Renovation shows are my little indulgence! I love seeing a hard-fought house transform before my eyes into a little masterpiece renovated to the taste of the day … And all in less than 30 minutes thanks to the magic of TV! So I was really excited to start my basement renovations. But like many projects I undertake, I had no idea what I was getting into.
So I decided to make a short list of things I wish I had known when starting my renovations , hope this helps some of you!
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Protect the rest of the house from the work
The whole house will become a real construction site, not just the room that will be renovated. Make sure to protect the floor of your entrance and any other place in your house that will inevitably be affected by the work you are undertaking. Cover your furniture to best protect it from dust, and remove any decorations or furniture that could be damaged by the comings and goings of workers.
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Have all the materials before you start
A worker tears up the floor of a shower
sima | Shutterstock
Don’t be like me! Don’t delay your renovations because you’re waiting for the delivery of a shower column that you ordered on the Internet… Construction contractors often work on many projects at the same time, so make sure that all items and the materials are available to them when they are available to begin your project.
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Get an idea of prices
The hardwood floor and the ceramic, it is not at all cheap. Who would have believed it! I have to admit, I had no idea how much flooring would eat up such a big chunk of my budget. $1 more per square foot really makes a huge difference to the final price. I strongly advise you to take a look at the nearest hardware stores and look at the prices of materials, if, like me, you have never done a renovation.
4.It will take longer than you think!
I was convinced that my renovations would be completed in 3 weeks (or even less)! As I write these lines, we are at the beginning of week 4 and the floor is not yet installed… so I think we can conclude that I haven’t left the hostel!
5.It doesn’t necessarily pay to DIY
Mess and paint on the floor
Rawpixels.com | Shutterstock
Watching over 500 hours of home improvement shows doesn’t make you a pro. I speak to you from experience! A good way to save on renovation costs is to do some things yourself, but if you are unsure of your abilities, let the professionals do it, it will save you a lot of time at home. final and probably money too if they have to redo your shoddy job.
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Communicate, communicate and communicate!
Never assume that you and your construction contractor are on the same page. It’s always difficult to explain your vision to a professional, especially if you don’t necessarily know all the terms of the trade. Be sure to repeat the information several times, and even email it if necessary. A picture or two of an example of what you want can’t hurt anyone… Plus, there are no dumb questions: if there are any terms you don’t understand or know don’t hesitate to ask the person responsible for your work.
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You will exceed your budget
Plan for the unexpected and assume that you will exceed your initial budget. It’s possible that you change your mind along the way or there is an unexpected repair, or that like me, you are not the most gifted person in mathematics and that you make a mistake when calculating the square feet of your basement. Definitely not my finest moment.
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Your house will be dusty for a while
There will be dust in every corner of your home for days and days! It’s really annoying and I’m not sure how to fix it, but at least you’ve been warned! Good luck.