A question
every homeowner
needs to ask is
whether this
is a DIY project
or one for a
professional.
The kitchen ‘before.’
air conditioning units, insulation, or e-rated
appliances. New appliances can be a money saver if
the old ones aren’t up to today’s energy standards.
If your family needs more room to spread out,
then renovating unfinished space such as the
basement could be a great investment. Adding a
legal rental suite may be the right move if you have
unused space that could be bringing in
some much-needed income.
A question every homeowner needs to
ask is whether this is a DIY project or one for
a professional.
I consider any renovation requiring a permit to
be a good opportunity to bring in a contractor or
professional. I don’t mess with electricity (except
in very simple situations) and I wouldn’t ever make
any structural changes without proper consultation.
On the flip side, there are many tasks that are
perfect for the home handyman. Many of today’s
flooring products are easy to install with a minimal
number of tools and a modicum of patience. Some
plumbing projects are well within the means of the
average homeowner, such as swapping out a toilet
or faucet. A word of caution: once you’re absolutely
40 | arta.net
certain the water has been turned off, check one
more time.
Doing it yourself has become much easier in
recent years with a plethora of user-friendly
products entering the market. YouTube videos
are in abundance; just about any project will have
videos available to walk you through it.
Before any renovation begins, the first step is to
take into consideration everyone’s ideas and vision
for the design. When undertaking such a stressful
endeavour, you’ll need the whole household to be
enthusiastic and supportive. Good luck. ●
Dr. Jane Thrall is a retired optometrist, a freelance
writer, and a skilled user of hammers and saws. She
has written articles for news&views on subjects as
diverse as cataract surgery and glamping.