What to expect when you're remodeling

Almost everyone I’ve spoken with lately has some form of home remodel project going on. From interior painting to full kitchen or bath remodels, it seems like everyone is jumping on the home improvement bandwagon. It makes sense — with people spending more time inside their homes, we want them to look nicer. And with real estate being in such demand, it is difficult to upgrade into a different home, so we are trying to make-do with the ones we have. Be forewarned, however — remodeling is not for the faint of heart.

When planning your remodel, make sure you plan for a hefty contingency. Reserve at least ten to fifteen percent additional funds just in case you need them. Even if you are working from a bid or have a contractor who has included an additional contingency — still reserve e some extra. For example, say you are replacing your flooring. You choose a product, and the flooring contractor gives you an estimate. However, if you read the fine-print, additional floor prep may be needed, and if it is, it may account for thousands of dollars in improvements that you have not budgeted for. Why? Because the flooring contractor has no idea what they might unearth when they tear up your old flooring. Will it come up nice and even, revealing a pristine substrate underneath, or was the old flooring masking a gigantic crater in your floor caused by moisture damage you never knew you had? Either scenario is possible, but with remodels, unfortunately the latter is more likely — especially ith older homes.

Or, say you have decided to replace your cabinetry. You’ve selected new materials, cabinets, countertops, new backsplash. Then, when they come to tear out the old kitchen, you come to realize that your flooring is damaged, and is not able to be repaired. Or your kitchen wiring was never up to code and live wires are exposed after you remove the old laminate backsplash that was glued to the wall over the wiring. I have personally witnessed both of these scenarios and neither was pleasant, but a lot of heartache could have been avoided had the homeowner planned a higher contingency.

Another area that typically requires a little more money — just in case — is a bathroom remodel. Even if you are just replacing your shower, upon removing the old one, you may run into moisture damage, mold, rotten flooring, old plumbing, leaky valves, or a drain that has been draining all your shower water straight under the house. Again, stranger things have happened, and in a remodel situation, they often do! Having a little extra funding set aside for such contingencies is always a good idea. Even an experienced contractor or sub-contractor does not necessarily know what they are going to get into until they start doing the tear-out.

For those of you who are new to our area, bear in mind that for many years, building codes were not enforced in our area. This means that homes were build according to the contractor’s knowledge and experience — or lack thereof. As well, remodels or improvement work might have been cobbled together incorrectly, and again, not “to code”. Bearing that in mind, the best thing you can do for your home is hire professionals who are licensed, bonded and insured, and who have the experience and knowledge to find the issues your home may have and fix them properly. Just keep in mind that a little bit of extra budgeting for your next remodel project may go a long way!