The journal
Guides to better renovations.
Renovation guides for Ontario homeowners: choosing a contractor, building permits, legal basement apartments, finishing a basement and aging in place.
Older Homes ·
Renovating a Century Home in Ontario: What Is Behind the Walls
Century homes reward a careful renovation and punish a careless one. Here is what is usually behind the plaster, how to plan for it, and what is worth keeping.
Older Homes ·
Renovating a Post-War Bungalow: Open Concept, Basement Suites and More
Post-war bungalows are some of the most renovation-friendly houses in Ontario. Here is what they typically need and the projects that suit them best.
Permits ·
Do I Need a Building Permit? An Ontario Renovation Guide
Which renovations need a building permit in Ontario, which usually do not, and why the permit protects you when it is time to sell.
Older Homes ·
Knob-and-Tube, Aluminum Wiring, Poly-B and Kitec: What to Know Before You Renovate
Four materials that turn up in Ontario homes and affect insurance, safety and renovation plans, and what to do about each one.
Permits ·
Renovating Near Water: Conservation Authority Permits in Ontario
If your property is near a lake, river, creek, valley or wetland, a conservation authority permit may be needed before your building permit. Here is how it works.
Rural Homes ·
Adding Bedrooms, Bathrooms or a Suite to a Home on Septic
On a private septic system, adding bedrooms, bathrooms or a second unit can mean the system needs review or an upgrade. Here is how to plan for it.
Buying Guide ·
How to Choose a Renovation Contractor in Ontario
Two renovation quotes for the same project can look nothing alike. Here is how to compare them fairly: scope, permits, trades, schedule and the questions worth asking.
Basement Apartments ·
Building a Legal Basement Apartment in Ontario: What to Know First
A legal secondary suite can bring in rental income or keep family close. Here is what makes a basement apartment legal, and what to check before you start.
Basements ·
Finishing a Basement: What to Plan for Before You Frame
Moisture, insulation, ceiling height, egress and permits: the five things that decide whether a finished basement feels like part of the house.
Accessibility ·
Aging in Place: Renovations That Make a Home Safer
Curbless showers, grab bars, wider doorways and a main-floor bedroom: the changes that do the most to help you stay in your home.
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