Author: TSGiM

In our day and age, moving into a more spacious place is becoming more and more expensive. But what do you do when you get a new family member and you don’t have an extra room?

The answer is to turn your basement into a bedroom.

And here is how you do it.

The process of turning your basement into a bedroom (or office, or home theater) is in fact not as daunting as many might think. A good Toronto basement renovations company will do this for you in short order and within your budget. The increase in living space – not to mention property value – will sure be well worth the investment. So how is it done?

There Are 6 Steps to any Basement Renovations Project

1. Build up the Basement Walls

The typical basement is either too big to be used as one room, or has bare concrete finish – or both – which means that some basic framing is in order. Building up a framework is simplest using 2/4 boards. You can nail the wood together either with nails or a nail gun. The drywall goes on top of that. Don’t underestimate the importance of good workmanship with either step. Bad drywall or loose lumber will leave the place poorly protected from drafts and humidity. In a basement, it’s a very important thing.

1. Installing the Basement Ceiling

Basements typically have higher ceilings, also unfinished concrete. This means you will need to install a ceiling above the space. This job should also be done by professionals, if you are to avoid hazards. The popular choice is drop ceilings made of lightweight tiles. Make sure to plan your lighting in advance, so you don’t have to build it into an already finished ceiling after.

1. Paint the Walls

Once the drywall is installed and fully dried, it’s time put some paint on it.  Make sure you use primer first, and only then apply the paint. You can repaint the walls directly next time around, but new drywall has to be primed before you paint it the first time. An important thing to know here is that you should install the trim only after painting the walls. This will allow you to avoid the hassle of protecting the trim from the paint.

1. Basement Lighting

When it comes to lighting, there are many choices, including overhead lights, pot lights, floor lamps, and wall mounted lighting. Consult with your Toronto basement renovations specialists for the best choice for your particular project.

1. Install the Basement Floors

We’re almost done, and now it’s time to choose and install the flooring. Basements tend to be a bit damp, so wall-to-wall carpets are not necessarily a good idea. Tile and vinyl are the safest choices, since they allow you to remove and replace individual parts as needed. Most people put a nice area rug on top to make the place warm and cozy. If you really want to go with carpets, then installing carpet squares is advisable.

That’s is!

All that’s left is to put some nice furniture inside and there you have it – your own, very new, extra room. If you want to know more about materials, prices and discounts – the Royal Home Improvement group is here for you.

Call us now and get your dream basement bedroom project on the way!

The kitchen is the heart of any home. Many families cook and have their meals there, and if the kitchen is adjacent to the living room, it is often part of the area where guests will mingle during parties.

The kitchen is also a part of the house that you wish to have in top condition. An outdated living room may be a style statement, passing off as “retro”, but an outdated kitchen will truly look a bit old and shabby. This makes the kitchen the first candidate for an upcoming home renovations project.

But of all the available styles, what do you choose?

Far be it from us to tell you what to choose, but we can gladly give you an overview of the hottest, most trendy styles in Toronto kitchen renovations for 2016.

It will still be a hard pick, but it will definitely allow you to choose from the latest, most popular trends out there!

So, to cut the intro short, here they are.

The Hottest Kitchen Renovation Trends of 2016

Pastel Paradise

This style is a neoclassical reaction to the somewhat gaudy, flashy styles that hit us in 2013-2015. This style is still based on white motifs, but the accents lean toward the more subdued hues of beige and mocha. Greens and blues are also coming back, in their pastel-y incarnations. Charcoal gray is the choice of homeowners who wish to combine this with a somewhat industrial, urban look. Exposed wood finishes in less saturated hues also look great with this color pallet. One of the main advantages of this kitchen style is the abundant soft textures masking minor imperfections a kitchen naturally acquires over time, preserving its look for far longer than a sparkling shiny kitchen with sleek surfaces would.

Back to the 80’s

This is another new style, a variation of the good old 80’s. It takes the bold colors of recent years in Toronto kitchen renovations trends, and throws them together into a wild mix. The smooth, sleek surfaces are replaced with mosaics in the same bright colors. Backsplashes are set with high-gloss mirror surfaces, in elegant and refined finish. Some owners add a few exposed wood accents here and there for a very unique mix of looks.

“New” New Age

This takes the chrome-and-stainless-steel look to a whole new level, with LED light accents and hi-tech gadgetry all over. This style of kitchen is fitted with smart-device-controlled appliances, like built in steamers, coffee makers and wine coolers, all supplied with control panels on digital screens. This kitchen is often outfitted with hidden device charging panels and other built-in tech goodies. Of course, the lights and faucets in this kitchen are motion activated, to conserve fuss and energy.

There is more, but those three are definitely the biggest, most popular kitchen renovations styles in Toronto in 2016 and in our opinion, for a few more years to come. They are just good, and while we will see variations of them, they will certainly not be replaced by anything new any time soon.

For more information on kitchen renovations, feel free to browse our catalogue or contact us directly.

Royal Home Improvements team is here for you!

Home renovations are a large commitment. You are investing top dollar in the project, and wish it to be done to the highest standard, giving you the maximum value for your money.

But how do you choose a residential renovation general contractor out of the dozens available on the market nowadays?

In any city, town or area, there will be a great number of companies offering residential home renovation services. Some will focus on smaller jobs, such as painting and minor improvements, others can do major renovations such as moving walls and adding rooms or whole storeys to your home.

Outline Your Needs

The first thing you need to do, even before you go shopping for a residential home improvement company, is to sketch out your project’s outlines. How big do you want to go? Do you wish to go small-scale and make minor improvements, or do you plan to work large-scale and remodel entire rooms? Once you have this outline in mind, you can go out there and start looking for a contractor that has experience in the type, and scale, of renovations you have planned that will fit your budget.

Examine their Credentials

Once you found a residential renovation general contractor with a decent portfolio of the renovation jobs you are looking for, check their licensing and certifications. Being physically capable of doing the job is not quite enough to qualify for it. The job needs to be legal and proper if you are to avoid liabilities. See if they have all necessary permits for the jobs they do. Any electrical and plumbing work should only be done by trained and certified professionals. Those certifications are what makes the huge difference between a handyman and a professional residential renovation general contractor

Ask for References

Once your contractor is cleared for relevant experience and full credentials, it’s time to get more personal. The way to make sure you get what you were shown is by asking the contractor to give you his references. Every contractor has a list of happy clients willing to talk to you and testify that the job they got was really as good as it looks in the photos. Also, a renovations job is not only the end result. It is more than that. You’ll want to know how they handled any issues and if they were able to maintain a schedule. Once you got that cleared, it’s time to move on to the next step.

On to the Interview

Once you’ve gone through the previous steps, it’s time to jump in and shake some hands. This is where you get to meet the people you are going to work with, get your options laid out in front of you and make some real decisions.

Always be very specific with what you are looking for and the budget you have available. Setting your expectations early will ensure there are no surprised or miscommunication. Make sure you like what they have to offer and see if they have a genuine interest in making sure you are happy. A responsible professional will sit with you to plan the project down to the smallest detail, running you through materials, design styles and catalogues until you are absolutely happy with the plan.

The definition of best exterior designer or exterior design consultant in Toronto is claimed by many, while at the same time it’s too vague to have one simple answer for, making the title exterior house design consultant a complicated one.

One designer specializes in a certain style even home’s exterior, another is good at landscaping design and a third will make your house look like a palace but may turn out to be too expensive.

We at Royal Home Improvements tend to think that the best home designer is in fact the homeowner.

You are the one who will have the ultimate say on how your home is going to look. The rest of us; designers, home improvers, builders and painters are only there to give you advice and provide you with design options to choose from.

Exterior Design Ideas from Toronto’s Exterior Design Experts

As home improvement specialists, we have abundant experience in exterior design, as well as everything necessary to implement the project, putting it to life.

Moreover, unlike a designer, we can plan and execute complex projects, such as window frame replacement, porch stair and tile building and more.

When you are planning your exterior design project, the best thing to do is decide on what you wish to achieve and what is your financial limit for the project. Let’s take the budget as a reference point and see what can be done, starting from the cheapest design upgrades and moving on to more complex improvements.

Exterior Design On a Budget? Paint It!

If you have a modest budget and wish to achieve a pleasing effect, the thing to go for is paint. Older homes have older looks, which is easy to fix with a fresh coat of paint. If you wish to get a modern look, take some time to research recent color trends for house exteriors. There will definitely be one in there that will catch your eye. Go for it.

Moving on to the Framework

Windows, doors and porches. You can apply the same principle to them as you did with exterior walls, and refresh them with new paint, but there is more you can do with them too. Replacing wood porch rails and window frames with modern looking ones, made of other materials, may give your home a fresher look and increased durability. As we all know, wood warps and causes paint to crack. The alternatives may save you from that and last longer.

The Power of Landscaping

Many people don’t realize how much the front yard affects the look of a house. Replacing the old, overgrown garden with modern, sprinkler-watered landscaping can turn a dull home into one with eye-catching curb appeal. Adding decorative statuary is also an option, depending on your taste, and will not cost nearly as much as you might think.

Exterior Lighting

Lighting plays an important role in how the place looks. Adding pot lights in the walkway and in other strategic spots, including highlights in the garden, can enliven the place a great deal.

If you are itching to start and/or wish to get more ideas and advice from your Toronto exterior design professionals for a exterior design consultation for design guidance and design services, call Royal Home Improvement now. We are here for you!

When you live in a house for many years, it grows on you. You know where everything is, the room layout, the creaking stair on the way to the basement. With age, we grow even more fond of our dwellings, and are more reluctant to leave them.
But as old age sets in, the large house becomes more and more difficult to operate. First, hard tasks like window or gutter cleaning become too daunting. Repairs slowly become taxing and tiring. At some point the stairways and other parts of the house become too difficult to navigate. This is when many elderly couples decide in favor of moving into a condo, where there are no maintenance chores, no stairs and other things to worry about.
And it’s never a happy moment…
There is a solution to this, however. There is no need to move out into another place where you will feel comfortable and safe. You can make your old home comfortable again. Royal Home Improvement has a list of aging in place home design ideas that will make your home easier for you to live in, eliminating the need to move out, leaving it behind.
What Does Aging in Place Mean?
Aging in place means adding certain features and introducing modifications to your house, which aim to achieve two main goals:
1. Eliminate Dangerous Elements, such as slippery surfaces, steep stairs, low-visibility rooms.
2. Increasing Home Accessibility, which includes adding a ramp for the front porch, rails in the stairwells, barrier-free showers and more.
When you consider the costs, (which are in fact surprisingly modest) you will realize this is a small effort compared to the necessity to leave. Aging in place home design modifications will allow you to remain in your home, living safely and comfortably.
To make it simple for our readers to assess the project at hand and decide what they do or do not wish to include in it, our aging in place specialists have composed this list of recommended modifications:
1. Accessibility. The main thing to think of is access. Adding a ramp to the entrances of your home are ideal to avoid trips and falls, but it may the most reasonable option indoors. The home lift technology is becoming more and more accessible in terms of purchase and installation costs, and can turn what seemed like an impossibly hard climb into a short, easy ride. Accessibility also refers to the layout of your home.. A narrow hallway or small powder room may not allow for a wheel chair to move and turn. Royal Home Improvements can help identify these road-blocks and offer solutions.
2. Safety. This mainly refers to bathrooms and kitchens where elevated shelving can be difficult to reach, or stepping into a traditional tub may lead to a slip or fall. Bathrooms can be equipped with grab bars and a walk-in shower, or a walk-in bathtub. Including comfort height toilets and benches will allow for easy transitions.
3. Lighting. Relocating light switches to a lower height will ensure you can use them easily without too much of a reach. You may also want to consider swapping out low-light bulbs with something that will illuminate all the dark corners.
There is more to it of course, about which we’ll be glad to give you more advice, sharing our experience. Give us a call and we will do our best to help get your aging in place home design project on the way.

Deciding on a kitchen or bathroom countertop can be a pretty hard experience, but once you’ve read this neat breakdown, you’ll be doing it like a pro.

Principle No1: Never choose based on looks alone. Take into consideration the surface material’s durability, maintenance needs and cost, to make sure your decision is balanced.

Principle No2: Fit the choice to your lifestyle. If you have a large family and a small army of young humans attacks your countertop with peanut butter & jelly sandwiches on a regular basis, white granite may not be the best choice. Choose the countertop based on the type of use your kitchen is going to see. If you wanted a certain look but we just spoiled things for you, don’t worry – there is likely another material that will serve as needed and look the part.

Natural Stone Countertops

Granite has been considered the best choice in the category. It comes in a multitude of colors, from black and green to coral and beige. It has a natural, unique look and comes in two finishes – polished and matte. There are other types of natural stone to choose from, such as limestone and marble. Although they look amazing, they are softer and therefore there is a greater risk of becoming stained and damaged. Sealing natural stone is required every now and again to keep it safe.

Engineered Stone Countertops

This type of countertop lacks the natural look of the previous category, but has all the other characteristics of natural stone, and then some. Quartz composite has gained popularity over the last year due to the depth and radiance not found in other material. The variety of colors, for one, is much greater. They are also much more durable and non-demanding when in terms of maintenance. The price is roughly the same between engineered and natural stone, but it will likely last longer, so there are savings down the road.

Solid Surface Countertops

Those have lots of appeal, and come in many colors. They are one-piece, solid surfaces and are extremely stain resistant. They can be damaged by hot pans, but are otherwise very durable.

Concrete Countertops

Customizable down to their shades and pigments, this choice is rising in popularity, and fast. It comes in smooth, sanded, and pressed finishes. It can be damaged by extreme temperatures and can be rather easily discolored, so buy this only if you know you will treat it with care or seal it every few months.

Wood Countertops

If you like the feel of wood and the way the butcher’s block surface warms up a kitchen, this one’s for you. Easily stained and scratched but repair is possible by sanding and refinishing. Oil it frequently to protect it from water, and it will keep you happy for a long time.

Last but not least, the Laminate Countertop is still very popular due to its affordability and variety of designs. Newer types of laminate have scratch resistant surfaces and have developed some heat resistance too. Add the price and ease of installing, and it definitely proves to be a good choice for a renovation on the budget.

For more info and advice on your Toronto kitchen renovation project, contact us today and we will help build your dream kitchen to life.