance.

After the winter has had its way with your home, it always looks dirty and you always find damaged things.

This is also the time of year when most people take an inventory of what needs to be done and also start to plan larger projects and renovations. This is when you see damaged roof shingles, or split fence boards, or the deck boards are broken, and now you see why the cold wind was blowing around the windows and doors.

All of these little items need to be addressed and looked after, because if you don’t repair them, they can become much larger problems. If you don’t repair and/or paint the window, you will need to replace it when it rots. Or the small opening in the siding will let rain into the wall and you will get water damage and mold problems. Does the eaves- trough still flow in one direction? Is the down spout clogged with last years leaves?

One area that most people miss is the HVAC equipment. Does the air filter need cleaning and/or replacement? When was the last time the HRV was serviced? Does the furnace and fan motor still run smoothly? Is the a/c unit ready to go for another summer? It can be very expensive to replace these pieces of equipment; and also you can greatly extend their service life with regular check ups and cleanings.

One thing to consider is to ask your renovation contractor to do a condition survey of your home. That way you can have a professional look at things to ensure you have not missed something. You can also discuss your immediate needs, future wishes and then plan for the completion of the various repair and renovation items in a systematic fashion.

Some of the rules of thumb I have heard are that you should invest between 2% and 5% of your homes value a year in your home for maintenance. That way you know your home will be in good condition and you will protect your investment in your home. If you don’t spend some time and/or money in your home, you could be in for a nasty surprise one day. As it was said in the commercial “you can pay me now, or you can pay me later”.

About the Author

Rob Wright has grown up around construction and in the mid 1990’s, Rob joined and took over Citadel Renovations in Ottawa. Rob has presented seminars at the local home shows on various renovations subjects and is a contributor to the Home Renovation Guide. Rob has been active in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association for many years and previously served as the Renovation Council Chair. For more information, visit CitadelRenovations.com.

Looking for a local contractor? Visit the Home Renovation Guide’s Complete Directory or Get a Free Quote.

by Robert Wright

Many times I get asked about permits for a renovation project. Many people don’t want to spend the money or are private. They also don’t understand why they are needed and when.

It’s about your safety (and peace of mind).

I have again visited a renovation gone bad. As we discuss the various issues, I asked if they have had any permits pulled….the answer was “I don’t know”. This is the wrong answer. It also confirmed some of my thoughts about the project. Not a good situation all way round.

So how hard is it to get a permit? An electrical permit is done with a phone call to ESA. Homeowners can pull one as well as an electrician. ESA has been getting very tough on non permit installations. This is because too many people are getting hurt and houses are burning down. With current regulations, a building permit has to be issued in 2 weeks if there are no problems with the application and other documents. It usually takes the design professional at least 2 weeks to produce drawings suitable for the application process.

What about a building permit? Every municipality is a bit different about which permits are required when. When you are only changing finishes, usually no permits are required. You will need a building permit for most renovation work and usually also a plumbing permit. In addition, you may need a HVAC and gas permit.

The biggest expense for a building permit is not the fee. It is preparing the drawings and documents for the permit application. The architect, interior designer, and/or the engineer make sure what will work well for you and ensure it will stand up. The design fee can range from about $1k to many k’s. The permit fees can be less than $100.00.

So what does a permit give you? The biggest thing it gives you is peace of mind and safety. When you apply for permits the city confirms that nothing being planned has a code issue. When you have the new work inspected at the various stages, they confirm that the work is competed to code.

So how does this give you peace of mind? God forbid you have a major problem and you have to make an insurance claim. One of the first questions you will be asked is “Who did the work and was permit “pulled”?” The worse case scenario is the insurance company denies the claim or they pay out the claim and you can not get insurance in the future. As Clint once said, “do you feel lucky?”

About the Author

Rob Wright has grown up around construction and in the mid 1990’s, Rob joined and took over Citadel Renovations in Ottawa. Rob has presented seminars at the local home shows on various renovations subjects and is a contributor to the Home Renovation Guide. Rob has been active in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association for many years and previously served as the Renovation Council Chair. For more information, visit CitadelRenovations.com.

Looking for a local contractor? Visit the Home Renovation Guide’s Complete Directory or Get a Free Quote.

by Guest

With summer shortly upon us, and Father’s Day just around the corner it’s a great time to be reminded about home-reno safety. It’s the time of year when many fathers are on the cusp of getting (or getting out) tons of tools, renovation gear and outdoor products and ready to tackle home projects after being cooped up all winter. These home-reno dads (and divas too) may likely have toddlers and small children around them watching what mom and dad are doing. It’s the perfect time to set a safety precedent while they are doing their home repairs!

DIY’er are most likely making their “to do” lists – and checking it twice – ready to tackle the home and yard projects that have been put off all winter. Itching to get out the circular saw, nail gun or drill, what most DIY’ers often forget to grab is the important safety gear that should be top of mind before flicking the “on” switch or getting started on the project.

For years it’s been “drilled” into our minds to wear seat belts in the car or a helmet when on a bike ride, yet when it comes to wearing protective eye gear or ear muffs when using dangerous and loud equipment like a saw or running a compressor, weekend warriors have an invincibility attitude when it comes to home repairs.

Too many times even the simplest home project go awry, most of which could have been easily prevented with some sort of safety gear. What DIYers fail to remember is that no project is too small – it can be the smallest piece of wood that can puncture an eye, a loud sound that could damage hearing or miniscule dust particles that could affect a respiratory system.

Wh’Eye Not?

Do you like to watch the beautiful sunset? See your kids play at the park? Well, something as simple as throwing on a pair of safety glasses* can ensure a lifetime of sunsets and smiles from loved ones. From mowing the lawn to cutting baseboards your eyes are valuable – why not protect them?

Say What?

The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association says one in 10 people in Canada have some degree of hearing loss, and for people over 50, the number increases to one in five. Why increase your chances of early hearing loss simply because you didn’t want to throw in a pair of plugs or wear sound muffs*? Toss on a pair of so you can drown out the lawnmower or table saw in style!

Lung-evity

Often home projects involve some use of toxic fumes like paint, adhesives, sawdust and other nasty particles that will weave their way into your system as you work – it’s as simple as throwing on a mask to prevent this from happening – not to mention looking super cool while you work! Become a home-renovation fashionista in your multi-purpose respirator*– ok you might look more like Darth Vader but your kids will think you are the best!

Other tips to consider when home safety is involved:

· Before you start a project prepare – know what you are going to need in terms of tools and make sure you have the appropriate safety gear on hand to compliment the project

· Remember to set an example – your kids are little sponges – show them that you care for them by caring for yourself and make it a standard to be safe

· Remember that you aren’t just a handyman doing some work around the house –you are also a sibling, friend, spouse, parent, or supervisor and those “someone’s” are counting on your safety

· Learn about the materials you are going to be using for your project, and the best way to work with them

· Make sure you concentrate and stay focused when working with tools or machinery – even a moment’s distraction could lead to harm

· Don’t get in “over your head” – if the project is too large or too complicated for your skill level, either take a course to upgrade your skills, or trust in the experts

· Don’t take your health and safety for granted; all it takes is a simple slip or error

Safety Gear Giveaway!

Interested in winning some great safety gear from 3M? The first person to comment on this post will receive 3M’s Rivet Safety Eye Wear and Professional Ear Muffs (a total prize pack of $60)!

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*For more information on 3M safety products such as: 3M’s AO Safety Sunglasses (a division of 3M) ($29.99), 3M’s AO Professional Ear Muffs ($31.99), MP3 Muffs ($59.99), and the 3M Household Multi-purpose Respirator – $41.99, visit http://www.3m.com/intl/ca.

About the Company

Established in 1951, 3M Canada Company was one of the first international subsidiaries opened by 3M and remains one of the largest. 3M Canada’s head office and original manufacturing site is in London, Ontario where approximately 1,000 of the company’s 1,950 employees work. Other Ontario plants are located in Toronto, Brockville, and Perth with one in Morden, Manitoba. Sales offices are located in major cities nationwide and a national service network supports customers.

by Robert Wright

Many times when a homeowner is planning or thinking about a project they may think “that shouldn’t take too long” or “that shouldn’t cost a lot”. Then they get a surprise, sometimes a nasty surprise when the invoice or budget is produced.

What was missed?

When a professional renovator looks at a project for a client, they not only look at the work to be done, but also where the project is, what time of year it is to be completed, what kind of preparation and clean up is there, and are there any time restraints?

So lets look at what a pro renovator sees….stuff you may not expect to be an issue. A simple home repair can cause some of the biggest surprises. You have a damaged stipple ceiling, one too many rubs from the Christmas tree or the tub up stairs leaked. The repair work will involve stripping off the stipple, maybe patching the drywall or plaster and then reshooting the stipple. Maybe you will also have the ceiling painted. You would figure that this work would be done in a couple of hours and the materials of $50.00. For the work you would be right, what you would not realize is the amount of preparation and clean up involved. This would include furniture removal, floor protection install, wall protection from the over spray, and then final clean up. This can easily be 4 hours of work for at least one man. So $150 of repair work will require $250 to $500 of prep and clean up in addition. Yikes.

You want to change some windows and the front door of your home. You have now ordered them and they are expected to be delivered in January. The contractor says yes we can install them in winter, just close some doors in the rooms and we won’t freeze you out. What you don’t know is that the installer moves much slower in the winter…because its cold! The exterior caulking takes forever to apply even if it is kept warm in the house or truck; the nails and screws are difficult to use when you wear gloves; and the spray foam insulation may not expand enough in the cold. More time is required, in difficult weather to complete the same tasks, so hours get added to the invoice.

You would like a simple small addition or bump out on the rear of your home. The problem is that there is only 5’ between your home and your neighbour. There is no room to bring any equipment to the work area; but we can get men and wheel barrows in. For what could normally be done by a piece of excavating equipment in 8 hours by one man will now take 4 days by two men operating equipment with wooden booms. In addition, when you need to place the concrete, you can’t back the truck up to the form and install the concrete directly.

You will either need to hire a concrete pump at least twice, to place the concrete, or you will have to have an army of men to push wheel barrows to move the concrete to its final location.

Sometimes you want a project completed within a specific time frame i.e. the kitchen has to be ready for Christmas and you have been delayed in starting the project because of back ordered materials. To make up the lost time, the guys on site will now have to work overtime to complete the project within the timeframe. To work overtime, the guys will want more money, which can range from time and a half to double time and a half for the overtime hours. It would not take long to double up the labour costs with overtime.

The single largest reason for cost or budget overruns is labour. With materials, it is easy to calculate the amount needed, the cost, and the delivery. The install time of materials can be quite flexible, especially when any thing out of the ordinary is required. Also the set up and clean up time can be many times more than the actual work. So when you are looking at a project, consider the other things that need to be done to complete that simple project.

About the Author

Rob Wright has grown up around construction and in the mid 1990’s, Rob joined and took over Citadel Renovations in Ottawa. Rob has presented seminars at the local home shows on various renovations subjects and is a contributor to the Home Renovation Guide. Rob has been active in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association for many years and previously served as the Renovation Council Chair. For more information, visit CitadelRenovations.com.

Looking for a local contractor? Visit the Home Renovation Guide’s Complete Directory or Get a Free Quote.