The Home Exterior Renovation Guide

The Home Exterior Renovation Guide

A home exterior renovation is among the most essential aspects of the house, and you only get one chance to create a good first impression, especially when it comes to real estate investment. Because a home’s appearance offers potential buyers, tenants, and others a decent sense of what’s inside, it’s critical to do whatever it takes to guarantee your curb appeal is on spot.

You should also have a clear idea of why you want to improve the facade. There are several reasons why you should remodel. There are exterior remodelling options for any budget, whether you are a homeowner or an investor. Continue reading to find out which upgrades can create a strong first impression.

  • Out-of-date appearance: Your home may be older and have an out-of-date design. You’d want to give it a more contemporary look. This may include the installation of new windows or doors. New gutters, trim, and even shutters are tiny but valuable items. 
  • Marketability: Nothing beats exterior improvements when it comes to selling a home. Remodelling the exterior of your property may substantially increase its marketability. Making your property more appealing may result in a better sale price.
  • Maintenance or repair: You may have a leaking roof or your siding may have been ripped by the wind. You could just wish to renovate the exterior before any damage occurs. In any case, you must act quickly before things worsened. 
  • Eco-friendliness: If your home’s exterior is losing or gaining heat, you’ll probably want to renovate to save money on energy. Energy-efficient materials save money by using fewer resources, which is beneficial to the environment. This remodelling strategy may also have tax benefits.

The key to a successful exterior house makeover is to think about the following measures ahead of time.

Planning

There’s an old saying that goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” When you prepare your renovation steps it’s easier to succeed. Before you begin any physical improvements, you must have that vision of where you want to finish.

Budget

The budget will be the most important component of a home makeover for many investors and homeowners. Research alternative materials and labour prices as you choose house exterior styles to have an idea of how much they will cost. The key to creating a good renovation budget is to be as specific as possible. Begin by determining your spending limitations and your capacity to manage that financial burden. Do this before beginning designs, selecting materials, and, most importantly, contacting contractors.

Take Your Time!

The length of time it takes to accomplish exterior house improvements varies considerably depending on the tasks you want to complete. While some aesthetic changes may be completed over a weekend, some upgrades might take time to complete properly. The most essential thing to remember when creating a timeline is not to hurry during the renovation. After all, your purpose is to improve the general condition of the house, not to create bigger problems in the future.

Hire a Reliable Contractor

When it comes to exterior house improvements, choosing a competent contractor may define the success of your plan. Your house is most likely the most important investment you will ever make, so protect yourself by working with an experienced expert who has the skills and resources to turn your space into something you will enjoy. It’s a good idea to consult with a contractor as early as possible in the process. This will allow you to understand the scope of the work, budget, and schedule, as well as what to expect throughout construction.

We at Maserat Developments provide exterior renovation services, you can book your consultation today to get a proper and accurate estimate from our senior project manager.  

Our Design services are included in all renovation projects, so if you are not sure what material, finishes or colour to use; don’t worry we are assist to help you every step of the way. 

What are the steps in a kitchen renovation?

What are the steps in a kitchen renovation?

Because remodelling your kitchen is a major effort, you must do it properly the first time. A new kitchen renovation may be one of the most significant projects you will ever invest in for your house if done correctly. The remodelling process might be intimidating for individuals who have never experienced a kitchen makeover. While researching information, finding ideas online, and looking at samples at your store may appear to be enjoyable, it is critical to consider the broader picture before taking that step. Before you start renovating your kitchen, consider the following suggestions.

Hire a professional

Professional kitchen designers take the time to get to know you and your style so that they can bring your ideal kitchen vision to life. Our team provides full kitchen renovations and has designers who specialize in a variety of styles ranging from traditional to modern and contemporary.

Set Budget

The easiest approach to avoid mistakenly spending too much of your savings on your renovation project is to create a budget before you start. Determine your desired budget as well as the margin you can go above it. Our team can give consultation on budgeting the project where to save and where to spend more to increase the ROI and value of your home.

Determine the Deadline

Make sure to set a deadline in addition to a strict budget. Consider how long you could live without a kitchen. Four weeks? Eight weeks?  When renovating a kitchen, there’s a lot to think about, so make sure your redesign is well-planned, so you don’t have to rearrange schedules at the last minute. Also, you must bear in mind the delivery and supply of materials and finishes could sometimes get out of hand. 

Obtain permits

Keep in mind that in some renovation cases you will need the approval of the municipal authority. You’ll have trouble selling or refinancing your house if you don’t have permits because homebuyers and lenders will want to make sure your improvements comply with the codes and regulations. You will not need a permit if all you are doing is changing cabinetry and appliances in your kitchen. However, if you are installing a new window or door or changing valves, you must get a permit before beginning any work.

Choose a suitable Layout

Another crucial factor to consider is the practicality of your kitchen plan. Before you approve the design layout, think about the arrangement of the cabinets and appliances. Figure out how many drawers or cabinets you will need. Make sure moving around in the kitchen wouldn’t be limited due to some open cabinetry or location of the fridge.  If you want to install a kitchen island, be sure you have adequate space. Remember that an island needs the installation of electrical outlets.

 
We at Maserat Developments provide kitchen renovation services for your homes in Toronto, you can book your consultation today to get a proper and accurate estimate from our senior project manager. 

Our Design services are included in all renovation projects, so if you are not sure what material, finishes or colour to use; don’t worry we are here to help you every step of the way. 

Phases in Planning a Home Addition

Phases in Planning a Home Addition

As you would expect, designing a Home Addition in Toronto can be a time-consuming process. As it is a large task, it is critical not to rush the planning step to guarantee that everything is done correctly the first time.

Whether you want to add a sunroom, a formal dining room, a home office, or any other sort of home addition, proper planning is necessary. This will save you money and time in the long term. It can also help you become aware of any potential issues along the way and help you to prepare for them.

While there will be numerous decisions to be taken, the planning process may be divided into three major and crucial phases.

Phase 1: Define property lines

Before creating a floor plan, it is important to determine where the ownership boundaries are. It is important to make sure you know exactly where your property line starts and ends between your neighbours and the municipality. This will give you an idea of the amount of space you can use when creating your floor plan.

How do you know where the boundary of your land is? Usually, if the previous owner has an official survey from the property they would have passed the copy to your lawyer. However, if you don’t have access to it, it can be obtained by hiring a professional survey company to complete a survey from your property.

The process of preparing and stamping an official survey copy can take 3 to 5 weeks. It is important to hire an experienced survivor to complete this portion of jobs properly, as many of your following decision will lead from here.

Phase 2: Design a plan

Now that you know how much space there is, you can start arranging the floor plan of your home addition. Following are what you need to pay attention in the process of designing:

City By-Laws and Legality

Even though you have the ownership of your property in full, The city’s by-law has a section on how far you can use your back and front yard as a living space. This is a critical point, as you can not add as much as you like to your home.

Functionality and Return on Investment

While you do not need to create a design, as one of our designers at Maserat Developments can assist you, you should think about how you will use the space.

You’ll want to plan something that not only is inside the area but also works great with the design of your existing home. The layout of the new space is another important aspect that can be dictated by your goals and needs in future. Through our consultation meeting with our clients, we always emphasize both the client’s needs and future Returns. You have to understand the needs of the market, so you can plan your addition in a way that your future prospective buyer finds your property fuctional.

Phase 3: Building permit

Once the layout and structure of your project are defined by the designer and structure engineer, then it can be submitted to the city to apply for a building permit. At the city, a zoning officer will review the proposed plan to make sure it will comply with all city’s By-Laws, if it does then upon his approval you will be issued with the building permit.

Phase 4: Choose material

The final stage in designing a home addition is to develop a material selection list. It is a good idea to think about second and third options for materials because your initial pick may be too pricey or unavailable. Our Design and Senior project manager will assist you with this stage as well, to make sure you can benefit from our past experiences.

Decide your must-have design choices and the areas where you’d be prepared to sacrifice if necessary. The above steps can be complicated and time-consuming, that is why at Maserat Developments we will help our clients to apply and get a building permit before the home addition project starts. We are a Home Addition Contractors in the City of Toronto.

We will arrange and schedule a professional engineer to visit your property to produce all necessary components. Contact us today to arrange a hassle-free consultation.

­­­­Why Do I Need Bathroom Renovation?

­­­­Why Do I Need Bathroom Renovation?

Bathroom renovation can give a new feel to your home. Improvements could be tearing down or easily replacing a shower or vanity to enhance the look of your bathroom. It all depends on the result you’re looking for, and more importantly your budget.

Increase the Value of Your Home

If you have a plan to sell your property in future and want to make a quick sale, one way is improving your bathroom. Renovated bathroom can increase your Return on Investment (ROI), Homes with renovated bathrooms have shown to be sold at a higher price. A new bathroom not only let the owner enjoy the fresh look, but also is a great investment.

Fixing Problems

Updating old fixtures and pipes will help you to prevent facing any problems like water leakage or broken pipes, leading to rotted floors and growing molds. These are the most common problems that our clients refer to us for bathroom renovation.

A Place to Store

Many homeowners use bathroom spaces for storage and increasing the capacity by adding more cabinetry allowing you to reduce clutter. Also, you can opt for mirrored cabinets which is perfect for both storage and create visual appeal.

Small Bathroom

If your bathroom seems small, you can ask our expert and specialist to see if there is a possibility of expanding your space based on the building codes and regulations by using adjacent spaces like unused storage area, a walking in closet or a passageway.

Facelift for bathroom

Bathrooms could be embellished by change of color or laying new colors or even adding accessories. Different color scheme like neutral or light hues can make the room looks spacious and creates a relaxing ambiance. Change of cabinet numbs or light fixtures like sconces on top of a brand-new vanity could improve the look of your bathroom as well.

At Maserat Developments, we can help you to renovate bathrooms in Condo and as well as remodelling your freehold home’s bathroom. Reach out to our senior project manager today to request an estimate for your upcoming renovation.

Bathroom Renovation Checklist

Bathroom Renovation Checklist

According to the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC), a bathroom renovation will increase the value of your home by 75%-100% of what you’ve spent. When upgrading your bathroom, you should consider different aspects of the project. We have created a handy checklist for your project to ensure the best outcome for your upcoming bathroom Renovaiton project.

Tile & Flooring

Flooring in bathroom reno has one of the most important impacts on users. Different colours, shapes, sizes, and materials can provide a different experience to the users. What you should consider when choosing flooring finishes is the budget and maintenance as they will affect the result. Here are some options for the bathroom’s flooring:

  • Linoleum is a great choice because it’s waterproof and spill-resistant though it requires professional installation as it expands and contracts.
  • Marble is another finish that gives a high-end and elegant look to your bathroom but it can crack and requires maintenance regularly.
  • Ceramics are the best choice when it comes to durability and cleaning, they also come in various colours and forms.
  • Porcelain, a sub-type of ceramics, is a tough yet expensive option.

Materials not only should match your budget and design but also should be able to resist moisture with minimum care.

Walk-in Shower or Bathtub

Deciding between them or installing them depends on many factors. If you have toddlers and young children around, a better choice would be the use of a bathtub, however, elders might opt shower stand. Also, if you are planning a renovation to sell your home, you’d better choose a high-end tub or shower to attract more prospective buyers.

Unless you would be the user, you should look more into something within your budget and preferences.

Toilet

Several factors are involved when changing a toilet such as the location, size of the washroom, plumbing system, style of home, the users, way of sanitation and most importantly budget.

Different types of toilets are wall-mounted, one-piece and two-piece. Also the toilet comes in different height depending on your preference. We mostly suggest Comfortable Height, as they are easier to use more wide range of individual specially seniors.

Sink Fixtures

Choosing a bathroom sink could be challenging with different finishes, styles and shapes available. So probably you need to research thoroughly to find the right sink. Once you decided, make sure you have the right measurements, the sink should be in easy reach of water connections so it fits. Each sink has a different type of installation such as drop-in, wall-mounted, pedestal, under mount, vessel, vanity sink.

Cabinetry & Bathroom Accessories

Having cabinets has become necessary as it changes the overall look and increases the functionality of the space. Size, material, and type are the elements that should be considered when choosing cabinets.

Installing different types of cabinets, mirrored or medicine or corner, depends mainly on types of bathroom. Additionally, hinges and handles should be practical and match the style of the whole bathroom design to present a unified look. Small details like towel racks, faucets, matching lighting fixtures, and cabinet hardware could impact the resale value of your home.

Plumbing and Electrical

In bathroom renovation generally bear in mind if you shouldn’t change or relocate, don’t, otherwise you need to hire professionals as any plumbing and electricals changes should be based on building code and regulations therefore permits are needed. This type of work requires to be done by an electrical contractor or a licensed plumber.

Schedule

To finish off your bathroom, try to schedule your timeline once you have decided on the materials, finishes and fixtures. Make sure to predict the challenges arising during the remodelling process and set deadlines to speed up the process.

Hire a Contractor

If doing all of the above would be a headache for you, you can always ask for help from a professional contractor. They are experienced and know how to recognize and deal with any upcoming challenges during the project.

We at Maserat Developments provide bathroom renovation services for older homes in Toronto, you can book your consultation today to get a proper and accurate estimate from our senior project manager. 

Our Design services are included in all renovation projects, so if you are not sure what material, finishes or colour to use; don’t worry we are here to help you every step of the way. 

What are the Different Types of Bathrooms

What are the Different Types of Bathrooms

When planning the layout of a space, you should determine the function of each room to pick the right finishes. For instance, materials and fixtures in a kid’s bathroom are different than those in a master bathroom both functionally and financially. Thus, below we discern the differences between types of bathroom.

Powder Rooms

Powder rooms or half baths are mainly used by guests to freshen up. A sink and a toilet are the only features provided in powder rooms. They usually are situated on the first floor of the house near the entryway. This type of bathroom tends to be small and the standard size is about 15-25 sq ft. However, there are special measurement and specifications which should be based on the building codes and regulations.

Ensuite bathrooms

Master bathrooms or Ensuite bathrooms are the focal points of selling your home. Since master bathrooms need to be expanded a lot of works are involved in the bathroom renovation project such as moving walls, plumbing, electrical and architectural and engineering which each of them needs inspection approval and regulations to be followed.

That is why master renovations are the most expensive among other types of bathrooms. Also, as they are situated adjacent to the bedroom many concerns should be considered. Noise for instance could be prevented by installing a modern inlet valve or if the level of moisture is high, you can either install an exhaust fan or add a window. Privacy is one of the key elements of en suite bathrooms due to their proximity to the master bedroom. If you do not have a master bathroom, you can convert a large closet or you can build one from scratch.

Jack & Jill Bathrooms

Allocating space to bathrooms takes up the floor plan and costs a lot. Sharing one bathroom between two bedrooms saves money and space. This type is a shared yet private space which normally shared between siblings.

Some of the essential features in Jack & Jill bathrooms are two sinks, Locks on both doors, Storage and accessories.

Guest Bathrooms

A guest bathroom as its name represents is primarily for the use of guests who stayed at your place. There is no specification for renovating them, only your personal preference in choosing finishes and fixtures.

 

Renovating Your Bathroom 

If your home requires an additional bathroom or the one you currently have needs a facelift, we can discuss your project further in detail. Maserat Developments provide bathroom renovation services for older homes in Toronto, you can book your consultation today to get a proper and accurate estimate from our senior project manager. 

Our Desing services are included in all renovation projects, so if you are not sure what material, finishes or colour to use; don’t worry we are here to help you every step of the way.