Good Housekeeping: 5 pre-construction steps for a smooth renovation

You've likely heard the carpenter's adage, “measure twice, cut once” – essentially, take the time to be sure of your measurements before committing saw to wood. In the end, you'll save on materials, time and money!

But there's another principle MAC Renovations Red Seal carpenter Marianne Schmidt recommends for anyone beginning a renovation: Don't forget the housekeeping. No, not the broom and dustpan kind of housekeeping, but those small, essential steps to take before the first nail is struck that will help ensure a successful project.

Schmidt, who's worked with the MAC team for close to two years, has seen her fair share of projects, and offers her top 5 things for homeowners to do before work starts:

1. Make storage your friend:  Anything that's in the path of the renovation, including any adjacent spaces tradespeople will be navigating, should be tucked safely away. Any reno brings together an assortment of people and equipment in a relatively small space and no matter how careful people are, accidents happen, Schmidt notes. A clear space also makes it easier for tradespeople to get their work done efficiently. Be mindful as well of those peripheral spaces outside of the work area that may need to be accessed, such as the utility room, garage or deck.
2. Protect your floors: The MAC team always includes floor protection in their renovation preparations, but it's a good idea to discuss what those preparations are and whether your preferences or your floors require additional protection, Schmidt suggests. Carpenters, for example, may do their cutting outside, so do you want protection for your deck as well? “We want to bring it up because we want to protect your home as much as you do,” she notes.
3. Discuss dust walls: No matter how careful the team is, renovations are dusty. Dust walls help protect adjacent areas of the home from that dust, but depending on homeowner preferences and unique needs, such as allergies and sensitivities, additional dust walls can be requested. “It's something that we do already, but sometimes additional measures can be helpful, especially when it's not feasible for families to move out of the home during the renovation,” Schmidt says.
4. Review remediation measures: Many Greater Victoria homes will have hazardous materials like lead paint or asbestos in walls, flooring or attic – materials that must be addressed prior to renovation work starting. Schmidt advises homeowners to review the potential hazards and how their contractor intends to mitigate them. MAC Renovations' comprehensive pre-construction process identifies any potential hazards up front to help prevent unexpected – and potentially costly – surprises down the road.
5. Mind the housekeeping: Yes, now we are talking about THAT kind of housekeeping: The tidier the spaces are that the construction teams need to access, the easier it will be for them to do their jobs. Beyond the specific areas to be renovated, that could mean clearing the garage to provide easy access to electrical and plumbing shutoffs, or ensuring there's room under the deck for the carpenters to set up tools on rainy days. “Good housekeeping is key – a job that starts smoothly tends to continue that way through the entire project,” Schmidt says.

To learn how the MAC Renovations team can help bring your renovation dreams a reality, visit MAC Renovations at macreno.com or call 250-384-6091.

• Category: Impress Stories