What can homeowners expect if they want to start a project right now?

The renovation industry is so busy right now and most established companies are booking at least 4-6 months ahead of time; some might even be fully booked for the whole year. So, it’s better to start planning sooner than later.

Plus, the supply chain issues brought on by the pandemic haven’t gone anywhere either. Windows and doors are still a minimum 4 months wait, and even some bathroom fixtures are in low stock. If you’re flexible on the style and finish it could make things easier to find, but if you are looking for a specific finish, you should expect delays.

Why do contractors take so long to reply to my emails when we do want to start a project?

Between the amount of incoming emails, balancing the current open projects and trying to be an involved parent, there just isn’t enough time in a day. Sometimes, there’s a lot going on in life and replying to an email is just the last thing on that list. So, be patient waiting for that reply, it’s not that the contractor doesn’t value you or your work, it’s just that they are focused on their current clients and need a breather to be able to focus on your project.

Is it a red flag if the contractor has availability right away?

This is a tough one, there are a lot of new renovation companies opening up that could have availability. However, with how saturated the renovation world is at the moment, it is a little odd if they can start right away, but we were once those people too. When we started our business, we were only a week or so away from needing that next project and those clients were fortunate to get us then. Main thing is to always do your research, don’t be afraid to ask questions and get referrals.

Why has the price of renovations gone up so much?

Much like everything else, the price of doing a renovation has gone up quite a bit and a lot of that has to do with materials. Lumber is fluctuating more than cryptocurrency, and that goes across the board with increased costs to shipping containers; pretty much anything that is being imported has gone up. Labour costs have also needed to increase to move with inflation and let’s be real, if a contractor is booking that far in advance, they need to prepare for what that future might look like.

What can we save money on right now and where is it important to splurge when renovating?

Any project has a lot of variables and we always try to work with our clients’ budget as best we can. Definitely don’t cut costs on the important stuff behind your walls. It might not look pretty, but proper waterproofing, insulation or roofing is what will keep your project looking good. I always say “Know your limit and play within it.”

For a kitchen renovation, you can use stock cabinets that can still look nice, but they’re are only available in specific sizes so your kitchen renovation might not have that custom flare. Another thing to consider is having the doors finished with a thermofoil wrap, which is kinda like a shrink wrap that goes around a fiber board. Versus a custom kitchen which can have cabinets built to fit perfectly with your layout, that will give you more storage, better use of space and a more designer finish. These cabinets can also be spray finished so you can get pretty much any colour you want and it’s a more durable door and cabinet.

Bathrooms can vary a lot with cabinetry as well, you can get a $2,000 vanity or a $8,000-10,000 vanity.

Now, when it comes to your deck, you can save money and use wood decking, although with the price of
lumber, it isn’t as much of a gap to use a low maintenance material like PVC or Composite. However, a must for us outside is using an aluminum railing; ain’t nobody got time for sanding and staining a railing!