Planning a renovation in Saskatoon ? Trusted Saskatoon Contractors can help! They offer a wide range of General Contracting services for all aspects of both residential and commercial renovations. Their management teams will work with you to ensure that you get the services you want, within the timeframe and budget that you determine. Professional, reliable and skilled to transform your space into something a little more luxurious, functional or enjoyable.

TrustedSaskatoon.com Talk to the Experts – Trusted Renovation & Style show Questions 

PART 2:

Kori Black Whelan: My husband and I were thinking of solar panels for our house. Do you know what products are available, best rated and decently affordable at the same time?

A: Kori, this question I would have to ask you to contact some of the different companies that deal in solar panels. I would have to contact companies that would be able to advise me on products. Do your research online and there should be contacts for this.

Adele Bandet: Hello my question is about allergy and prevention,My husband and I have three son's, two of the three have cold induced urticaria, we were told that if they are sleeping and the boys bodies get too cold they could slip into a coma . My question is how do you make sure the heating is equally distributed through out your home? We have placed plug in electric fire places in their rooms- but I'm so fearful about a fire starting, so at 2am I run in and turn it off, and then at 4am I turn it back on so it doesn't over heat, every night my children are all younger -ages 9,7,5. Thank you for easing my mind, even if I don't win a prize could you possible just answer my question, an answer to this is worth far more than a prize of any kind. 

A: Adele, I am not sure if I can answer your question properly. I do ask if you have looked at consulting with a mechanical contractor if there are any settings to keep your home at the constant temperature all the time. You can also look at electric baseboard heaters. In floor heat mats that are controlled by a thermostat. These are just some suggestions but I do wish you luck in this situation.

Shawne Yona: what would you recommend for redoing the siding on a house....stucco or vinyl. It is currently vinyl but has discolored and has a couple of places with cracks. 

A: Shawne, the exterior of your home is all personal preference. We have done both applications, Vinyl or stucco with maybe some decorative stone on the front. There are also many different types of sidings that you can look at. The most affordable is vinyl siding. There are different types of stucco applications also. With any exterior renovation you can also look at upgrading your insulation, windows etc. It is a good investment to upgrade the exterior especially with an insulation upgrade also. When you decide on the products you can also upgrade your home on the front decoratively to give it street appeal.

Kyla Kuffner Pterson: Hi, what is the best way to take wallpaper off that had that special wallpaper glue from the 70's?
 
A: Kyla, I have looked at many homes with the wallpaper application you have mentioned but I have never removed any because of the glue used in the 70’s. In my conversations and research I have done on this I have only come up with removing the drywall and replacing it. I have also mentioned to go over the glue with a quality primer and skim coat the home with a drywall mud compound. I really can’t say what the proper technique would be for this but maybe someone else can offer a solution.

Miranda Young: Question - when buying a new home, what are the first things to consider before renovating? Are there any tell-tale signs of when it is not a good idea to renovate?
 
A: Miranda, when people look at a purchase of a new home they always think about the things they can do after they move in. The amount of the new home plus the cost of a renovation right after doesn’t work in a lot of cases for financial reasons. I would recommend that you start at the 2 most expensive areas of the home which are the kitchen and bathrooms. Windows, doors exterior are the next areas to look at. The cosmetic items like painting and flooring can be done over time at a leisurely pace. The other areas I mentioned can become expensive, stressful and can’t be left ½ done after you start.

Rachel Wollf: My husband and I are doing major renovations throughout our 1970s home - We're currently working on replacing the flooring, although this leads to many other questions about the layout of the home in general. We have a wall between the dining room and the living room and were wondering on whether or not it would be a good idea to remove it entirely. My question to you is: when is it a good option to look at removing a wall to make the floor-plan more open?

Neils Thor: What is the cost of putting in geothermal heating after you have built your house?
 
A: Neils, I have geothermal in my home when I built 3 years ago and I do like it. The cost difference for geothermal was one thing I looked at when I built. It was substantially more than a natural gas system (furnace). In saying that I do like my system.

I would recommend that you contact companies that install geothermal systems in homes and get pricing.

Bruce Volden: When renovating an older house, where is the best place to spend your money if you are on a limited budget?(Wiring, plumbing are all good.)

A: Bruce, Depending on the age of the home and if the electrical and plumbing are all good then I would recommend planning to upgrade the exterior envelope .windows, doors, Insulation. I would then if those areas are ok look at kitchens bathrooms and cosmetic upgrades to the home.

Here our Vet Experts share a tip on Animal Shelters:

 Resources are seldom adequate to support the large number of animals taken in by shelters. As a result many animals are euthanized.

Animal shelters, or what used to be known as pounds, are either governmental or private organizations that provide temporary homes for stray, surrendered, or abandoned pet animals. They most often house dogs and cats. The animal is kept at the shelter until it is reclaimed by the owner, adopted to a new owner, placed with another organization, or euthanized.

Unfortunately, resources are seldom adequate to support the large number of animals taken in by these organizations. As a result, animals that are not claimed by their owners, or that have temperament or health issues that cannot be corrected or treated within the resources of the organization, are often euthanized. Shelters that receive a disproportionate number of animals compared to available adopters may also euthanize animals because of space concerns.

A small number of shelters have chosen to be "no-kill" shelters, which support healthy and adoptable pets for the remainder of their lives or until they are adopted. However, as funding is limited, the number of animals that can be accepted by these organizations can be low, and some animals may not be accepted because of behavior or health concerns. "No-kill" shelters often do euthanize if they receive animals with these problems. There are no clear standards for assessing these issues, and so statistics cited about how many "adoptable" animals are euthanized or adopted can be meaningless.

Some people obtain their pets from pet stores. Millions of these pets are taken to shelters or abandoned when they get sick or are no longer wanted. Animal Welfare groups and volunteers are attempting to change that point of view by educating owners and potential owners about the lifelong commitment involved in adopting an animal, how to be a responsible pet owner, about the large number of adoptable animals available at shelters, and about the often poor condition of pet shop pets.

Animal control agencies, or nonprofit organizations contracting for animal control duties, also enforce animal-related ordinances. Some animal shelters also provide low-cost spay/neuter surgeries or veterinary care, behavior training or resources, "safe havens" for animals of abused spouses, or other services.

By contrast animal sanctuaries will look after animals for the rest of their natural life, without necessarily attempting to find them any other home. Some establishments combine the qualities of an animal shelter with those of a sanctuary.

An animal shelter can be started by anyone who has the commitment, time and desire to help homeless animals. There are many resources available to assist in establishing an animal shelter, sanctuary or animal foster home. If an organization chooses to qualify for 501(c)(3) non-profit status, there are certain criteria outlined by the Internal Revenue Service (United States) which must be met. Additionally, running a non-profit animal shelter requires good business practices and skills. The best method of determining if one has the capability to run an animal shelter is to volunteer their time at a local Humane Society or shelter facility. 

 TRUSTED SASKATOON RENOVATION EXPERTS and Saskatoon Kitchen Experts and they are waiting to help you with all your home renovation projects.

Here they share a tip on How to Design a Kitchen:

PART 1:

Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, which accounts for a lot of their challenge -- and a lot of their appeal. The same cabinets, appliances, and surfacing materials can look entirely different in someone else's home than in yours. Stock cabinets can be given a unique look with virtually unlimited specialty finishes and a change of hardware. If your budget can accommodate custom cabinets, your choices are even greater. Countertop materials already come in a great array of choices, but they can be customized even further with special routing or inset bands of another color or material. The same goes for flooring, walls, and in-kitchen dining furniture. So even if your kitchen is small and ordinary, it's not hopeless!

You can transform it into a remarkable space unlike anybody else's. Manufacturers and designers have seen it all, and the end result is that you can have all the amenities you want and need, even in a tiny kitchen. Savvy, space-saving products are available for the owner of the apartment-size condo, co-op, or townhouse kitchen. You'll find that convenience doesn't have to come only in the large economy size.

 

These large windows are the focal point of this kitchen.

 

To create a distinctive space, your first move is to look at your kitchen with an eye to what might serve as a focal point. A large window, alcove, or long wall can be the start. Take advantage of a bank of beautiful windows with an eye-catching counter that runs the length of the window wall. If you love to entertain and are lucky enough to have ample space, consider setting your room up to include two back-to-back kitchens; one with a full-size range, a fridge, ovens, and a sink, and the other with an ice-maker, a wine chiller, a second sink, a mini-fridge, and a microwave, plus an abundance of storage. Pretty much anything you dream up can be executed with the help of a talented design team. It's up to you!

Whether your space is large or small, and whether the end result you want is pretty or pretty wild, you'll do best if you stick close to the following basic recommendations.

• Try to keep the straight-line distance between the sink, fridge, and cooktop between 12 and 23 feet.
  
  
• Position the sink between the other two appliances, since it's used most often. (The sink's location may depend on pre-existing plumbing lines.)
  
  
• Allow for 36 inches of counterspace to the right and 30 inches to the left of the range and sink if at all possible; if not, allow a minimum of 24 inches and 18 inches.
  
  
• It's tempting to place a tall fridge and built-in wall oven next to each other, but try not to; each needs its own landing space on both sides of the appliance for safety.
  
  
• Try to include a minimum of 10 linear feet of both base cabinets and upper cabinets.
  
  
• Utilize lazy Susans to make potentially wasted corners fully functional.
  
  
• Use pull-out drawers rather than reach-in, conventional cabinets for greatest convenience. If you're retro-fitting existing cabinets, have pull-out trays installed.
  
  
• Consider barrier-free design and products. They make life easier for children, pregnant women, and seniors as well as individuals with disabilities. They'll also add to the longevity of your kitchen.

The biggest factor influencing what type of kitchen you come up with will be the shape of the room itself. In the next section, we will explore some kitchen-shape considerations.

 

 

Planning a renovation in Saskatoon ?Trusted Saskatoon contractors. can help! They offer a wide range of General Contracting services for all aspects of both residential and commercial renovations. Their management teams will work with you to ensure that you get the services you want, within the timeframe and budget that you determine. Professional, reliable and skilled to transform your space into something a little more luxurious, functional or enjoyable.

TrustedSaskatoon.com Talk to the Experts – Trusted Renovation & Style show Questions

PART 1:

Leanne Rollheiser: We are going to be redoing our bathroom on main floor. Is there a benefit to use the waterproof drywall for the entire bathroom ? There are five of us so many showers and baths. We do have a fan and a window. Just wondering for moisture.

A: Leanne, Great question! When you renovate a bathroom you want to ensure that the products are suitable for a high moisture area. We use behind our tubs different products when there is a ceramic tile application. We usually ask the tile contractor which products they recommend in that area. You don’t have to use moisture resistant drywall on the remaining portion of the washroom but I like to recommend that we do. The difference in the cost is so minor compared to regular drywall but the peace of mind is what you will get. With that many people using the washroom I would recommend it.

Caleigh Kimber: I have an extremely small basement bathroom, I am looking for suggestions to make it look as spacious as possible while still maintaining functionality. Any suggestions?

A: Caleigh, when you look into making a basement bathroom bigger you have to also remember that you will lose space from another area. It a lot of homes the basement bathroom walls are determined by the location of the main plumbing vent stack. This item goes from the basement floor right out the roof of the home. If you determine it is one of the walls that you want to relocate to give you a larger space then we remove the concrete floor as required to relocate this item and bring it back into the ceiling area and hook it back up to the existing. You can then enlarge your washroom. There are also other items that come into this but unless it is looked at there could be other restrictions or ideas that come to mind.

Julia Herperger: How can I budget for renovations? Any secrets? Many people under-estimate, and then are stuck with money issues.

A: Julia, when you think about renovations naturally the financing comes into the equation. Budgeting is always a factor. When we work with clients we try to discuss all options for their renovation. The budgets we set in our quotes are because in most cases the client has not determined the type or quality of the finish products. This will make for a peace of mind factor for pricing purposes. The main reason the clients go over their budget is because of changes in the contract. The items that are chosen for finish products will have a bearing on the final cost. Unknowns on the project will increase the final cost also but in most cases the contractor should be able to pre-determine the cost and explain the steps to ensure that the renovation goes smoothly. In some cases we explain to the client that they should allow in their budget for themselves after we submit a quote the amount of 10-15 % for unknowns and product change.

Becky Panter Myers: What is better and more cost effective? shingles or tin?

A: Becky, the cost difference between shingles and tin/metal is quite different. Shingles are cheaper and last 20-25 years based on the product. Tin/Metal if it is good quality will last many more years than shingles. In my area and in all the years I have been renovating homes I have never installed a metal roof on a home because of the cost difference. We have done metal roofs on commercial buildings.

Dawn Starblanet: I would like to put in a deck in the summer, What are the costs for lumber? for a few bundles or however you say it?

A: Dawn, when designing a deck you have to think about the different types of decking materials, handrails, etc. All of these items come into effect when looking for prices. We have built decks over the years using all products but we always use treated lumber for the main framing components. The decking and railings that are fastened to the framing is what the cost will be based on as well as the style of the deck you choose to build. Most decking products can be seen at lumber yards.

Laura Ellis: One question for all three experts: In each of your businesses, within the various product lines you carry, is there any focus on eco-friendly and/or Canadian sourced and manufactured materials? As a consumer I am trying to "buy Canadian" and eco-friendly as often as possible, in all aspects of my purchases, and am curious as to whether your product lines offer many options in this regard?

A: Laura, Eco friendly products are available in numerous building products. We usually ask the client to do their research and specify which products they would like us to use in their new home or renovation. It is cost effective if the client does their research for this.

Larry Hovdestad: How do i determine the size of high efficient furnace....everyone i ask has a different answer....now after many questions and many different answers i am more confused than ever and am ready to leave my 30 year old furnace in my 100 year old house...

A: Larry, we always contact a mechanical contractor to determine the size of the furnace when we design projects. A mechanical contractor should have people on staff that works with you for the new furnace. They have to look into the size of the home, amount of windows; some will look at the age of the home, as well as the ducts in a home of that age. Being 100 years old the home was never designed for today’s ventilation systems or the cost of energy. You might even get recommendations to relocate some of the existing ductwork to other areas of the home.

It doesn’t hurt to get a couple quotes from reputable contractors on this item and ask questions because of the age of the home. 

Here they answer Frequently Asked Questions: