SevernWoods Construction

SevernWoods Construction advice offered at Chatelaine.com

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:39:26 +0000

http://www.chatelaine.com/en/blog/post/35138–the-reno-files-love-thy-neighbour

Renovaton Blunder #2

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:00:23 +0000

BLUNDER: You and/or your things staying in the house during your renovation.

I like to tell people that I will happily renovate their house, but it will cost 10% more if they stay in it. I’m not talking about a bathroom or even a basement – I mean the upper floors or the entire house. I have had customers plan to stay and cook on the BBQ and pitch a tent.

If you stay in the house, more time gets spent cleaning the site at the end of the day, and therefore less work is accomplished on your house. We do our best to keep the site and your stuff clean…but renovating your house creates a lot of dust and we don’t want to be responsible for the fancy chandelier or Great-Aunt Bea’s collection of china dolls.

SOLUTION: Moving out and storing your stuff is the best idea for everyone. Find a friend or family to stay with or rent a place – for a small price, everyone will be happier and life will be less dusty and noisy.

Renovation Blunders to avoid – #1

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:29:19 +0000

BLUNDER: Not making decisions in a timely manner

Is decision-making not your strong suit? In the midst of a renovation, it is imperative that decisions are made on time. If you can’t decide between sea-foam-green or green-apple tiles, the tiling-contractor will move along to his next project. By the time you have decided and ordered the tiles, he might not be available and you may even pay an up-charge from another guy.

There is a flow to renovations, much like the ocean. If you hold up one area, the effects will be felt elsewhere. Timelines and costs will be affected most.

SOLUTION: Make sure you have your plans well mapped out and stick to the decision-making deadlines your contractor gives you. He’s not trying to rush you, he’s just trying to help you meet your end goals.

Winter renovation thoughts

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:56:38 +0000

People often think you need to wait until spring to start your reno. Many contractors are slower in the winter and snow is far easier to deal with than rain. Instead of joining the line-ups for Spring/Summer renovation start-dates, consider … Continue reading →

Stairway to Heaven – A great idea for third floor renos

admin — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:01:44 +0000

Renovating your third floor can be a daunting task at the best of times. Throw two small children and a large dog into the mix and it can be a nightmare. I shudder to think of all of the sharp, pointy tools my kids could get into or the dust – oh the dust – being tracked in by the dog and the workers. When strapping construction men have to tramp through your house, shouldering sheets of drywall, there is little that can be done for the level of dirt and dust that will soon permeate every inch of your house.

Or is there?

Knowing his wife’s neurotic tendencies towards cleanliness (who, me?), Tom had his team build a stairway from the backyard directly to the third floor. While this might add a bit to the cost, I’m telling you it is worth its weight in gold. We sealed off the third floor from the rest of the house, which allowed us to live almost completely dust-free and gave me the peace of mind that my children wouldn’t get into any trouble.

I’m not a religious person, but I did start referring to our staircase as the “Stairway to Heaven.” Only after the drywall was in and the windows needed to be installed, did any workers have to enter the house in the tradition manner. SevernWoods Construction has replicated my staircase at other projects and it has been well received. Just ask for “Jen’s Stairs” on your next project with us!

Jen Cumming is the wife of Tom Cumming

Jen's Stairs up to the third floor