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FAQs

What home renovations require a permit?

As a homeowner, you must ensure that you have a building permit before you begin construction or demolition or hire a builder that can apply on your behalf. You need a building permit to erect, install, extend, alter, or repair a building. If you are demolishing all or part of a building, you will need a building permit to demolish. Construction or alterations that result in a material change to a building, foundation work, framing, insulation, plumbing or an accessory structure will require a permit and inspection(s). Our team applies for permits and variances on behalf of our clients.

Will Team Shane apply for building permits when needed?:

Yes, our team will apply for permits and variances on behalf of our clients.

Can you live in your house during a renovation?:

Larger, complicated renovations, which we specialize in, we recommend finding alternative arrangements. There is no rule of thumb but if the project is taking over more than 50% of your home you will want to remove yourself from the home.  

Renovations can be messy, loud, and the house can get quite busy with the variety of sub-contractors and materials that will be in and out of your home during the project. A couple of things to note, work sometimes starts early in the morning. Driveways are typically occupied with disposal bins and materials. Landscaping can be uneven while backfilling settles.  Lastly, keep in mind that there will be times where the power and water supplies will be disconnected to perform the necessary work.

Where should you start with your renovation?:

A renovation can be a big life change for you and your family. For many people, their home is their largest asset so doing a little extra research can help save you expenses and stress! 

We always recommend starting with making sure you hire the right company. Ask your friends for referrals based on experience. Go see projects the company has completed or is in the middle of.  Ask your builder questions about what services they provide and warranty they have.  Also ask about their ways of communication and relaying the schedule and timelines and tasks to you. It is also important to visit your builder’s office space and showroom if they have one.  See what you have available to you before you start.  Along the way save lots of pictures to show your designer some inspiration. We find that the most seamless renovations and builds come from companies that create the designs and then personally implement them. Having an architect on the team is key! Ask to see some of their recent transformations to get an idea of the scale/style of work they are accustomed to. Once you have done your research and have an idea of what you want, the next step is working with your chosen designer/architect to put your ideas on paper!

What is design-build?:

A design build company works with their clients to design their new home (from floorplans to specifying materials used) and then seamlessly hands it over to their production team to implement the new plans.

How will Team Shane implement design – build for your renovation?:

At Team Shane, we have a team of designers that work directly with clients to create beautiful home designs while providing advice and direction on selections (interior design) and up-to-date cost implications which will help you make decisions for the final design.  From there our build team takes those designs and makes them a reality. Since the design team and build team work for the same company any complications that arise during the actual construction gets dealt with instantly with everyone participating to find the best solution for the project and the client.  The benefit to this is how smooth the process is from one step to the next – it really is all about teamwork!
Resources

4 Different Types of Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) You Can Build in Ontario

In Ontario, Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) offer homeowners a golden opportunity to enhance their properties while addressing the housing crisis. Ontario's legislative framework, particularly through Bill 108 and Bill 23, has expanded the potential for ADU projects. Below, we explore the various types of ADUs that are approved...
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