Home renovations, home improvements, or home remodeling are processes of improving the design and functionality of a home. It normally involves various projects which help to upgrade the existing condition of a property. Home renovations may involve the interior, exterior, or other sections of the house.
Renovating a home is important as it helps to restore its appeal and functionality. If you live in Ontario, Canada, you definitely understand how important the remodeling process is and how you need a permit before you can begin the renovations. But do you know what renovations require a permit? Well, let’s find out.
What Home Renovations Require a Permit in Ontario, Canada?
A building permit usually includes all aspects that relate to construction, renovation, demolition, and home addition. As per the Ontario Building Code, the validity of building permits is usually within the period of construction. But in case you have finished or started the construction process, then the validity of the permit can go up to 6 months. It should be noted that you can always seek to extend your permit, in case you are not able to complete everything within the stipulated timeframe.Home Renovations that Require a Permit in Ontario
You need to apply for a permit if you need to:- Change or alter a property structure
- Construct a detached or attached garage
- Construct a fireplace or chimney
- Underpin, repair, or excavate a property foundation
- Create a home addition to an existing building
- Construct other accessory buildings that have areas covering more than 10 meters squared.
- Close or change the size of windows and entrances
- Add new windows and entrances
- Home repair or renovation work involving electrical wiring, air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and ventilation.
- Relocate or remove parts of a building
- Finish sections of buildings that had been previously left unfinished
- Construct additional rooms within a building
- Build a deck that’s attached to a property
- Construct a new detached deck that is above 60.96 cm from the ground
- Construct a new swimming pool enclosure
- Installation of shelves and cabinets
- Construction of fences
- Altering an opening
- Replacing windows and doors
- Using the same material to replace shingles, siding, or stucco
- Painting, patching and decorating
How to Apply for the Permit
If you live in Ottawa and you’re keen on doing home improvements, then you need to first get a permit. You need to personally submit your application to the customer service counter found at your local district office. This should be within the area where your home is located. Once you have paid the application fee, the building staff will do a comprehensive overview of your home improvement plan. This is a vital procedure that’s put in place by the district to ensure that your plans comply with local zoning by-laws of the Ontario Building Code. In addition to that, the plans have to comply with other stipulated regulations put in place. The best thing about the application is that you can conveniently monitor its status online. Generally, the application process is usually fast, especially for small projects such as home renovations. This is important in ensuring that you start and finish the projects as soon as possible. It takes a few days to review smaller projects while complex projects take longer because they need a comprehensive overview. The municipality offers permits to specific projects and in case you want to carry out other renovations, then you must apply for another permit.Why Are Home Improvements Important?
Our needs change with time and this may be in terms of size and design. Besides that, the esthetic appeal of buildings normally declines with time. So, some of the benefits of doing home renovations include:Enhanced Comfortability
A home needs to be comfortable for you to enjoy living with it. Because our needs change with time, we need to do home renovations to ensure that we can still enjoy our homes.Better Security
As stated above, the aesthetic appeal of a property usually declines as time goes by. After years of use, you will find that a home has started developing cracks on the walls, contains tainted shelves and cabinets, has leaking roofs, and worn-out floors among others. This can pose a serious security threat if you are not careful. However, an effective home renovation project can help to fix such issues and minimize the risk of injuries or theft.Improved Efficiency
As technology advances, you find that also equipment previously installed in our homes end up becoming updated. For instance, you will find that there are new lighting systems, window designs, flooring material, and others. To ensure that your home is efficient, you can have a renovation project. This helps to ensure that everything runs efficiently as per your preferences. Understand that some of these renovations can be cost-friendly in the long run. For instance, the installation of new heat pumps can help to significantly reduce your energy costs.Enhanced Home Function
As time goes by, you might find that your family is growing or reducing in number. If you start to have kids, you might be forced to create an extra room or story. Alternatively, you might be forced to demolish some room units in case they are not in use or you need a larger space. This is important for functionality to ensure that your home meets your changing needs.Increased Home Value
Home renovations can significantly increase the value of your home. If your home has an outdated design, then it will less appealing. However, improving its original design in order to meet the latest market trends in the real estate sector can easily attract a good buyer. It’s worth noting that additions such as basements, garages, and the number of bathrooms can also increase the value of your home. Changing the style of the cabinets, installing new doors and windows are all crucial in increasing the value of any property. So, if you are going to put your home on sale in the future, make sure that you do the necessary upgrades.Types of Renovations
There are several types of renovations and they include:Bathroom Renovation
You not only deserve a bathroom that’s functional but one that’s appealing aesthetically as well. We understand that a bathroom is like a sanctuary. This is where you get to bathe and relax after a tiring day. So, why not make it stylish and functional? Under our bathroom renovation plan, we aim to give your special room a classic design with a touch of modern accessories. We will work with your design and preferences to ensure that you end up with something that you will enjoy for years to come. We always consider our customers’ tastes and how they want their bathrooms to be designed.Kitchen Renovations
We know that a kitchen is a special place for most of you and, therefore, we normally take time to create something magical. This is the ultimate place where you prepare food, store cooking items, and get to try new dishes. Generally, our kitchen renovations are inclined in creating a design that’s fun and attractive. We normally create highly functioning kitchens that are spacious and accommodating enough. We efficiently remodel all our clients’ kitchen spaces to ensure that it has that homely ambiance.Basement Renovations
Basements provide a great way of adding space to any building. So, if you have a non-functional basement, we can help you turn it into a good living space. With our extensive team of experienced experts, Renos Group can enhance the appearance of your basement by uniquely tailoring new adjustments to meet your needs. We understand that basement renovations are quite different from other types of home remodeling. This is because basements are located below the ground level. However, we normally assess the basements and apply the solution. Creating a good basement area can significantly increase the value of your money, especially if you are planning to put it on the market in the future.Mobility Renovations
Research surveys in Ottawa, Ontario indicate that most seniors love to remain in their homes. This is because their desire to move around is normally restricted due to poor safety measures and restrictions in most homes. However, Renos Group can efficiently handle this type of home remodeling. The company has a great portfolio of home improvements. To ensure that the elderly remain independent throughout their sunset years, we normally offer effective mobility renovations. This can also cater to the needs of those who are differently-abled. Some of the home renovations that we do in relation to mobility include:- Fixing the bathroom: we normally install non-slip floors in addition to shower stalls. Besides that, we can install walk-in bathtubs to enhance access to the bathroom. All these in addition to grab-bars in the shower room and toilet can help to enhance the safety of an elderly person. We recommend that homes with elderly persons have hands-free faucets for seamless accessibility to basic hygiene resources.
- Enhancing the stairs: Does your home have staircases? Well, if you are abled differently or you are an elderly person, this can pose serious restrictions when it comes to movement. However, Renos Group can help to enhance your mobility by installing handrails or mechanic stairlifts. Besides that, improving lighting, installing non-slip tapes, and widening such stairways are some of the renovations that we do in order to facilitate movement.
- Changing the kitchen: A fully functional home should be able to allow the occupant to make meals conveniently. So, if you are a senior, we can alter and remodel your kitchen to ensure that you still make your favorite meals even as your sunset years continue to clock. This may involve the installation of touch latches on cupboards and drawers. Additionally, we also lower the countertops for easier access.
Home Additions
Instead of buying a new home or pulling the whole building down, you can enhance your home by making significant additions. Home additions normally come in various types and sizes, depending on the new beneficial addition that you want. It can be:- A house addition that involves an extra room. This may be lateral or vertical.
- An additional sunroom to let you enjoy the beautiful sunrises and sunsets at the comfort of your home.
- House lifting in order to install a basement area that can increase your home’s value.
- Adding a garage or a workshop for your car and other equipment
- Adding a second story, especially if you want more home space
- Bump out additions that help to enhance the space of your living room, especially if you have a growing family.
