The Chilliwack Progress Wednesday, October 21, 2015 www.theprogress.com 15

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From complete renovations to a single room redesign, the fi rst step to achieving the home of your dreams is by working with a trusted renovator.

For Ralph Belisle, president of TQ Construction, the project entrusted to him was to transform a typical BC box home into a more modernized style better suited for the 21st centu-ry.

Th e homeowners had realized their humble home was dated, con-sidering it had gone untouched since it was built in the sixties. Th e state of the home before the renovations was like taking a trip back in time.

“Th e fl oor plan was adequate for [the sixties], but it lacked clear sight-lines at both the interior and the exterior, which current lifestyles de-mand,” explains Belisle.

Th e home was situated to the rear of a very large lot and the homeown-ers loved to experiment with diff erent foliage in the huge garden area.

“We wanted to extend the house in such a way that the interior’s views of the front garden improved and the

interior space became more cohesive among its rooms.”

So, the process of transformation began for TQ Construction – a com-pany recognized for its tradition of excellence in BC’s home im-provement, renovation and construction industry.

Th ey widened the ex-isting “too-tight” garage to include a garage hobby space, which enabled the creation of big liv-ing room/family room above. Belisle says the owners particularly loved the vaulted ceilings and the great garden views through the new arch-top win-dows.

Even with a few pricier touches, the renovations stayed within budget.

“I look upon the project as one of our successes, which let the inside be inside and the outside be inde-pendent, even while improving the access and enjoyment between the two,” Belisle says. “Th e owner/con-tractor team let the house and garden interact beautifully, which can easily be seen as one walks up the path to-ward the front door.”

Th e homeowners’ reaction to these

details was so positive in fact, that Belisle says they have since become friends.

“Th e homeowners thought of hir-ing us aft er seeing the way our neigh-bourhood projects were organised,” he says. “During that time we were among the fi rst of local renovators to adopt job-site recycling, which cre-ates a very organised job site.” Now,

the homeowners have agreed to enlist TQ Construction for any projects go-ing forward.

With confi dence comes peace of mind in the business of building. For TQ Construction, transforming a ba-sic home into a beautiful abode was something they were sure to accom-plish.

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Modernizing the typical BC Box homeBy Nicolle Hodges

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There are many ways for homeowners to improve their homes without spending a lot of money. Here are a few DIY renovation projects homeowners can tackle in a typical weekend.

· Closet conversion: Ample closet space is a big plus for home buyers, but upon moving into a new home, many homeowners may fi nd they don’t need as much closet space as they initially thought. Guest room walk-in closets, in particular, may prove to be under-utilized resources. Such closets oft en come with built-in shelving, and therefore, they make ideal spaces to convert to mini home offi ces or study areas for kids. Installing an extra shelf to serve as a desk area for remote working or homework stations won’t take up much of a Satur-day or Sunday aft ernoon, and before you know it, you will have a fully functioning work-space.

· Accent wall: Accent walls can liven up a room by break-ing the colour pattern of the walls in the room. Accent walls also can be used to divert at-tention on a particular design element in a room, such as a painting or an elaborate wall furnishing. Painting an accent

wall won’t take very long, but such a project can give a room an entirely new look and feel.

· Storage and shelving: Much like some homes come with an abundance of storage areas, others fall short of homeowners’ or apartment dwellers’ needs. If your home or apartment falls into the latter cat-egory, adding some shelving or fi nding some new furniture that can serve double duty as storage areas is a weekend project that can help clear up some space. Purchase some wood shelving to mimic the look of traditional built-ins or replace existing sin-gle-use furniture with newer items capable of serv-ing multiple functions, including storage.

· Art: If the rooms and hallways in your home are bare or in need of new looks but your budget is tight, try your hand at spicing things up by creating some of your own paintings. Parents can encour-age kids to create their own colourful masterpieces. Frame the fi nished works and hang them on the wall and enjoy your inexpensive and homemade “art gallery.”

Weekend renovation projects

The Chilliwack Progress Wednesday, October 21, 2015 www.theprogress.com 17

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New windows may allow more natural light to enter a home.

A dark home can be dreary and drain residents’ energy levels rather quickly. Natural light has the power to make a person feel more energized, and it also can buoy spirits. As a result, many homeowners want to increase the amount of natural light in their homes.

Increasing natural sunlight in a home reduces re-liance on interior lighting. Th is reduces energy bills and lowers the home’s carbon footprint. Natural light also can help people in a home feel happier and more content.

*Keep the drapes open. Opening blinds and cur-tains as far as they will go allows as much light to shine in without having to do major home renova-tions or spend any money at all. Homeowners con-cerned about privacy can install a window fi lm that allows viewing from the inside only.

*Clean the windows. Dirty windows obstruct sun-light from entering the home. Th ey also can make a home appear unkempt. Spend a free day cleaning the windows so that they’ll let ample light in.

*Install seamless or low-profi le windows and doors. Seamless sliding doors enable a large amount

of light to enter the home. Such doors can replace an entire wall to brighten up a dark area of a home. Th e more windows and doors a home has, the brighter it will be.

*Take inventory of dark spots. A room may be dark because it simply does not have a layout con-ducive to brightness. Is a wall blocking light from reaching a portion of the room? Th ink about chang-ing the room’s layout or even making structural changes to improve light distribution. Th e addition of a small window on a south- or west-facing wall can greatly improve natural light. Using mirrors can also refl ect light where it is needed.

*Invest in skylights or solar tubes. Both skylights or solar tubes enable light to enter a home from above. Skylights are larger and require considerably more work to install, while solar tubes are more low-profi le and can be put into rooms that do not abut the roofl ine, such as those obstructed by attic space. Th e tubular cylinders are installed between the roof and the ceiling and carry light through a refl ective tube to the room below. Diff users on tubular day-lighting devices scatter the rays so the light doesn’t cast harsh shadows, and UV fi lters can help protect furniture from discolouring.

*Trim shrubs and trees. If trees and bushes are blocking light from entering your home, trim them to enable dappled light to come through. Deciduous trees that will naturally lose their leaves come au-tumn can be planted on sunny areas of the property. Th is way in the summer months they will shade the house and keep it cooler, while in winter more sun will stream in when the leaves are shed.

* Create a three-season room. Make a spot in the home where sun will be at a premium. A solarium or greenhouse attached to the home can be a warm and sunny spot.

Increasing natural light in a home can improve feelings of well-being and also reduce energy con-sumption during daylight hours.

How to invite more natural light into your home

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Fall is an ideal time of year to tackle home painting projects.

Home improvement projects can add value to a home and do-it-yourselfers know the sweat-equity that goes into such projects can give homeown-ers a greater sense of pride in their homes. But no two home improvement projects are the same, and homeowners should know that certain projects are best tackled during certain times of the year.

Fall is a great season to work on your house, as the weather is oft en at its most agreeable once the summer heat has gone and before winter weather arrives. Th e following are a handful of fall-friendly home improvement projects for homeowners look-ing to improve their homes.Roof repair

Whether you’re repairing or replacing the roof, fall is a great time of year to dust off the ladder and get some work done on your roof for a variety of reasons. Fixing up the roof in the fall ensures those winter storms, be it rain or snow, won’t fi nd their way into your home via leaks. A leaky roof in winter is hard to fi x, as the roof surface could be treach-erous in the winter and winter winds can make it dangerous to be up on the roof at all. Addressing leaks in the fall can prevent damage to your home’s interior, which can mount up if a leaky roof is not addressed until the following spring.Window work

When the weather outside gets frightful, poorly insulated windows can allow cold air into the home. Th at oft en has a trickle-down eff ect on fi nances, forcing you to turn up the thermostat in an attempt to off set the cold air pouring into the home. Wheth-er you need your windows replaced or simply need to patch up any leaks, a proactive approach to leaky

or older windows in the fall can save you from un-necessarily high heating bills come the winter. Ad-dressing leaky windows also makes a home more comfortable for its inhabitants.Fixing the fl oors

Wood fl ooring is a hot commodity for many homeowners. But not all fl ooring can be added to a home at any time of year. Th at’s because certain types of fl ooring employ adhesives that need tem-peratures inside the home to be within a certain range, and that range is oft en within 20o to 27o C, which makes fall a great time to install such fl oors. Colder temperatures can make it diffi cult for the fl ooring to dry and bond, which will prove prob-lematic down the road. What’s more, many people entertain friends and family come late fall and into the holiday season, and it can be diffi cult to do so if you are busy installing new fl ooring.Painting projects

Painting is another home improvement project that seems tailor-made for fall. A fresh coat of paint or a new colour scheme around the house can give a home an entirely new look and feel. But paint can be pungent and the aromas may last if it’s applied at a time of year when it can’t dry while the windows are wide open. Paint fumes inside a home can make the home uninhabitable, but painting at a time of year like the fall, when you can keep the windows open during and aft er the project, can help air the home out.

But interior painting isn’t the only painting proj-ect homeowners can tackle in the fall. Many exte-rior paints are temperature-sensitive and need the temperature outside to be above 5o C. Paint that freezes won’t dry properly, and homeowners might be left with a costly and unsightly mistake on their hands. Fall temperatures tend to be amenable to both interior and exterior painting projects, just be sure to check the weather forecast before making your fi rst brush stroke.

Home improvement projects perfect for fall

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Home improvement projects can turn a house into a home.

Homeowners plan scores of renovations to trans-form living spaces into rooms that refl ect their per-sonal tastes and comforts. Homeowners going it alone may fi nd things do not always go as planned. In fact, a study found that 85 percent of homeowners say remodelling is a more stressful undertaking than buying a home. But homeowners about to embark on home improvement projects can make the pro-cess go more smoothly by avoiding these common pitfalls.Failing to understand the scope of the project

Some homeowners don’t realize just how big a commitment they have made until they get their hands dirty. But understanding the scope of the proj-ect, including how much demolition and reconstruc-tion is involved and how much time a project will take can help homeowners avoid some of the stress that comes with renovation projects. For example, a bathroom renovation may require the removal of drywall, reinforcement of fl ooring to accommodate a new bathtub or shower enclosure and the instal-lation of new plumbing and wiring behind walls. So such a renovation is far more detailed than simply replacing faucets. Not establishing a budget

Homeowners must develop a project budget to ensure their projects do not drain their fi nances. If your budget is so infl exible that you can’t aff ord the materials you prefer, you may want to postpone the project and save more money so you can eventually aff ord to do it right.

Without a budget in place, it is easy to overspend, and that can put you in fi nancial peril down the line. Worrying about coming up with money to pay for

materials and labour also can induce stress. Avoid the anxiety by setting a fi rm budget.Making trendy or personalized improvements

Homeowners who plan to stay in their homes for the long run have more free reign when it comes to renovating their homes. Such homeowners can cre-ate a billiards room or paint a room hot pink if they so prefer. However, if the goal is to make improve-ments in order to sell a property, overly personal touches may make a property less appealing to pro-spective buyers. Trends come and go, and improve-ments can be expensive. If your ultimate goal is to sell your home, opt for renovations that will look beautiful through the ages and avoid bold choices that may only appeal to a select few buyers.Forgetting to properly vet all workers

It is important to vet your contractor, but don’t forget to vet potential subcontractors as well. Failing to do so can prove a costly mistake. Contractors of-ten look to subcontractors to perform certain parts of a job, and it is the responsibility of homeowners to vet these workers.Expecting everything to go as planned

Optimism is great, but you also should be a realist. Knowing what potentially could go wrong puts you in a better position to handle any problems should they arise. Th e project might go off without a hitch, but plan for a few hiccups along the way.Overestimating DIY abilities

Overzealous homeowners may see a renovation project in a magazine or on television and immedi-ately think they can do the work themselves. Unless you have the tools and the skills necessary to do the work, tackling too much can be problematic. In the long run, leaving the work to a professional may save you money.

Common mistakes made on home renovation projects

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According to reports, a major kitchen remodeling project should enable homeowners to recoup 74.2 percent of their initial investments.

Kitchen renovations have long been a safe way to improve the functionality and value of a home. But not every kitchen project is a guaranteed winner. Homeowners may inadvertently make changes that end up sticking out like a sore thumb rather than improving the space. Take a look at these kitchen remodeling do’s and don’ts to guide your next un-dertaking.

DO consider the way your kitchen will look with the rest of the home. Keep architectural integrity in mind when designing the space. A farmhouse sink and country cabinets can look out of place in an ultra-modern home.

DON’T overlook the importance of a seasoned designer or architect. Th ese pros will know the tricks to maximiz-ing space and achieving the ideal lay-out of appliances and may be able to recommend local contractors and ven-dors.

DO look beyond surface details to the structural integrity of the design. Th e kitchen should be functional, long-lasting and beautiful.

DON’T design just for today, but look to the future as well. Unless you are willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars every fi ve years, look for

styles and materials that will last for the long haul. Older homeowners may want to make adjustments now that address potential mobility issues down the road.

DO work with what you have. A complete de-molition and renovation is not always necessary to achieve the desired results. Only invest in major changes if something is not working (such as hav-ing to walk across the entire kitchen to access the stove) or is unsafe. Otherwise, minor upgrades may do the trick.

DON’T over-improve the space. A fully equipped commercial kitchen may be handy for a profes-sional chef, but the average person may not need an industrial hood and indoor pizza oven. When you make excessive improvements, you may not be able to recoup as much of the money spent because your home will not be on par with the values of homes in the neighbourhood.

DO make sure you can aff ord the project. Plan for some unexpected purchases and plan out the renovation according to your budget. Skimping on materials or design because of lack of money may leave you feeling dissatisfi ed aft erward.

Do’s and don’ts of kitchen remodel

The Chilliwack Progress Wednesday, October 21, 2015 www.theprogress.com 21

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When asked to pitch in on home projects, young kids may feel proud they can lend a hand with such a “grown-up” task. With the right instruction, children of all ages can get involved with fi x-up projects and learn new skills in the process.

Tackling home improvement projects with kids in tow can be challenging. But if kids are old enough, moms and dads can enlist their youngsters’ help when working on projects around the house. Not only can adults keep closer tabs on kids’ activities, but involving kids in home projects also lets parents instill impor-tant and practical lessons at the same time.

Include children from the start. When beginning a project, parents can make

their kids a part of the design and planning process, welcoming the input of younger mem-bers of the family, especially if renovations will impact spaces they use directly. Draft a list of supplies and ask questions of the kids regard-ing what supplies they think will have to go into completing the project.

Shop as a family. Although it may slow you down, take chil-

dren along to the home improvement store so you can purchase supplies together. Let young-sters help you as you choose materials for the project. Th is way they can see how the raw ma-terials will turn into the fi nished renovation.

Emphasize safety. Children should understand that tools serve

a distinct purpose and that they are not toys. Identify and explain the dangerous pieces of equipment and instruct children that they should not touch or turn on tools without an adult nearby. Go over the proper ways to han-dle the tools and explain the purposes of each device. Make sure everyone is wearing safety equipment, including eye protection, gloves and ear protection, while handing the tools.

Demonstrate and then let kids try. Children will not have the skills to perform

more intricate tasks, but older kids can ham-mer some nails, mix paint or even cut wood with supervision. Assign tasks based on the child’s age. For example, a preteen may be able to saw wood, while a kindergartener can hand over nails and tools. Illustrate the correct way to get things done and then have children mir-ror your actions.

Attempt an easy project fi rst. Painting a room, building a planter box, or

another less complicated project can help par-ents gauge their kids’ abilities.

Involving children in home improvement projects can teach then new skills, give them a greater appreciation of the work that goes into maintaining a house, instill a sense of pride in youngsters, and provide a great chance for kids and their parents to spend quality together.

Many people decide to upgrade from their apartments or condominiums out of a need for more space. But even aft er moving into a new home, homeowners may soon begin to outgrow the room they have.

Rather than looking for a new home, some homeowners consider expansion. Garages already are built on a foundation, have four walls and a roof overhead, so a garage-conver-sion project is merely a matter of turning this utilitarian area into a living space.

Always apply for the proper permits and learn the zoning laws to see if a garage conver-sion is acceptable in your community. Go by the book so that work can be done in a proper manner and be inspected for safety.

One of the biggest transformations will come by way of modifying the garage door entry. Some homeowners prefer to leave the existing door so that the home still has the appearance of a garage from the curb, while others remove the garage door and rebuild the exterior wall so that it has a window or anoth-er architectural element. An architect can help suggest design elements that will camoufl age the original garage look and make the space seem like it was always part of the main living area of the home.

Landscaping work also can minimize the appearance of an old garage. Rather than hav-ing the driveway end at the wall of a home, shrubbery, pavers and other techniques can blend the garage renovation into the rest of the yard design.

Transforming a garage into a living space can add several hundred square feet to a home. Hire a reputable contractor and follow the mu-nicipal guidelines for modifying the space to ensure the job is done right.

Make home projects a family affair Converting garages into liveable spaces