Home Renovations Frequently Asked Questions
We are renovating our kitchen. How does this work if we live there and are without a kitchen?
This is very common so we know exactly what to do to accommodate you as best as we can. We allocate a space in another room and move your fridge there. We then will set up a temporary table for you microwave, coffee maker and tea kettle, and we recommend purchasing a temporary electric cook top. We explain additional costs to our clients like eating out or ordering in.
Can I use my bathroom at all during the renovation? What if we want to renovate all of our bathrooms at once?
It is recommended that we complete all bathrooms at once to save on costs. With that said, we will strategically plan your project leaving you with one usable bathroom (sometimes partially demo’d) to prevent you from needing to move out. If you only have one bathroom we encourage you to temporary move out for the duration of the project.
How long does it take to complete a full bathroom renovation? Full kitchen renovation? Full interior renovation?
Depending on bathroom size and detail bathrooms can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 12 weeks.
A typical 3-piece bathroom will take about 3 weeks to complete from start to finish. A half bathroom can take about 1-2 weeks to complete, and a large 4 or 5 piece bathroom will likely take 4 weeks to complete. The occasional luxury ensuite can take 8-12 weeks. If a remediation company is required to demo due to hazardous materials like asbestos this can add time onto the project and moving out during this time is necessary.
Do I need permits?
For our facelift renovations where we are keeping the layout the same and just replacing the finishes, probably not. We will need to apply for permits if we are changing the floor plan and altering plumbing or removing walls.
Do we have to leave our property during the renovation?
Yes and no. Yes if we are renovating your entire home and stripping it down to studs. No if we are just doing a complete facelift where we can leave one bedroom and one bathroom in tack for your to use. We recommend against this due to the amount of dust and noise during a renovation like this and that you factor into your budget renting or staying with family. For smaller renovations we can sometimes setup temporary kitchenette setups while you are without your kitchen including moving your fridge into another room and setting up a cook station with a microwave, coffee/teakettle, electric hot plate.
What happens if during the demolition there is mold, rott or existing structural damage?
This is why we include a 10% contingency into your estimate. We at Mavish Homes pride ourselves in having one of the most realistic and accurate sales processes where we explain realistic expectations and budget accordingly. If this is a factor during demolition we will quickly assess the area and schedule a meeting right away to develop the best solution going forward.
When can I expect a contractor to start on my project?
Mavish Homes is able to start planning your project in most cases within 15 days of signing a planning agreement. Our planning process ensures we develop all of the project details including design, material selection and scheduling trades all before we start the construction process. We make sure all materials are delivered and ready onsite so material delays do not delay the construction process. It is once planning is completed that we can start the construction process. Depending on project scope the planning process can take anywhere between 30 days to 6 months to complete. Waiting on permits is normally the main factor expanding this timeline. We encourage clients to reach out to a contractor well before they are planning there renovation project to start as the design and planning process can often take many months to complete.
Can I supply any of the materials?
There is no need to. We manage all material acquisition on your behalf. This give us the control to ensure materials arrive on time and go through our quality control. Part of our process includes ordering all materials before hand which allows us to predict a constant renovation schedule limiting most delays.
Will someone be here to supervise, deal with quality control and deal with inspections?
Our deliverables include everything from being on site meet with trades, review their work ensure the site stays organized and clean amongst many other things like meeting with inspectors and completing inspections of our own throughout numerous stages of the project.
Why do you need a deposit and can I pay once the project is completed?
The deposit ensures you are committed to the project as well as pays for sub trade deposits and material deposits necessary to start the project. We do not fund any of the project costs ourselves so milestone draws will be due throughout certain points in the schedule of your project. Our second to last draw is substantial complete where we will generally allow you to hold back a certain amount until you are 100% satisfied with the project. For larger projects sometimes we collect a deposit at the beginning and then invoice monthly the job cost actuals. This is discussed depending on the details of the project scope and client financials.
Do you compare the quality of you materials to ikea like cabinets or do you use real wood?
Everything that we do is completely custom. Our cabinets are solid wood with high quality cabinet hardware. We customize glass mirrors, shower glass doors and shelves and pretty much anything you can think of we will make sure it is custom to your wants and needs. (To an extent of course)
At what point do I have to pay and how much?
Like our deposit answer above, depending on the project size we have a few different payment structures. For planning a deposit is required upfront which can range from 10% to 50% with sometimes a draw in between and a final invoice upon planning complete. For construction depending on project requirements a deposit of 10%-50% is required to start along with either monthly invoices or scheduled draws. Some of these common draw schedules are ie. Construction start, rough in complete, countertop install, substantial completion (move in ready with minor tasks left) and project complete.
Do I get to see the materials and design before the project starts?
Yes. We will either bring the materials to you home or meet with you at our suppliers and review products and materials with you. We will also provide you with contact names and locations if you want to spend additional time reviewing these items on your own time. We just like to review your choices to provide our professional opinion.
Are there any costs for permits?
The cost of permits will depend on your project scope. The best place to get this information is on your city’s website. Search “your city” building department permits, construction permits, building and development permits etc. We have a few links added in our blog “ planning a home addition.
Do I need to test for asbestos?
If your house or condo was built before 1990, we will need to test for asbestos to be safe. Asbestos is a very harmful substance and can cause serious health problems if not dealt with properly and it is good to note these test results are only good for 6 months.
The cost to test for asbestos can be around $100 per sample. Most rooms being renovated will need 2 minimum samples. If asbestos is found we will use one of our licensed environmental remediation companies to complete the demo in a highly safe manner. This will require you to be out of the house for the duration of the project. Most cities today now require an environmental quality control person to review the results and approve it is safe to move back in.
What are common costs for things in bathrooms for the average 3 peice bathroom(Shower/bath, toilet, sink)?
- A few examples (costs can vary significantly)
- Custom wood vanity – $2800 supply install
- Custom mirror – $850 supply install
- Custom glass shower door $1900 supply
- Heated floors $1700 supply and install
- Heated towel rack – $950 supply and install
- Toilet – $450 supply
- Free standing tub supply – $1400
- Pot lights supply install- $150 per light
- Quartz countertops supply install- $950
- Under-mounted sink supply- $130
- Shower fixtures supply- $600
- Tile supply and labour – $1500 – $3500
- Accessories (toilet holder, towel rack, hand towel hook supply ($350)
Our designer or cabinet shop will provide design drawings of your cabinets including shelf locations, door styles and physical door and hardware samples.
You can see additional information on pricing here Mavish Homes Pricing