Kitchen and Bath 2017 1_NEW_Digital_Fall_2017 | Page 82

I am crunching the numbers for
my bathroom renovation and I was
wondering which areas should I
allocate the biggest part of my budget?
How much should I keep for unexpected
expenses?
You first need to decide whether you
are planning to install an acrylic tub/
shower versus a tiled walk in shower. You also
need to decide whether you prefer high-end
versus budget friendly vanities and counter
tops. If you plan to install tile on your walls
and floor, set aside 60% of your budget. For
an acrylic tub/shower combination, set aside
45% of your total budget. Look at showroom
models to see where your preference lies and
calculate your budget accordingly.
ask an
Now that the kids have moved
out, my wife and I are thinking
about downsizing. Our home is
in a great neighborhood but it is very
outdated and we don't have the budget
for a major renovation. Should we try to
list it as is and hope to get a good price
despite the need for updates?
The first thing you need to do is
consult with a realtor and a renovation
professional to determine which renovations
will increase the value of your home and the
costs involved. Next, consider a home equity
loan; a loan secured against the property
without affecting the first mortgage. An
open home equity loan will allow you to
complete the renovations, sell the house and
then repay the loan as soon as the home is
sold without a prepayment penalty! In your
situation, I would suggest a monthly interest
only option or even a no-payment plan
where the interest accrues and is paid when
you pay off the loan. These options allow
you to complete the renovation with little or
no upfront costs. Because we are a non-bank
lending company, our guidelines are not as
strict and the process is simple and easy. We
provide approval within 24 hours and you
could receive funds to begin renovations in
as little as 10 days. - Rejan Kaushal, Tribecca,
www.Tribecca.ca
Professionals
answer your
renovation and
design questions.
A proper budgeted estimate done by
a professional usually takes unexpected
expenses into consideration. A professional
can determine that you might have some
unseen issues and can advise you on an
approximate cost. - Jim Popowich, Dynasty
Bath, www.dynastybath.com
I am planning to renovate my kitchen and I am wondering how much time
I should set aside for a custom kitchen build?
The timeline depends on a few variables. The design phase is the biggest variable
and can take anywhere from a few days to a year, all depending on your timeline.
This includes an in-home consultation, in-showroom consultation, product selection and
design revisions. Once both the designer and yourself are satisfied, the final drawing is
signed and submitted. We aim for 5 to
6 weeks from submission of the final
drawing to installation.
Manufacturing begins with a two
week engineering process where the
design is inspected for feasibility. This
ensures measurements are correct, all
aspects of the design can be installed,
and will function as desired before true
production begins. Raw material is cut,
finished, assembled and packed within
two weeks. We use state-of-the-art
machinery to reduce production time
without compromising the quality of our
Canadian-made products. The cabinets
are assembled in our staging area where
our quality control team does a final
check before cabinets are packed for
delivery.
Depending on size, final installation can
take anywhere from one day to a week.
- Gajen Arumugam, Lucvaa Ltd., www.
lucvaa.com