Renovating vs. Moving: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Results of a new survey out last week reveal some hard truths for home buyers in the Greater Toronto Area: sky-high prices that leave many residents unable to purchase low-rise housing such as detached, semi-detached and town homes.

From The Financial Post:
The Building Industry and Land Development Association said the average price of a new low-rise home in the GTA hit a record-high $785,800 in June, according to RealNet Canada Inc. Prices rose 15.5 per cent from a year ago. The average high-rise sold for $441,134, up just 1 per cent from a year ago.

If you’re a current homeowner weighing the pros and cons of moving, these figures might  be all it takes to convince you to renovate your home to suit your needs instead of moving.

Is moving the answer?
Whether you need more space to accommodate your growing family or your home’s current layout is posing mobility issues, renovating your current living space to adapt to your new lifestyle may make more sense.

Would the money you’ll have to spend on moving fees be better spent by putting it back into the home you know and love?

The cost of selling your home and moving is higher than you think.
The time and effort involved in preparing your home for sale is staggering. From cleaning the house and painting walls, to landscaping to grab some extra curb appeal, you’ll wonder why you’re doing all this work for someone else’s benefit. When you add in all the other costs − lawyers, movers, real estate agents, bank fees, taxes, disbursements, insurance and home inspections − it can add up to huge numbers.

Should you move?
Ultimately, it comes down to how you want to spend your money. If the cost of moving is just too great, putting the money you do have into your home is key for living happily and functioning effectively in your day-to-day life. But which elements of your home do you need to renovate to make this work?

“Now more than ever, our customers are opting to open their homes and remove the barriers that separate them from interacting efficiently with their families,” says Monarch designer Amanda Willson-Suppa.

From opening up your living space and creating a great room, to making your home more accessible for members of your family, Monarch designers are qualified to help you address the changing needs of your home.

Call us today at 905-686-2001 or drop by our showroom.

Three Reasons Why Patience is the Key to Any Successful Home Renovation

You’ve done it! You’ve set a budget and made the final decision to renovate one or more rooms in your home. It’s exciting and you’re ready to get started NOW.

But wait! Whether you’re redesigning the powder room on your main floor or doing a complete tear down of your out-dated kitchen, it’s important to understand that quality renovation projects require a significant amount of lead time.

Here are just a few reasons why:

1. Trustworthy, Quality Contractors are Booked for Months in Advance
Everyone wants their project to run smoothly, and that’s why reputable design and renovation firms like Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre receive the majority of their new business by word-of-mouth and referrals from previous clients. This means we are often booking design projects months in advance. (If you find a contractor that’s ready to start the job tomorrow, you may want to consider the reasons why.)

2. Custom-made Materials Take Time to Order, Make and Deliver
High demand for quality services is just one of the reasons to be realistic with your timeline. In most cases, the materials required for your project will require a significant time for production and delivery. A custom kitchen or bath is just that – customized based on the measurements of your home. Custom cabinetry ordered through Monarch, for example, takes approximately six to eight weeks (from the time of order) to be delivered.

3. Your Renovation Project May be Seasonal or Delayed by Poor Weather
As Canadians, we’re used to the unpredictability of Mother Nature and poor weather messing with our party and travel plans. With this in mind, it’s also important to remember that November through February are probably not the best months to build a deck or have a your roof re-shingled. Due to the frozen ground in many regions, it’s also not the best time to do major excavation work for an addition. Prep work for those jobs will have to be done by late fall or the project needs to be put off until the snow melts in the spring.

Scheduling is one of the most critical elements to managing your home renovation. At Monarch, we have over 30 years experience planning successful renovations and making your design dreams a reality. Drop by our showroom or call 905-686-2001 to speak with a member of our design team.

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.

Beautiful Bath Design is All in the Details

Whether you’re choosing a kitchen countertop surface or picking tile for a backsplash or shower, it can be difficult to determine how the finished product will look from the small sample you pick out in a showroom.

It’s similar to how different the paint colour you chose with such care from a small swatch can be a disappointment once it’s applied to the walls of your home. Except when it comes to tile, there are a few more factors at play.

At Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre, we understand that beautiful bath designs don’t just “happen.” They are the result of careful planning and execution.

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

“Recently, my clients selected a tile for their new shower based on a sample we had in the showroom,” explains Monarch designer Janet Dawson. “As with most of the marble and granite samples we have on hand, there is a warning from the manufacturer explaining that each tile may have a slightly different shading.”

Making a major design decision based on the appearance of a small sample tile can be difficult. When you book your kitchen or bath design with Monarch, we offer you the ability to pre-order a box of tile to see if it lives up to your expectations -- before placing an order for the entire amount. It might take a little longer in your design process, but it's the best way to see what you're getting before installation.

“When the tile they ordered arrived, we noticed that the veining in the tiles was going in different directions…each tile had either vertical veining or horizontal veining,” says Janet. “Although the tiles had a somewhat different pattern, they were all variations of the same colour palate. Understandably, my clients were not happy with what may have turned out to be a haphazard design and wanted all of the tile veining to be displayed in the same direction.”

“By ordering a box of tiles before the renovation was in full swing, I was able to meet with my clients and lay out the tile so they could better envision the finished product and get exactly what they wanted,” says Janet. (Finished shower pictured above.)

Are you planning a new kitchen or bath design this year? Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom today and speak with a member of our design team. We’d love to help make your design dreams a reality.

Which Home Renovations Yield the Best Return on Investment?

Whether you’re renovating to meet your changing needs or trying to improve the overall look of your home, it never hurts to consider what the return on your design investment will be.

According to yearly surveys done by the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC), refurbished kitchen and bathrooms continually yield the best return on investment, with 75 to 100 per cent of spending for these renovations recovered at resale. Interior painting, a new roof or heating system and a finished basement also ranked high (see full list below).

Of course, a high return on investment is only possible if the renovation is done tastefully, adheres to local building codes, and is in line with current trends.

Avoid projects that set your home apart from other houses in your neighbourhood. The AIC advises: “If the value of your house exceeds the average market value in your neighbourhood, your renovations will not yield much return. But if your house value is below the average, you can recover a larger part of the renovation costs.”

Whatever your reason for updating your home, Monarch designers can help. Working with you from conception to completion, our customized design services include complete project management and the use of licensed, insured and bonded tradespeople. In addition, we offer three lines of custom cabinetry covering a range of budget options perfect for your house, condominium or cottage.

Percentage of investment recovered upon resale:

Kitchen upgrade: 75% to 100%
Bathroom upgrade: 75% to 100%
Interior painting: 50% to 100%
Roof replacement: 50% to 80%
Replacement of furnace or heating system: 50% to 80%
Expansion (addition of family room): 50% to 75%
Doors and windows: 50% to 75%
Deck: 50% to 75%
Installation of hardwood floor: 50% to 75%
Construction of a garage: 50% to 75%
Fireplace (wood or gas) 50% to 75%
Central air conditioning: 50% to 75%
Finished basement: 50% to 75%
Wood fence: 25% to 50%
Interlocking paving stones on driveway: 25% to 50%
Landscaping: 25% to 50%
Asphalt driveway: 20% to 50%
Pool: 10% to 40%
Skylights: 0% to 25%

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre -- Your Baeumler Approved Contractor

Over a year ago on this blog, we announced Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre were among a

limited number of home improvement specialists in the Greater Toronto Area to be Baeumler Approved. Monarch’s team continues to be proud of this designation and works diligently to ensure we live up to the Baeumler Approved level of excellence.

Baeumler Approved is the brainchild of Bryan Baeumler, host of HGTV's "Disaster DIY" and "House of Bryan." Baeumler Approved screens home renovation companies to ensure that their references check out and they have all the required insurance and licenses necessary to run their business. Not only does Baeumler Approved check with previous customers, but they also check with the tradespeople and companies they employ on a regular basis to ensure a company who they deem "Baeumler Approved" has a solid reputation.

In an article in the Bay Observer, Bryan writes:

“We all work hard for our money. As a homeowner, deciding to renovate or repair your home it is very important to be wise before making a decision as to which contractor or tradesperson to hire. I have always encouraged people to dig below the surface in order to ensure they are making the right choice. A few hours spent online or on the phone can save you days and weeks of future frustration, not to mention the costs associated with redoing work that has been completed improperly, or not at all. A good contractor has liability insurance, conforms to all municipal and provincial guidelines and has active WSIB coverage for their workers. You can also learn a great deal by looking into a company’s work history and reputation online and through other businesses. 

This is the reason that I have established the Baeumler Approved network of quality contractors. We have actively sought out the best builders and trades from across Ontario and vetted our members for insurance, WSIB coverage, quality of work, and reputation to ensure that we are providing homeowners with quality workmanship that comes with honest service. Our members must adhere to a strict code of conduct and we encourage feedback from homeowners about the work that has been completed." 

I know that no one is perfect and even the best contractors will occasionally encounter issues, but quality contractors communicate openly and honestly with homeowners and ensure that the job is completed on-time and to a professional standard.”

Trust Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre with your kitchen and bath design and renovation needs. Drop by our showroom or call us today to book an appointment with a member of our design team.

A Message from Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre Regarding the Recent Flooding in the GTA

To our fellow residents in and around the Toronto area that incurred damages in their homes on Monday as a result of the torrential downpour, please know that we here at Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre fully empathize with you.

We understand all too well how devastating flooding can be and the destruction that remains after the flood waters have receded. While it is regrettable that our homes were damaged, we are thankful there was no loss of life and together we can rebuild our homes.

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre has over 32 years of renovation experience. We carry quality cabinetry to satisfy any of your rebuilding needs, and have professional designers and installation technicians on staff that will work with you to restore your homes.

If we can be of any assistance, we are always here for you. Let us help you to rebuild your home and together we will not be beaten come hell OR high water.

Neil Samson
President
Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Tips from CAA insurance on making a efficient insurance claim:

• Contact your insurance company immediately
• Have your policy number ready
• Document and take photos of the water damage
• Ask your agent questions about your home insurance coverage and deductible.

Tips from the Canadian Red Cross for getting rid of water yourself and beginning basic flood recovery:

• Slowly use pumps and pails to remove standing water.
• Use a wet/dry shop vacuum to mop up the remaining water.
• Dress appropriately and keep children and animals away from the flooded area.
• Don't use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse-breaker panels until an electrician has ensured they are safe.
• Clean washable items (such as clothes) immediately to prevent mould.
• Documents, books or photos should be air-dried.
• Throw out any medicine, cosmetics or toiletries that have come in contact with flood water.
• Soaked furniture should be professionally cleaned.

To download the Canadian Red Cross Guide to Flood Recovery, click here.

BainUltra Takes Relaxation to the Next Level with AromaCloud

A few months ago, we introduced you to BainUltra’s revolutionary Geysair hydro-thermo massage technology – an incredible way to relax at the end of hectic day.

Once again, BainUltra has found a way to take relaxation to the next level. AromaCloud, their newest therapeutic technology, is the first of its kind. Now you can reap the benefits of aromatherapy through this new and innovative system.

AromaCloud is an essential oil diffuser that can be built into any of BainUltra’s therapeutic baths.  Energizing, anti-inflammatory and regenerating essential oils are absorbed more effectively by your body.

With AromaCloud, you are able to choose whatever essential oils you’d like to create a calming atmosphere. And like its name, it creates a cloud filled with essential oils that cascade down the side of the tub, and into your bath—creating a calming and enjoyable therapy experience.

Monarch’s design team is the first in Canada to have been trained in all of the therapies offered by BainUltra. Are you contemplating a bath renovation in 2013? Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom and speak with one of our designers. We’d love to help. 

How Can Your New Bath Design Help Save You Money and the Environment?

Choosing a new toilet and faucet is often one of the final design choices you'll have to make in a bath renovation, but potentially the most important.

From Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC):

A high-quality toilet can help you save money, protect the environment and conserve water, all without sacrificing performance or peace of mind. Choose the wrong toilet, and you could wind up flushing your hard-earned dollars down the drain.

In this short video, master plumber Ed Del Grande explains how Kohler's new products have been re-engineered to help you save up to 30% off your water bill.

With so many makes and models to choose from, deciding on which product is right for your home can be a bit overwhelming. If you're considering a bath renovation, Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre can help.

Drop by our Pickering showroom today or call us at 905-686-2001 and speak with one of our designers. Book your bath renovation with Monarch before August 31, 2012, and you could win your new granite or quartz countertop. To learn more, click here.

The Hidden Terrors Discovered During Teardown

Monarch discovers black mould during
the teardown of a bathroom.

As is often the case, a home’s hidden secrets are revealed in the teardown process of a renovation.

“While doing a renovation in Pickering recently, we uncovered a case of black mould,” says Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre president Neil Samson.

The spores of black mould are both toxic and allergenic and cause a wide range of health problems, from cold-like symptoms to more severe respiratory and neurological disorders.”

The bathroom ceiling pictured here shows a fan that was not ducted to the outside for more than 30 years. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon occurrence in some of the older homes in this area. As a result of the poor ventilation in this bathroom, black mould developed.

“Perhaps the most disturbing part of this is discovery is that there was no indication of the mould forming prior to removing the drywall,” explains Neil. “The mould was completely hidden behind the insulation in the air space between the insulation and the plywood. This is typical in flat roof design. Had this black mould spread throughout the entire home, not only would the homeowners’ health have been comprised, but they could have been faced with replacing their entire roof – a $40,000 to $50,000 job.”

Fortunately for this homeowner, the Monarch team has had formal training on mould abatement and immediately took the appropriate measures to make the home safe, healthy and stress-free.

Don't Just Take a Bath, Unwind with the Aerofeel® Air Massage System from Maax

If you're considering a bath redesign, you're going to want to watch this...

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Drop by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre's Pickering showroom today to learn how you can incorporate spa-inspired relaxation into your new bath design.

A Spa-Inspired Pickering Bath Design by Monarch

Pickering Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Pickering Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Pickering Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Pickering Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Kohler Designers on How to Personalize Your Bath Design to Fit Your Needs

Three Kohler designers think outside the box and put their own spin on Kohler's versatile Tresham Collection.

Clean and Contemporary Bath Design from Monarch

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Renovating Your Bathroom in 2012? Kohler Redefines Luxury with the Numi Toilet

When you think of adding a bit of luxury to your bathroom, chances are you're considering a freshly tiled shower with multiple shower heads, rich new cabinetry with updated fixtures and hardware...not a toilet that comes with a remote control.

The designers at Kohler, however, have other ideas, and their latest offering—the Numi toilet/bidet—will have you thinking twice about the true meaning of luxury.

From Kohler.com:

"Introducing Numi, Kohler's most advanced toilet. The Numi toilet combines unmatched design, technology and engineering to bring you the finest in personal comfort and cleansing. From its striking form and features to its unrivaled water efficiency, the Numi toilet marks a new standard of excellence in the bathroom."

Say Goodbye to Water Spots with Spot Resist™ by Moen

Leave it to Moen to find a way to make cleaning your kitchen and bathroom—often the most used rooms in your home—easier!

"Spot Resist™ does just what it says—resists fingerprints and water spots. This innovative Spot Resist™ finish maintains the brilliance of your faucet or shower head to help you spend more time enjoying your home...and less time cleaning it. And, when it is time for periodic cleaning, Spot Resist™ easily wipes clean."   
— moen.ca

Spot Resist™ brushed nickel and stainless steel surfaces are available on a wide variety of kitchen and bath faucets and shower heads. For a full list of products featuring Spot Resist™, click here.

GROHE's Answer to the "Ultimate" Shower Experience

Like most things in life, when it comes to getting what you want -- it's all in the details.

As experts in water technology, GROHE's mission is to develop superior showers with outstanding features. Their DreamSpray® technology provides optimal water distribution for an unparalleled showering experience. With an advanced shower engine ensuring an equal flow of water through each and every nozzle and six luxurious shower settings to choose from, DreamSpray® technology allows you to tailor your shower to your mood and prepare for maximum exhilaration.

Monarch Designers Attend MAAX Fall Launch Party in Toronto's Distillery District

(l-r) Neil Samson, Amanda Willson-Suppa, Kate Beranger, Kevin Samson, Marion Cuddie, Melissa Foley

Monarch's design team was on hand as MAAX unveiled their new fall collection at a launch party at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto's Distillery District last week.

MAAX's new line of bath tubs and shower enclosures left attendees both impressed and excited to offer these new products to their clients.

Some highlights from MAAX's new fall collection:

PURFECT™ and MECHANIX™ New Frameless Shower Doors

PURFECT™ Frameless Pivot Shower Doors

MECHANIX™ Dual Ball Bearing Sliding Shower Doors

Tile-Redi® Easy-to-Tile Shower Bases

The Pearl® Series

Okapi™

Ambroisa®

The Breathtaking Series

Viaggi® Freestanding Bathtub

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre Presented with Phase II Eco-Business Cerficate

(l-r) Melissa Foley, Kevin Samson, Gary Strange, Peter Forint, Neil Samson, Sarah Overholt, Amanda Willson-Suppa, Kate Beranger

Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade representatives paid a visit to Monarch's Pickering showroom recently to present president Neil Samson and his team with their Phase II Eco-Business Certificate.

From the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade's e-newsletter, The Bulletin:

"On Tuesday, November 1st, APBOT representatives were on site at Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre in Pickering to present the company with their Phase II Eco-Business certificate. The certificate was presented by Peter Forint of Wardell Professional Development, Chair of the Board of Trade's Eco-Business Advisory Committee, and Gary Strange of First Durham Insurance and Financial, the first vice-president of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade.

Whereas the Phase I certificate is awarded to businesses who make a commitment to take steps to make their business more sustainable, Phase II rewards the follow-through and the tangible efforts made by a company.

Congratulations to Neil Samson and the team at Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre. This is truly an accomplishment of which the company can be proud."

Happy Halloween! Looking for Scary Kitchen Renovation Stories? You Won't Find Any at Monarch.

www.homestars.com

A review from Laura in Uxbridge, posted March 11, 2011, on HomeStars:

Finally moved into my dream home, and had quite a bit of renovations to do to bring it up to date. I used Monarch Kitchen and Bath for my kitchen and 3 bathrooms. From the start, I felt good about my decisions. I knew exactly what I wanted and they had all the products and the skill. Their staff is fully knowledgeable and they covered all the details, so I didn't have to worry about a thing. They even come back later to give you a complimentary "tune-up". They made sure I was completely satisfied, and now I get tons of compliments on my kitchen and bathrooms and I recommend them to everyone!! Thanks Monarch!