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It’s good business to take a close look at the costs of any remodeling project. We work closely with our clients to trim any fat from their budget. We’re always looking for strategies that may actually improve the finished house while staying within our clients’ financial targets. We call this process value engineering.

But some cuts can go too deep. These cuts are different than value engineering, we call them skimping. Skimping is not an investment. When you skimp, you save a few dollars today only to pay more in the future. This category of cost reduction can compromise the performance of your remodeled home and put its value at risk.

But when is it better to pay a bit more up front to ensure that your project performs as promised and results in your complete satisfaction for years to come?

Much of what you should not skimp on is behind the finishes. Because you can’t see or touch these components, understanding their value is critical. These include areas that save energy, protect against moisture damage, enhance durability, or reduce maintenance chores and costs. In almost every case, it’s worthwhile to pay now instead of suffering the consequences later.

The Structure. It probably goes without saying, but the quality of the foundation and structural frame of your home or addition is paramount and should never be sacrificed for budget reasons.

A professional remodeler will work to optimize, but never compromise, whatever foundation and framing system is appropriate for the project.

Energy and Water Efficiency. The ongoing costs of home energy and potable water are rising and are likely to continue. It makes good financial sense to invest in systems and products that achieve comprehensive and reliable savings for these resources and their costs.

Vital components include properly applied insulation, high-performance windows, right-sized and efficient heating and cooling equipment, adequate fresh-air ventilation, brand-name appliances, and water-saving faucets, showerheads, toilets, and water heating systems. Consider including these items in the budget at the highest level of quality and efficiency you can afford.

Exterior Finishes. Your home’s ability to defend itself against weather conditions from the summer sun, high winds and heavy rain is critical to its durability, maintenance and performance.

If replacing or adding exterior finishes is part of your remodeling project, resist the temptation to downgrade the roofing, siding, trim, and other components for the sake of saving a few dollars. As with your home’s structure and primary systems, it’s smarter to pay a little more up front for exterior finishes that stand the test of time and weather. In the long run, you’ll spend less money and time fixing loose clapboards, repainting the trim and replacing the roof.

Drainage. The problems associated with a poor gutter, downspout, and rainwater removal system are legend .. and very costly. Worse, they usually aren’t apparent right away. Over time, moisture damage caused by poor site drainage leads to latent defects that can undermine the structural integrity of your house.

A well-designed drainage scheme within a larger scope of a remodeling project effectively captures and directs rainwater off of the roof and away from the foundation. In this way water can’t find its way and fester along the foundation, under the roof shingles, or behind the walls.

Materials choices vary, but trust your remodeling contractor to understand the dynamics of storm water management and provide your home with what it takes to deliver a dependable solution for your new home.

Flooring. There is no other surface inside your house that takes as much abuse as your floors. If new or replacement floor finishes are part of your home improvement plans, it makes sense to buy the best-quality carpeting, tile, wood, and resilient materials your budget permits.

In addition to holding up to foot traffic, spills, cleaning solutions, sudden impact and other hazards of daily life, your floors must retain their good looks to maintain your satisfaction and reduce repair and replacement costs as long as possible.

Finally, and perhaps most important, you should not skimp on your remodeler. If you are going to invest time and money in an extensive home improvement project, seek out and be willing to invest in a true remodeling professional. You’ll be buying a treasure chest of skill, knowledge, and experience that will be well worth the price.

-A wise old saying:

“The intelligent man learns from his own experience; the wise man learns from the experience of others.”

This is one that I’ve tried to keep close to my heart as a business guy and entrepreneur. I think that the marginal success that I have enjoyed has been because I have always assumed that I possess intelligence (though my wife may often beg to differ). As I reflect on the good choices that I’ve made, they were most often not attempts to “re-invent” anything. Good stuff for me has happened when I tried hard to follow the wisdom and experience of others. (I don’t seem to be able to do this enough though, God gave me a sense of “do-it-yourselfism” that runs deep and needs to be constantly kept in check).

I guess I continue to look for balance in my life. It seems appropriate for an entrepreneur to have the guts to make things happen, but it also seems important to be able to step back and evaluate opportunities through the lens of wisdom.

The BEST TIME to work hard and lay the foundations for future success is when times are tough.  While everyone else is crying and complaining, I hope we can take the lead from others who have gone before us and seize the opportunity to do great things in life.  Now is the time to charge forward with your passions and take a risk.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK…THEN TRY SOMETHING NEW, DO SOMETHING BIG!

YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT!

Being quite busy over the last few months successfully completing several renovations, largely impart to our customer referrals has been exhilarating to say the least.

Thanks to all our past customers recommending Trillium Construction to there neighbours and friends looking to improve their home simply because we abiding by a higher standard, with a expert team of professionals. It truly been very gratifying and your kind words have been appreciated

So “Thank You Again”, to everyone talking up a storm about Trillium Construction, It’s nice to be noticed

Every year, Remodeling Magazine publishes an issue comparing the cost of a renovation to its end value.

This year, the magazine studied renovation jobs from 60 U.S. cities. They used a professional to write realistic specifications for the jobs, got three professional estimating services to compare costs, and asked real estate brokers from across the country to estimate the value added to the average home in their area, if it were to be sold within a year.

The criterion used is that the renovation jobs are high quality but not luxury-level, and that the work be done to professional standards. It should be emphasized that locale made a tremendous difference. A family room addition in Hartford, Connecticut, for instance, returned only 52% of its cost. Meanwhile, just down the road, in New Haven Connecticut, the addition returned 104%.

Although the study is from the U.S., and the numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, the results are informative.

Topping the list of projects across the board was the minor kitchen renovation, which returned 94% of its cost. According to real estate agents, nothing sells a house like its kitchen. This renovation might include changing the countertop and sink and taps, tiling the backsplash, and adding a new floor and paint.

The bathroom addition was next on the list. Gone are the days when a single bathroom was fine with lineups in the hall. Modern families expect a second bathroom and this renovation returned 89% of its cost.

The major kitchen renovation was next. I find this renovation often includes removing the upper half of the wall between the kitchen and living or dining area, creating the open concept. Most houses built in Kingston before the ‘70’s have the traditional kitchen/dining/living room plan which totally separates the three rooms. Our attitudes and the way we live have changed, and our architecture reflects that. The traditional style was mom slaving in the kitchen while her guests drank soda pop and waited for dinner in the living room. Nowadays the kitchen’s the most popular room in the house and the hosts want to chat and socialize while cooking’s in progress. Joining the spaces of kitchen and family or dining room is a natural result and a popular project. The major kitchen renovation returned 87% of its cost.

Additions came in next at 84%. These include a single story family room or a two story. As the writers suggest, additions must blend in well with the existing house and be well done using good materials. A poorly conceived or executed project can actually detract from the value of the house and make it more difficult to sell.

The attic-bedroom renovation was next. This usually includes a bedroom/bathroom under a new dormer. The pitch of your roof is critical. And you need to find room on the floor below for a stairwell up. But if you’ve got the space, this renovation returned 83% of its cost.

The flip side of the open concept is that we want privacy. Working people, especially those with kids, want some sort of sanctuary from the grind and high on the list of renovations is the master bedroom suite, where you can shut the door, get away from it, and have a luxurious bath and a private soda pop in your own space. This renovation typically includes a remake of the bedroom, ensuite bathroom, and a dressing area and returned 82%.

Main bathrooms make-over’s – as opposed to bathroom additions – were next at 73% and again, according to the real estate agents, this renovation is el primo for resale. One of the first things prospective buyers do is head for the bathroom, and they want to see sparkle. Using someone else’s used grungy bathroom doesn’t cut it.

The other categories were siding (77%), decks (70%), windows (68%), and home offices (64%). The authors caution, however, that home offices should be easily reconverted to living space with an eye to resale.

If you’re online, you can visit the website and read the complete details at http://remodeling.hw.net/. There are specifications, details on the costs, and design tips.

What an incredible transformation my small eighties bathroom has undergone thanks to Rick and his crew of trades people! It is indeed a sight to behold. My bathroom was completely gutted by Ricks’ very capable and efficient staff member Abner as well as rewired and re-plumbed according to code by licensed master electricians and plumbers. Subsequently, everything was replaced from the bathroom fixtures and accessories to the ceiling and floor tiles. Rick did not install anything in my bathroom that he would not feel comfortable installing in his own. In fact, he went to great lengths in finding me the same vanity that he used in his own home. He installed quality products and used quality materials. Rick was very adept in striking a balance between allowing me the freedom to make my own choices and offering his recommendations when necessary. I soon found myself relying on his expertise regarding everything including design suggestions such as choosing just the right paint colour and porcelain tile!

Throughout the entire process, Rick repeatedly would check with me to see if I was pleased with the phase of development at hand. His favourite phrase was “I want you to be happy with your new bathroom, Sarah.” I am extremely happy with my new bathroom.

If you value honesty, integrity, and quality workmanship, then I urge you to call upon Rick Lynch of Trillium Construction. Not only will you gain an impeccable renovator for your current project but you will find that you will want him to revisit your home for future renovation projects – I know I do. Ricks’ efforts have inspired me to continue with my home renovations.

Rick, thank you so much for providing me with a wonderful renovation experience, I appreciate that you went the extra mile every step of the way. Thank you for valuing me, as much as you valued my bathroom. Your team as well as your trades people’s professionalism is unsurpassed by any contractor that has worked on my home during my 31 years as a homeowner. I greatly appreciated your team’s punctuality, accessibility, calm and friendly demeanor as well as everyone’s sense of humor throughout the renovation. You and every member of your team were incredibly helpful in providing suggestions regarding other aspects of my house as well. Your company motto,’ “Treat each client the way we would want someone to treat our parents.”
Communication and quality is the key to a job well done”, truly reflects who you are.

With gratitude,

Sarah Saunders,
Bobcaygeon, Ontario

There are several ways to improve your kitchen without having to incur a great deal of cost and using only a few basic skills.
When the kitchen becomes outdated and you find yourself tired of your flooring … ceilings … light fixtures … even cabinets, it’s relatively easy to repair, upgrade or replace these individually with less cost than an entire kitchen renovation.
First, search for pictures of other kitchens that you like to get inspired.
Some ideas to consider are:
• Changing your cabinet handles or knobs, a small but very simple change that can modernize your kitchen. If you are not interest in painting your cabinets, then ensure that the holes line up to prevent having to drill new holes and fill the old ones.

• Lighting can create a new ambiance, using elements as simple as dimmers or purchasing all new fixtures. These are easily installed, and you can ask the lighting store specialist for helpful ideas to achieve the mood you desire.

• Paint the ceiling and the walls. Don’t be afraid to be bold with the wall colours if you have a lot of cabinets.

• You can paint your cabinets as well, even if they are melamine. Prime with a specialty primer first (this is very important for melamine, so do not cut costs here). After you have primed, add two coats of paint to the cabinets and varnish for durability.

• Flooring renovations are all the rage right now. With click laminate floors, or peel and stick tiles, you can give the illusion of hardwood or ceramic tiles at a fraction of the price.

Remember to take your time and do one thing at a time

When considering a home renovation to improve the resale value of your home, keep in mind what has the highest return on investment (ROI).
Bathroom and kitchen renovations seem to still lead the market place with ROI. Painting both the exterior and interior or upgrading the floors will pay for itself in value. Renovating the basement, creating a recreation room, or building a garage to add square footage all offer a high resale value. Installing a fireplace, replacing windows and doors, installing central air and improving the heating and furnace system will all appeal to the energy-conscious buyer and also offer better pay backs at selling.
Working on your landscaping is always recommended, but be a minimalist as this is not the area to gain your ROI. Adding a skylight may seem like a good alternative to light your home, but for resale it has the same returns as using energy-efficient bulbs.
Set out a budget, the amount you are willing to invest to get a higher price for your home. Talk to a professional who is able to assist with improving your home, as well as your bank manager. These people should be able to tell you exactly what your house needs to get the highest ROI. Then, decide which areas you are going to focus on and start the process.

Home entertainment has changed a bit over the last few years. There was a time when all a homeowner had to do was run down to the local appliance store, pick out the television set and/or stereo he wanted, bring it home, plug it in, and be done.
It’s not quite so simple anymore. There are some pretty cool home entertainment options out there. It’s amazing what you can get for your home now. But this stuff isn’t cheap. So you’ll want to make sure it’s integrated so that it all works together. There’s many helpful link that will provide you with good information about what to look for if you’re considering a home theatre system to go along with your basement renovations.
Of course just having great components won’t do you much good if you don’t have a room that’s adequate to handle them. Putting a 102” screen and surround sound in a room that’s only 10’x12’ doesn’t make much sense. It’s not just room size that matters, either. You’ll want to make sure that you’re wired adequately and that you can arrange your furniture in such a way that you can take advantage of everything your home theatre system has to offer. You’ll want to make sure you don’t have a lot of unsightly exposed cable lying around. And you may even want to conceal your speakers.
Whether you’re looking to add a home theatre to your existing home, or are planning one for a new home, make sure you talk to any one of Trillium Constructions staff first so that he can create a space that will allow you to enjoy your home theatre to the max!

You’re on your dock, with an ice cold beer in your mitt. The faraway whine of an outboard engine, the cry of a loon, a cool late afternoon breeze on your face as the sun begins dipping behind the trees. And you’re sitting uncomfortably in a green plastic molded chair you bought at the supermarket. What’s wrong with this picture of cottage bliss?

Of course – you’ve gotta have a Muskoka chair.

How can something crafted of wood be so darn comfortable hour after hour? That is the secret of the Muskoka or our friend down south call Adirondack which was invented almost exactly a century ago near the shores of Lake Champlain in upstate New York. In fact, according to the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y., they were originally known as Westport chairs, named for a nearby town.
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Nobody can claim that the recent accident of a labourer in Sunderland would be working today if his boss had a contractor’s insurance.

But the accidental injury of 29-year-old should serve as a reminder for homeowners looking to have a kitchen remodeled, a roof patched, a house painted:  Find an insured contractor.

Riding up a steep horse trail in the bucket of a tractor, spraying pesticide to control weeds at the gated community. when the driver lost control, the tractor toppled, crushing the father of two.

After the accident, investigators learned that the employer was fined $700 in 1999 for operating without a contracting license.

Whatever the outcome, the case should prompt homeowners to check the credentials of the people they hire.

Hiring accredited contractors doesn’t ensure that you won’t be ripped off or that the work won’t be bungled. However, it’s easier to seek redress from accredited contractors than from unaccredited workers who might vanish tomorrow.

“We have more clout over accredited contractors,” said, a spokeswoman for the ministry. “Most want to keep their certification and be legitimate, legal business people. If they know their certification is in jeopardy, they may comply more readily if found in violation of their contracts or of the law.”

Certifications also protect customers if accidents occur on their property. Accredited contractors must carry workers compensation insurance for their employees; otherwise, you and your insurance company might have to pay the medical bills of a roofer plunging onto your sidewalk.