Name: Royal Home Improvements
Address: 202 - 2601 Matheson Boulevard East, Mississauga, ON, L4W 5A8, CA
Telephone: 416-236-4400

Bathroom Renovations: Your Next Home Remodeling Goal

Posted on July 21, 2017March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

Aside from your kitchen, your bathroom is one of the most important spaces in your home.

Not only do family members spend a lot of time in the bathroom (some more than others) getting ready for their day, it’s also a place used for a bit of refuge and relaxation. It’s no wonder then that many people think about bathroom renovations as a top priority when they’re considering home upgrades.

Remodeling bathrooms doesn’t need to be an overly pricey proposition, with the right contractor and smart bathroom design. The possibilities are vast – you can add a massage tub using soothing jets to help the stress of the day melt away, or even build a sit-down shower.

Another popular addition during bathroom renovations is to add a double-sink vanity, allowing two people to groom at the same time. This option opens up the opportunity to add a larger mirror, which can be lit from above or from the sides for the best visibility.

This is of course is also the perfect time to choose a new bathroom paint scheme that is relaxing (earthy tones are always popular), and to redo the flooring (make sure it’s a waterproof plank or tile).

But how do you upgrade for a small bathroom? A smart bathroom design can also enhance even a tiny bathroom space, while improving its function and that of the surrounding space. For example, you could relocate a bathroom wall and create a hallway closet space for much-needed additional storage.

Instead of a long tub with a shower in an already cramped bathroom, you can replace it with an enclosed shower that has a rain showerhead that dispenses water directly from above. You can also replace any bulky hanging lights with LED pot lights, which save space as well as energy.

Letting an expert general contractor assess your bathroom space can help you transform it, and you can do it in less time and for less money than you may expect. Make sure you choose a contractor that has a portfolio of bathroom renovations to show, and that can handle everything from demolition, to drywalling, to installing or moving plumbing.

Putting bathroom renovations as your to-do list on your checklist is a great way to improve the overall feel of your home, and studies have shown it’s also one of the best in terms of return on investment. So don’t put off remodeling bathroom spaces in your home any longer!

Advantages Of Hiring General Contractors for Home Renovations

Posted on July 4, 2017March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

There are really only two ways to complete home renovations – you can decide to do it yourself, or you can hire qualified home renovation contractors.

Some people may hesitate to hire a professional, because they think it will end up costing them more than it should. However, good general contractors will provide you a written estimate up front with no pressure tactics, and they generally have a track record of past projects to draw from.

A general contractor will also have all the skilled trades needed (whether they’re on staff or subcontractors) to complete a project – that includes plumbers, electricians, and roofers. This means you can hire one company that offers all of these services, rather than searching out multiple local residential contractors. Having a variety of tradespeople from one source also means the project will probably go smoother, as the scheduling and logistics will all be taken care of on your behalf.

General contractors that have a history in the building industry most likely have a trusted network of material suppliers, helping to keep costs down. Working with good home renovation contractors also means you can probably expect a warranty on certain materials as well as the workmanship.

Another big plus of hiring qualified remodeling contractors is that they are insured against anything that happens to go wrong. This also means you won’t be held liable if there’s an accident on your site.

So, if you’re considering a home renovation, ask yourself some key questions – such as do you have the time and skills to complete the job? You may think you can tackle a big renovation, but then run out of time (or money) and end up hiring general contractors to complete the project. You also should consider whether you have the proper permits to do the work yourself – in many cases, you could face fines and even making additional alterations to meet safety standards if you do it yourself. In the case of electrical and plumbing in particular, unless you’re a trained professional, you should always hire home renovation contractors that specialize in these services so you don’t get burned (or flooded).

If you decide to do the job yourself, by the time you calculate how long it will take and how much the materials cost (unless you get contractors’ rates from a supplier), you’ll probably end up paying more than you expected. It makes a lot more sense to let general contractors handle the work, so you have a budget and a timeline up front. Also, more than likely the end product will look and function better than if you do it yourself – and isn’t that the most important element of a home improvement?

What To Consider When Creating An Open Concept Renovation

Posted on June 30, 2017March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

Many homeowners are familiar with the term “open concept,” and just like the term implies, these modern floor plans are wide open to ideas when it comes to completing open concept renovations.

The general idea is to maintain functional spaces (such as a kitchen and a living room area), but with better sightlines through the home – and that can mean removing walls and other obstructions. One important thing to consider when creating open concept home plans is whether the walls you want to remove are load-bearing. This will require the expertise of a general contractor that’s familiar with interior walls – as removing the wrong ones could be catastrophic. You may also have to reroute electrical lines or ventilation as well in the process.

Open concept home plans can include a kitchen remodel that blends the closed-off space where you cook with the dining room and living space. This may seem a little daunting at first, but you can still maintain a unique feel for the kitchen by adding flooring that is unique to what’s around it (don’t be afraid of adding something bold, like a checkered floor that’s water resistant). You can also use elegant or modern lighting to create a certain feel in the kitchen – and this is also your chance to add a kitchen island for additional countertop area if space was too limited in the closed kitchen beforehand.

Once you’ve opened up your entire main floor, you’ll probably also want to repaint the whole area for continuity. If your home was mostly whites or neutral colours, you might be in luck, as all you have to do is add some pops of colour as accents to prevent the space from looking too bland. However, a professional contractor and designer can help creatively separate rooms within your open concept renovations by using multiple colours from one space to the next that complement each other. You can also create colour themes for each room with similarly patterned furniture and accents.

Open concept home plans show no signs of going out of style any time soon, so if you’re considering some interior renovations or a kitchen remodel on its own, consider incorporating these open modern floor plans into the big picture. You’ll create a more traffic-friendly area in your home, and you’ll be able to see what’s happening with your kids in the living room while you prepare dinner in your newly renovated kitchen!

Just remember – when creating an open concept, it often means less is more. Removing clutter and opening up unnecessary walls can completely change the feel of your home, let more light in, and make it more inviting!

Important Information When Thinking Of Building a Home Addition In The GTA

Posted on June 6, 2017March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

Your family is outgrowing your existing home, so what do you do? List your property on the market and move?

Luckily, you don’t have to. There are other options besides leaving your family home that you’ve already put so much love and work into. Home additions are a great solution to open up floor space and let you reallocate uses to existing spaces.

However, you should have a clear plan about the addition, which will be made a lot easier when you work with a general contractor that specializes in this area. An expert will help you determine what the use is for the new space, and help design it with this in mind while staying within your budget. For example, are you looking to build a mudroom to have a place for the kids to put their soggy boots when they come in from the yard? Or are you looking for an area to use for storage or for quietly lounging with a book?

Whatever the reason, having a clear purpose for building additions to your home can help determine the scale of the project as well as the required features, so the extra space fits your needs without going overboard.

Aside from knowing exactly how much additional square footage you require, you should also consider the exterior of the addition. Do you want it to look unique from the rest of the home, or blend in with the existing look? This is an important detail to discuss with the builder.

Of course, you’ll also want to make sure the expenditure makes sense in the first place, whether you’re using your home equity for the project or you’ve put money aside for home improvements.

From an investment standpoint, you should also figure out whether you’re getting good value from the home addition. For example, if you’re adding more space to boost market value of the house down the road, do some local market research to find out whether you’re paying significantly more than you can expect as a return on your investment.

You may need to move out in order to allow for construction. Once this is determined with your general contractor, you should start looking for temporary housing ASAP as it is not easy to find a family member or landlord that can provide accommodations that suite your family’s needs. Another process you should get a jump on early is securing financing. Sometimes the back and forth between homeowners and lenders can take longer than expected. It is also important to know where your budget is in order to come up with a scope of work with your contractor that maximizes value.

Another advantage of using experienced contractors is that they will know the procedures when it comes to building home additions, and will secure the proper permits from the municipality to ensure the project goes smoothly.

The design and permit application process in the City of Toronto can be time consuming and tricky for first timers. Working with a general contractor or design/build firm that can take care of this process is key if you want to avoid delays before the project even starts. It is important to work with someone who has knowledge of existing zoning by laws and the permit process. Depending on what you want to build and where you want to build it within the GTA, you may end up wishing for something that goes against current zoning bylaws. In that case, you will need to have Committee of Adjustment hearing to ask for permission. This process can add weeks and even months onto your project timeline and you will want to work with someone who can advise you on the process early on in your venture to avoid any unforeseen hold-ups.

Keep in mind that modular home additions can cut down on project time, as the components are prefabricated off-site and then assembled with no additional construction required on your property. Some general contractors offer this option as an alternative to building additions to your home from scratch on the premises.

Home additions are a great solution to upgrade your home at a reasonable cost, and when you’ve marked the above points off your checklist, you can get to building and enjoying the new space!

Why are Kitchen Renovations Necessary to Boost Your House Value?

Posted on May 17, 2017March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

The kitchen – it’s where your family spends a lot of quality time together, and it’s also where you put your heart and soul making meals that your loved ones will enjoy. When you host a get-together, it’s where guests inevitably gravitate to for lively conversation and snacks.

It’s no surprise then that house hunters often judge your home’s worth by the state of the kitchen. Located in the heart of your house, the kitchen can influence the selling price of the property – and the quality of the offers you will get.

That’s why kitchen renovations are one of the first upgrades you should consider when you’re looking to improve the look and function of your home, while maximizing your return on investment. Whether you’re refinishing cabinets, adding new hardware, installing new countertops, applying new paint or enhancing the lighting, an attractive kitchen will surely attract more quality buyers.

Even a small kitchen remodeling project that doesn’t involve replacing all the components can boost your home’s value by a significant amount. In fact, a number of experts suggest you should put your dollars into giving your kitchen a facelift rather than spending it on minor maintenance that people probably won’t notice. Even a minor kitchen remodel can recoup around 93 percent of its cost at resale, while a major kitchen upgrade can pay for itself entirely (or more).

One of the keys in unlocking the most potential in your kitchen is hiring a professional contractor in GTA that specializes in kitchen upgrades. It can ensure you’re getting the best value for your money, and can provide an accurate estimate as a cost calculator so there are no unpleasant surprises once you receive the final invoice.

Meanwhile, consider that the bathroom is another hot spot for potential buyers – so don’t bury a bathroom remodel job on your list of to-dos when you’re preparing your home for sale. You can expect a similar return on investment by upgrading your bathroom or adding a new one as you would from a kitchen renovation.

A good contractor not only provides quality workmanship, but can also offer great design ideas to help your home look and function at its best. It will also use quality materials and back up its work with a guarantee. Don’t hire the contractor unless you’ve seen some of the previous kitchen renovation projects completed by the company, or they have provided solid references.

Once you’ve hired the right contractor to complete the job, the only thing left to do is sit back and admire your new kitchen!

Requirements For Condo Renovations You Must Know

Posted on March 30, 2017March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

Unlike a house, which is essentially your private property, condo owners are under much more regulation when it comes to renovating the unit.

Since Toronto is the Canadian capital of condo living, and their number is always on the rise, we decided to answer an important question.

What are the rules you need to follow when you’re planning your condo renovation project?

Keep the Corporation Informed

You may not need a building permit for most work you’d plan inside your unit, but securing the approval and cooperation of the condo board is almost always needed. It will save inconvenient questions, surprises and obstructions. Besides, you will need their help in putting notices out for other residents, getting the freight elevator without trouble or delays, and other little things you will wish to get out of the way with ease. This bit also covers finding out what you’ll need to deposit for insurance, permitted working hours in the condo, noise restrictions, and more.

Are All Your Condo Renovation Ideas Possible?

This rule stems from the latter but deserves its separate place. Some condo corporations ban certain types of changes to be made to the condo units. This touches mostly on the balcony and hallway doors, but not only. Some condos can’t be renovated in certain parts of the unit due to potential damage, or other considerations. This especially pertains to changes that have to do with plumbing and electrical systems, because they affect other units in the building. And even if the plumbing work you have planned is allowed, the corporation may need to stop the water for a period of time for safety considerations. Find this out out in advance – this is not something you want to bump into when the renovation crew is already on site.

Material Delivery and Disposal

Large renovation projects entail the delivery of so and so amount of materials and removal of so and so amounts of waste. Planning this out in advance will save you lots of hassle down the road. Figure out how you’ll be getting the stuff in, where you’re going to be storing it and how you’re going to get rid of the waste, on a daily basis. Hallways may need to be protected by nylon sheets and a bin may need to be placed downstairs.

Hope this helps! Do you have more questions about renovating a condo rules? Are you planning your own renovation, fishing for best condo upgrades?

Call Royal Home Improvement today and get your condo renovation on the way!

How to Lower the Cost Of Home Renovations in Toronto

Posted on March 28, 2017March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

Everybody knows home renovations can raise the value of your property. What everybody also knows is that they can cost a pretty penny as well.

So how do you get the new refreshing look you always wanted, without breaking your piggy bank?

Your Toronto home improvements experts are always at your service and have a list of tips that would help you achieve your goal.

Get Professionals

This is rule number one. Unless you are a seasoned contractor with a bunch of friends who can legally work on plumbing, roofing, and do electric work, spare yourself the disaster a DIY project can entail. Even legal considerations aside, DIY projects, despite popular belief, end up costing more. As a private homeowner, you can only get the materials at retail prices. Ontario home renovation contractors get them wholesale, which is a fraction of the cost. Then there are tools which they have, and which you’ll need to either buy or rent. The list goes on and on. Kick back, open a tall can or two and let others sweat it out. It really is cheaper this way.

Alternative Materials

We live in an age of wonders. There are polymeric compounds that can look like stone tiles, substitutes for wooden window frames, amazing cabinet materials with convincing wood-like finishes, and more. Switching between a natural material to a substitute will have no significant aesthetic effect, but it can drop your renovation cost a by few thousands.

Reuse What You Can

While it is tempting to do out with the old, some things can be kept and just repaired, retouched, or even repurposed. For example, old flat-packed furniture is made of sturdy wood that can be reused to build shelving units. Old armchairs or sofas don’t have to be thrown out if they can just be reupholstered. There’s a lot we can advise you on, but you get the idea.

Avoid Moving Plumbing

This is a big one. Plumbing is expensive. The pipes themselves are no trouble, it’s getting to them which is. Ripping through hardwood floors to expose the pipes is a huge expense you’d rather not go into. Kitchen and bathroom renovations should keep the facilities – taps and drains – in the same place.

Those were just the four big things that can make your Toronto home renovations much more affordable.

Choose to work with Royal Home Improvements, one of the best renovation companies in Toronto, and we’ll make sure your renovation costs less, but looks like a million dollars!

Kitchen Renovations: Best Remodeling Ideas for Your Kitchen

Posted on February 27, 2017March 3, 2023 by TSGiM

The kitchen is one of the most important parts of the house. Combining appliances, storage, lighting; each of which must function properly and be well planned for ease of use and elegant appearance.

Toronto kitchen renovation projects start with efficiency. This term has always meant that things should be accessible, durable and generally well planned. In the 21st century, Toronto interior design also has the factor of planning for hi-tech gadgetry and modern electronics to make any kitchen into a technological marvel.

Let’s take a look at some gadgets that can boost your kitchen to a new level of cool.

Motion Sensors and Remote Controls

If your first thought was light switches, you are correct, but there are more options than that! You can program your kitchen lights to work only when someone is in the room, but it can also apply to lights inside the cabinets themselves. Motor driven storage compartments that slide on rails are not a thing of the future anymore. Motion activated water taps are also here to stay and are becoming the default in many households.

High-Tech Appliances

This is a section you can write a whole book about, but the general message is that microwave ovens, convection ovens, dishwashers and even garbage disposal units are becoming increasingly user-friendly while saving you time and money. They can connect to your phone allowing you to remotely start dinner before you have even left work, and generally run quite a bit of your kitchen for you.

Now let’s talk a bit about modern trends in kitchen layouts.

Open Sesame

The kitchen is not a place to be hidden from the rest of the home anymore. We cook, eat and entertain there, meaning the open concept is also here to stay. As far as the appearance goes, it’s still an entirely personal choice. You can go for a classic style, with white cupboards and chrome finishes, or choose a more modern look that combines natural wood and matte black appliances. If you are having a hard time piecing together elements you love, try creating an idea book, or give Royal Home Improvements a call to help you with the design!

Divide and Conquer

Most people with an open concept kitchen have difficulty keeping the cooking process (and the mess it produces) out of sight. This is helped by another new trend in Toronto modern kitchen renovations – the pantry.

The new pantry can have storage shelves and prep spaces, dishwasher, fridge and most cooking gear, while the open kitchen area can have all that you need for serving and entertaining guests, such as the bar and serving dishes.

If you like those ideas as much as we do and want to get more remodeling ideas for kitchens, contact us today. Your dream kitchen is just a call away.

Royal Home Improvements offers free estimates by calling 416-236-4400.

Home Additions to Raise the Value of Your Property

Posted on February 20, 2017 by TSGiM

As a bonus to improving your family’s lifestyle, home remodelling and home additions can bring up your property’s value, so it sells much better down the road.

If you are considering what exactly to do when you renovate, here are the five main home renovations / home additions that cost relatively little, and gain you much, much more.

Continue reading “Home Additions to Raise the Value of Your Property”

Bathroom Remodeling and Renovations For Your Home

Posted on February 15, 2017February 21, 2023 by TSGiM

The bathroom is where we wash away the day’s tension and get ready for a relaxing evening at home. We also begin our day there, so it is important that the place looks and feels nice. Not necessarily a 5 Star Hotel SPA, but not without its luxury, right?

Continue reading “Bathroom Remodeling and Renovations For Your Home”

Author: TSGiM