Many boomers renovate their kitchens or build their dream home to fit their lifestyles. The importance of family togetherness, has increased the popularity of kitchen renovations.
There is little in life more annoying than when the habitual elements of daily living do not function as we expect they should. For example, take the kitchen faucet: an unassuming source of annoyance to be sure.
Virtually everyone can relate to that unsettled feeling of expectance and disappointment when the kitchen faucet, due to servicing or some other failure, does not spout water on demand. And you may return to that same faucet more than once, only to groan in vain at the waterless fixture.
Home renovations in the kitchen or the bathroom have the power to catch you off guard in a multitude of ways, far beyond no water being available where there is usually plenty. When high traffic areas such as the kitchen or a bathroom are out of order, inconvenience is inevitable. Renovation companies that specialize in bathroom and kitchen renovations should work hard to streamline the process, but even this won’t eliminate the need for some adjustment.
Take the time to research options that conserve energy and water. There are many steps you can take, even without doing major renovations that can conserve water and energy in your home. Brushing your teeth with the tap running, rinsing dishes under a running tap and using the toilet as a garbage disposal device are all major water wasters.
When you are doing renovations it gives you an opportunity to look at low flush toilets, low flow shower heads and other cost effective and energy efficient changes. Check information sources such as the One Day Vancouver website for more information. The City of Vancouver actively supports sustainability and energy consciousness, leading the way to a healthier greener city. New bylaws require toilets to use 5 litres or less per flush and in the future we can expect to see rainwater recycled into new multi-family construction for use in toilets.
Most importantly, one should be choosy when selecting a kitchen and bath renovation company. After all, the company employees will become your temporary roommates for the duration of the project. Ask for the references from previous renovation projects.
Call the references, and ask what they liked about the renovations, and what they didn’t like. This information will go a long way in helping you make decisions about what will work for you, and what won’t.
The Greater Vancouver Homebuilders Association is a good source of information on renovation companies, as well as the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Another resource for customer satisfaction is the Better Business Bureau. Precautionary research now can save huge headaches later.
Once you have selected a renovation company and before the buzz saws start to spin and the drywall dust starts to fly, consider the following 3 P’s of bath and kitchen renovations:
Patience. Delays happen. There is a chance that the odd unforeseen quirk of your unique renovation project may add up to being weeks over schedule, which, can be disappointing, but not unusual. There is also a chance the renovations may be a week under schedule—be optimistic!
Renovations take time, money, and patience. But in the end, the storm of chaos will seem like a blip in time compared to the dream kitchen or bathroom you will enjoy for years to come.
Plan. Work out a preliminary schedule ahead of time with your renovation company before work starts. This timeline will help you keep track of what is or is not happening throughout the renovation process.
Prepare. Your home will be dusty and noisy for the duration of the renovation. However, a good renovation company will attempt to minimize any inconveniences to you. Some examples of inconvenience minimization provided by conscientious companies include: ensuring running water remains available in the kitchen area; creating a pseudo-kitchen for use while the renovations are in full swing; frequently used items should be disconnected at the last possible moment and hooked back up at the earliest opportunity.
