Q & A
At Nord Alta, we get asked a lot of questions about renovations. Here are some of the more common ones. We'll be adding to this list so, if your question isn't here, you can check back here later or post your question on our blog. You can find our blog under the blog tab at the top of the page.
- Are there elements that should be considered in every kitchen renovation?
- What are the different kinds of windows to choose from, and how do they differ in price and performance?
- Should I build a main floor addition or should I add a second story?
- Should we continue to live in the building while it's under construction?
- Should I contact my insurance company during a renovation?
When retrofitting a kitchen for today's needs, there are two elements that are often overlooked and should be included even if you are only replacing cabinets. If cabinets are mounted on the outside walls and your home is pre-1970, this is the best time to upgrade the insulation in the wall cavity at the least expense. The benefits for upgrading insulation values are tremendous with today's energy prices, and the rewards far outweigh the cost. The second item often overlooked is Electrical. Many homes are of an era that pre-dated small appliances, and the electrical needs are often insufficient. It's also an excellent time to consider lighting requirements for the kitchen, especially in food preparation areas. Choose from under-cabinet lighting, above-cabinet indirect lighting, pot lights, or traditional fixtures.
Essentially there are three types of windows available today:
Vinyl is the most common, mostly due to cost. These windows are inexpensive to build and therefore are quite reasonably priced. Vinyl windows have the characteristic of not being able to handle a lot of weight, so these windows do have some size limitations.
Fiberglass windows are superior to vinyl in that the frames are very strong so they can support much more weight. If color on the exterior is required, a very generous selection of colors is usually available. Some manufacturers even go as far a laminating a pine veneer on the inside to simulate a wood window. Cost is generally somewhere in the middle and performance is considered good.
Wood Metal Clad can usually fit most budgets dependent on the features chosen. What you get with a wood window is the natural beauty of wood, different species of wood are available and wood lends itself to some intricate milling that vinyl or fibreglass does not. If your decorating budget says stained wood, then this is the product for you. Most wood windows in this marketplace usually come metal clad on the exterior for a good color selection and a maintenance free exterior.
After all is said and done, any of the above products are more than acceptable for either new home construction or replacement. At Nord Alta, we suggest that the customer always looks for an Energy Star Rated window product with the following options: Low E coatings, Argon gas filled, and triple glazing.
The first thing to consider is the residence and the property that the residence is situated on. If your property is within a city or town, there could be restrictions on things like the square footage of the buildings allowed on the property as a percentage of the land available.
With most property in the Edmonton area, a property owner is allowed to build site coverage of 40%, of which 28% is the main residence and the other 12% would be for outbuildings such as a garage. In most situations this percentage is well within what most homes are originally designed for, although with lot setbacks and side yard setbacks, driveways and easements, it takes careful planning to fit the home within the existing lot, especially if the lot is pie shaped or an irregular size. There may also be other things to take into consideration, such as if you are in a mature neighborhood, there maybe demands placed on you to conform to the existing architecture or historical flavor that is throughout the neighborhood.
Once you have determined how much room you have to develop within the lot, it makes sense to sit down with your family and discuss your family's needs, wants, and other such factors that you will have to consider when planning an addition.
The size of the renovation and the impact that it will have on your living and sleeping quarters will ultimately dictate whether or not you can continue to live there through the construction process. If there are structural changes or if insulation or drywall is used, it would be sensible to move to a safer environment. The other factor of living in a building while it is under construction is that you will sacrifice private time with your family.
Absolutely. You should make them aware of the project that you are doing. Also ask if it will require any further coverage. You should also make sure that the contractor you are hiring is insured for general liability and workmen's compensation.
House insurance coverage does not cover every possibility, but even if it did, the homeowner is left to pick up the tab for the deductible and the incremental increase in their premium when they renew. For example, the contractor is pouring concrete for a driveway located between the client's house and the neighbor's house. While the concrete finisher is brooming the final finish, he gets concrete on the neighbor's painted siding. If the concrete finisher does not wash the splashed concrete off the neighbor's house before it has set, it can't be removed without removing the paint as well. In this example the homeowner's insurance company would probably not pay. If the contractor doesn't have insurance and has already been paid, and neither the homeowner nor the neighbor notice until after the check is cashed, it is likely the homeowner will personally foot the bill.
