What Lies Beneath: Monarch Helps Homeowners Fix Home Builders' “Surprises”

At Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre, we perform renovations of all kinds, shapes and sizes. One of the most common renovation requests we receive from homeowners involves transforming the popcorn ceilings in their home to flat ceilings.

The tear down of this homeowner's ceiling
revealed the absence of joist hangers

Because drywall often becomes aged and tired over time, we prefer to tear down the existing ceiling and reinstall fresh drywall. We find this method provides a better end result and it usually looks crisper than a scrape-and-plaster skim coat on the ceiling.

While undertaking this renovation at a client’s home recently, our contractors were shocked at what they found when they removed the popcorn ceiling drywall. Monarch president Neil Samson was called to the job site to confirm what our experienced contractors had noticed immediately. During the construction of the home, some very important pieces were absent: on an entire section of joists, the joist hangers were missing! There was nothing holding the joists to the structural beams except a few nails.

Here is an example of how the structural beams in a home should look like. Notice the metal brackets holding the joists to the beam.

Joist hangers are metal brackets that secure joists to the beams.

Required by code, these joist hangers are a crucial piece of the house-building puzzle. Due to the lack of joist hangers, the joists had dropped about half an inch. It’s frightening to think about what could have happened to the home over time; however, crisis was averted and our installers jacked the floor joists back up in place then installed the joist hangers. Usually when we undertake a renovation, we expect some small surprises. Missing joist hangers is certainly not a small issue, but unfortunately it was not the only item on this job that gave us some concern.

More surprises were found in the bathroom!

There were more issues again with the joists and the structure of the home being compromised. Upon installation of the bathroom plumbing, our contractors discovered that someone had cut out three-quarters of a floor joist to allow for the bathtub p-trap. Once again, this is against building code, against safe practices, and most importantly could have caused some dangerous, life-threatening scenarios. As you can see from the photo, the plumbing had been leaking for some time and had caused mold to appear on the flooring.

Working with a contractor or renovation company that you trust is very important. At Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre, we respect our customers’ homes, their families and their safety. Monarch president Neil Samson visits all job sites on a regular basis to ensure “surprises” are dealt with in a timely manner, ensuring the safety of your family and your home.

Ready to renovate? Call us today at 905-686-2001 or drop by our showroom and speak with a member of our design team.

The Real-Life Consequences of Building Without a Permit

Just over a year ago on this blog, we discussed the importance of obtaining the necessary building permits when doing renovations on your home. At Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre, we don't begin any renovation project without obtaining the required building permits first.

The City of Pickering's planning and development department describes a building permit as "your formal permission to begin construction or demolition."

A building permit from the City of Pickering ensures it has approved plans for any new structure, addition or renovation. Most importantly, all approved plans must comply with the Ontario Building Code, local zoning bylaws and other applicable laws and regulations.

"I can’t emphasize enough the importance of permits and inspections,” explained Monarch president Neil Samson in last year's blog post. “This is your guarantee that work will be done according to Ontario Building Code standards and your home will be returned to you in a safe and secure manner."

While obtaining a building permit from the city or town you live in may seem like a nuisance, it ensures your project is completed according to code and will often save you time and money later on. Although obtaining the necessary building permits before commencing a renovation is a Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre policy, it is not the policy of many contractors and is a detail often left to the discretion of the homeowner.

In the recent case of a Toronto elderly couple, this "detail" may result in the demolition of their $80,000 addition.

A recent article on thestar.com explains: "After a six-year battle that included appeals to the courts, the Ontario Municipal Board and even the United Nations, an elderly Brunswick Ave. couple will probably now be forced to demolish a two-storey addition built without a permit."

Councillor Adam Vaughan, who joined a group of local residents in opposition to the addition, balked at the couple's plea that their fight to keep the addition was a human rights issue and discriminated against the disabled. "It's a planning issue. The addition was too big, and it was built without permission. It's unfortunate. But the lesson here is a very clear one: Do not build without permission because there are consequences. And the consequences become very expensive if you choose to fight rather than cooperate."

Sadly for the Tseng family, who have spent over $200,000 in legal and professional fees trying to keep the addition, this lesson comes a few years too late. (To read the entire article on thestar.com, click here.)

For a full list of projects you need a building permit for in the City of Pickering, click here. If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, click here for more information on obtaining a building permit for your renovation.

Planning a kitchen or bath renovation? Drop by our Pickering showroom today or call our design team at 905-686-2001.

Renovating Your Kitchen? Chances Are You'll Need a Building Permit

At Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre, we don't begin any renovation project without obtaining the necessary building permit first.
 
"I can’t emphasize enough the importance of permits and inspections,” explains Monarch president Neil Samson. “This is your guarantee that work will be done according to Ontario Building Code Standards and your home will be returned to you in a safe and secure manner."

The City of Pickering's planning and development department describes a building permit as "your formal permission to begin construction or demolition."  

A building permit from the City of Pickering ensures it has approved plans for any new structure, addition or renovation. Most importantly, all approved plans must comply with the Ontario Building Code, local zoning bylaws and other applicable laws and regulations.

From the City of Pickering's Planning and Development website:

It is unlawful to start construction or demolition before you obtain a permit.

Building permits regulate types of construction permitted in the community and ensure that building standards are met. The building permit process protects each homeowner's interests, as well as those of the community at large, and provides for the erection of safe structures.

By obtaining a permit, you can also take advantage of the professional expertise of Building Division staff. Inspectors are good sources of information and can offer suggestions to help solve construction problems, often before they occur. They have extensive hands-on experience, so try to be around during their visits.

In many cases, your designer or contractor will obtain permits on your behalf. But remember, it is the building owner who is ultimately responsible for complying with all building requirements.

For a full list of projects you'll need a building permit for, click here.

If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, click here for more information on obtaining a building permit for your renovation.

While obtaining a building permit from the city or town you live in may seem like a nuisance, it ensures your project is completed according to code and will often safe you time and money later on.

“You’re spending a lot of time, energy and money on your renovation—be safe and protect your investment," says Neil.

Monarch's "Whole-Home" Makeover Continues: The Importance of Inspections and Permits

John and Cindy's home is now insulated, inspected and ready for drywall.

The electrical and plumbing rough-in has been completed and inspected at John and Cindy’s 1,000 sq. foot home in Lawrence Park.

“We found the vent to the basement water closet terminated under the backyard deck instead of being tied in to the main stack,” says Monarch president Neil Samson. “This is just one of many issues that Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre finds on renovation jobsites on an ongoing basis.

“Everything in John and Cindy’s home is now safe, insulated, inspected and ready for drywall. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of permits and inspections,” explains Neil. “This is your guarantee that work will be done to Ontario Building Code Standards and your home will be returned to you in a safe and secure manner.

“We’ve been hearing a lot more stories about insurance companies denying homeowners’ insurance claims because work was done by unlicensed trades and the required permits were not issued. You’re spending a lot of time, energy and money on your renovation—be safe and protect your investment.”

Next week: Finishing begins