What Questions Should I Ask My Landscape Company Before Hiring Them?

Are you trying to improve your curb appeal with the new landscaping trends? It’s time to contact your local landscapers.

You have a vision, and it’s the job of a great landscape company to bring that vision to life. How can you find the right team for the job? You want high-quality work!

We’re here to help. Keep reading for some of the top questions that you should ask Edmonton landscapers before committing to them.

How Do You Handle Maintenance?

A well-maintained lawn is a beautiful lawn. It’s never a bad idea to ask about how the local landscaping company handles lawn maintenance after they’re finished with their initial project.

Many companies either offer maintenance or make recommendations for maintenance. They’ll also often give you advice on how you can keep your lawn in good condition between maintenance sessions.

How Long Will the Process Take (And What Will It Look Like)?

Perfection takes time, but how much time?

Talk to the contractors about what you should expect based on the project that you’re hiring them for. How long will it take?

What happens during the landscaping process? Will the lawn be torn up, or will there be tools lying around?

It’s important to plan around landscapers. You’ll have busy workers on your lawn, potentially with a lot of noise, so plan ahead.

Can You Work With My Vision?

What do you envision for your lawn? If you’re hiring professionals, the sky’s the limit.

Do you want beautiful flower beds and retaining walls? No problem.

Are you interested in pathways and beautiful water features? You can have everything that you’re looking for.

It’s helpful to have a sketch or an inspiration board that you can use to convey your ideas to the local landscapers. Based on this, they can tell you whether or not they’re comfortable with your idea, where they would make adjustments, and how long it would take.

If you’re satisfied with how they’re willing to work with you on your dream landscape, you’re ready to move forward!

Where Do You Source Your Plants?

Not everyone needs to have “natural” lawns or native plants. While native gardens are trendy right now (and they’re good for the environment), there’s nothing wrong with going a more traditional route.

That said, it’s still a good idea to ask about where the landscapers get their plants. Plants that were grown nearby are already acclimated to the local climate. They’ll be more likely to stay strong and healthy and you won’t have to work as hard to maintain them.

Contact Your Local Landscape Company Today

Are you ready to hire a landscape company to make your backyard dreams come to life? Ask the right questions and do your best to convey your vision to your expert landscapers and you’ll have a yard that you’ll love to show off in no time.

If you’re looking for experienced professionals to amp up your curb appeal, we want to help! Contact us to get a quote today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

A bathtub renovation can breathe new life into your bathroom and help increase the overall value of your home. The right tub style can be a transformative element and create a bold focal point. But what bathtub design should you choose?

Read on to discover how bathroom contractors in Calgary can help you review different tub styles and select the perfect tub for your home.

Four Bathtub Design Styles

There are four distinct bathtub forms: freestanding, clawfoot, alcove, and drop-in.

Freestanding: A freestanding tub is a modern and beautiful update to any bathroom. They give you more flexibility in terms of placement and installation.

Clawfoot: Clawfoot tubs are freestanding but feature distinctive feet at the base of the tub. These are a perfect fit for traditional decor.

Alcove: These space-saving tub designs are often used in combination with a shower. They’re enclosed on three sides and are great for smaller bathrooms.

Drop-In: Drop-in tubs are very common and get their name from being “dropped in” to a space built up around it.

Take a look at some of our Regina bathroom renovations and the different bathtub styles we incorporate in our work.

Choose Your Shape

With each of these four bathtub designs, there are different shapes to consider. Rectangle-shaped tubs are common and work with many decors. Oval-shaped tubs provide an extra touch of elegance and style.

Many modern freestanding tubs use an angled shape. This means one or both ends of the tub is raised to give it a beautiful, organic form.

Depending on where you install your new bathtub and how much weight your floors can handle, there are different materials to choose from. Fiberglass is lightweight and durable. It’s also easy to repair.

Acrylic tubs are lightweight and resist chipping, and they’re available in a wide range of colors and styles. If you want to keep your bath water hotter for longer, choose cast iron.

If you want to live that luxe life, select a porcelain tub. The premium style and glossy finish will look beautiful for years.

Consider the Extras

Our bathroom renovations throughout Regina include lots of modern touches and special features. Your new tub can be much more than a place to soak.

Create a spa in your home with water jets, in-line heaters, and other massaging elements to increase your comfort during bath time. Take it to the next level with soothing lights that change based on your mood. You can even add built-in speakers that connect to your phone or stereo through Bluetooth wireless connections.

For added luxury, add a heating element to the surface and basin area of the tub for additional warmth and comfort.

Love Your Bathroom Again

A bathroom renovation can make you love your bathroom again, and it can increase your home’s value. Choosing the right bathtub design is essential for a maximum makeover.

We can help you decide on the right style, shape, color, and bathroom renovation cost.

If you’re looking for bathroom contractors in Regina, we’re here for you.

Check out our bathroom renovation information and get a free quote today. We want to give you the bathroom of your dreams.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Blog written by Dechamplain Heating & Ventilation in Edmonton

The cold weather will be here soon. Now is the time to prepare so you can enjoy your garage with its multiple possibilities in warm comfort.

Three types of garage heaters

There are three basic types of heating available from HVAC companies in Edmonton.

Electric heating is very costly and rarely recommended. It takes a lot of electricity to run and heat up a large garage, raising your monthly utility bills. Plus, it doesn’t circulate air very well so you’ll always have cold spots.

Infra-red tube heating is the best choice when you are dealing with high open ceilings such as commercial spaces. However, this method is not generally recommended for residential garages they take up a lot of room and do not provide any air circulation.

Forced air garage heaters are the best option for garage heaters in Edmonton. Keep reading to learn why.

Forced air garage heaters are the best choice 

Forced air units, with the overhead units being the most practical as they blow out the heated air providing circulation. They are compact and don’t take up any of your valuable floor space. Before you can have your heater installed there has to be a gas source into the garage and 120volts of power available. If you have to trench for a gas line across your property it is wise to have this completed before the ground freezes.

HVAC Companies in Edmonton

Now you are ready to have your heater installed. Our experienced tradesmen will ensure that you have the right size heater for your space. They will connect the gas and power to your new heater along with the thermostat, so you can enjoy a warm garage year-round. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dechamplain Heating & Ventilation. We are always happy to help.

Sit back and enjoy the Canadian weather knowing that you never have to scrape another windshield!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Blog written by Groon Construction in Calgary

Your house is only as strong as its base. Here are our top 8 reasons why you should fix a crack in your foundation:

Maintain Structural Integrity – if your foundation has been compromised in any way, it could lead to continual shifting and long-term structure failure.

Water Infiltration – the largest threat to your home is water leaking through your foundation.

The Problem Will Only Get Worse & Cost More – a foundation problem will never improve on its own. The longer you leave it, the more damage it can cause and the more expensive it will be to fix.

Resale Value – who wants to buy a house with a foundation problem?! Nobody!

Appearance – foundation problems often cause ugly cracks, not only in the foundation but in the home.

Use of Space – sometimes, you can lose the use of your space because of a problem with your foundation. That’s not what you paid for when you bought your home!

Air Quality – foundation problems can lead to excess moisture in your home, causing mould spores, which lead to breathing issues and health problems.

Keep Pests Away – unwanted and uninvited guests like insects and pests can get into your home through cracks in your foundation.

In most cases, horizontal cracks happen from displacement caused by an unaccounted lateral force on the wall and can become real issues for foundations moving forward.

We fix the crack with bracing (steel plates running perpendicular to the crack) to support the lateral load on the wall, which prevents further shifting and increases the structural stability of the wall.

Have questions? Then give us a call!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Discover How to Make Your Home Look More Expensive with Home Improvement Projects

If you are looking for a way to update your home for your personal taste, to get that checklist done, or to ready your home to sell and put on the market, here are a few tips. Little to big, there are many updates that can improve your home’s look in no time. Here are a few of our craftspeople’s favorite home improvement updates that can make your home look more expensive.

Home Improvement Updates to Improve Your Home’s Look

1. Storage: Open spaces and key décor is one way to make your home look more expensive. Invest in some custom storage to cut back on the clutter in your home. Cabinetry and closed shelving can organize and put your items away so only decorations are out in view of a room.
2. Accessorize: Decorate your open spaces with minimal yet key pieces. This is a great way to finish any home improvement project.
3.  Hardware: Upgrade your kitchen or bathroom hardware to give your room a unified look. Pick classic gold, silver, black, or white handles for a uniform and sharp look.
4. Paint: Make any room look brand new with a fresh paint job. Neutral tones such as white or tan will make your room look bigger, maximizing your perceptive floorspace.
5. Lighting: Lighting can tie a room together, make it look bigger, and accessorize successfully with the perfect fixture.  This can make a room look fancy in no time with a tasteful overhead light choice.
6. Flooring: Create an expensive look on a budget with vinyl replicas or go all out with natural materials such as wood or stone to take your home to the next level. 

Pick one project or complete them all to improve your home’s look and value. Having a home that looks expensive is beneficial to buyers and for your personal tastes so be sure to start planning the look you have always wanted. Start reaching out to local craftspeople to gather estimates and advice on the jobs you wish to approach first.

Contact Handyman Connection

Contact our team at Handyman Connection today. From home improvement projects to repairs, call or text us if you have any questions about our services.

The post Home Improvement: How to Make Your Home Look More Expensive appeared first on Handyman Corporate.

A master bathroom can be a luxurious space that blends spa-like elements with elegance and function. A remodel to expand a small master bathroom is a great investment. Not only will it boost your lifestyle, but it’ll help attract potential buyers and increase resale value down the road.

Talee Renovations Inc. in Calgary is a professional renovations company. Mike from Talee Renovations Inc. shares some tips and ideas for remodelling and expanding your master bathroom:

If you can’t expand, build-out

Ideally, a master bathroom should be expanded with the space of the home. A sizable walk-in closet or adjacent bedroom, for example, can be partially or fully converted into extra bathroom space. Still, it’s not always possible to build in, so build out instead. A wall bump-out or new addition are great ways to add square footage to your home and expand the master bathroom. A new addition can be worked into a larger expansion like adding a whole new room in addition to extra space for the bathroom. Even just an extra two feet can make a lot of difference in the flow and spaciousness of the room.

Don’t move the plumbing, unless it’s a must

Unless you have the budget or reasonable need, moving the plumbing and fixtures is a costly thing to do. Moving or installing new pipes will also mean that the walls and floors need to be opened (and then resealed) to accommodate the new plumbing. If there’s a way to avoid doing so while still improving the space and layout, then it’s worthwhile. Converting a bathtub to a walk-in shower, for example, immediately opens up the floor space. The glass enclosure also adds a sense of airiness and spaciousness to the room and is a clever design trick. If moving the plumbing and fixtures is necessary, then work with a professional to plan the move properly. A well-designed master bathroom will pay for itself with added value and potential buyer appeal in the future. 

Use the work triangle

Kitchens typically follow the work triangle, but it’s just as useful in the bathrooms. The same work triangle concept, to improve layout, flow, and movement, will apply just as easily to a master bathroom. Instead of the stove, fridge, and sink, a bathroom would focus on the toilet, shower, and vanity. Once applied, the space and layout of your master bathroom will be visually appealing and highly functional when moving around. 

Add luxury where it makes sense

It’s true that master bathrooms are generally the most luxurious bathroom in the home, but don’t focus on just that aspect. Don’t get swept up in just using luxury materials and fixtures and additions because it won’t always add value. With a bathroom, you want to strike the right balance between luxury and function. Choosing high-quality fixtures, plumbing, and shower designs, for example, will all pay off in their durability and longevity. Using paint and décor like a stylish soaker tub or natural stone tiles is how you can create the feel and look of luxury without the cost.

Bathroom Renovations in Calgary

Talee Renovations Inc. takes personal pride and care in every project they work on to ensure absolute satisfaction and quality. They work closely with each customer to find custom solutions and designs that perfectly suit personal needs and fit the home. Every project is handled right the first time, so you always get long-lasting results, better value, and a dream home you’ll love to spend time in. 

Contact Mike at Talee Renovations Inc. today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

If you’ve been researching a home remodelling project, you may have come across the phrase “design-build” renovations or that a contractor offers “design-build” services. What does that mean, exactly, and why is it important?

Tri-Stad Renovations & Restorations in Edmonton is a general contractor offering residential home renovations and construction services. They more about design-build renovations:

What does design-build mean?

Just as it sounds, design-build is a service that combines the project’s design planning and construction phase. The two are combined into one process through a single general contractor or renovation company. When you work with a design-build contractor, you will always have one point of contact or the same team working with you from start to finish. As the term refers, first comes the design and then the building, but it’s all done through the same company.

Why is design-build beneficial?

Having a single point of contact for all major renovation or construction project components is very beneficial. It streamlines communication, enhances collaboration, and helps control schedule and cost overruns. If the project needs changes, everyone working on your project is from the same company. Being on the same team allows changes to be made quickly and efficiently.

If you were managing your renovation on your own, you’d have to hire and manage several companies and contractors. These contractors include a designer or architect, plumbers, electricians, flooring and tile installers, painters, and the list goes on.

With a design-build renovation company like Tri-Stad Renovations, they manage this for you. They’ll ensure that everyone working in your home has a solid reputation for service and quality work. Plus, they’ll manage scheduling trades, take care of unexpected challenges, and order products. While the project is underway, they’ll ensure you’re up-to-date the entire time.

How do you find a design-build company you can trust?

Research is critical when hiring a contractor or company to work on your home. You want to make sure they have a proper business license, insurance, and WCB coverage. Before hiring a company for your home renovation, check their last three references. Then you’ll get an idea of what it will be like to work with them.

Finally, look for third-party organizations for memberships and certifications. Tri-Stad Renovations & Restorations, for example, is RenovationFind Certified. That means they’ve gone through a stringent screening process that covered legal and financial background checks, insurance, licensing and more important criteria. A company that is recognized formally by a third-party company for meeting high standards is a company you can trust.

General Contractors in Edmonton

Tri-Stad Renovations & Restorations is a division of Tri-Stad Construction. Serving Edmonton and surrounding areas, Tri-Stad offers complete design-build and general contracting services for residential clients. If you’re doing a home addition, significant home remodels, or just a bathroom or kitchen upgrade, they can help.

Contact Tri-Stad Renovations & Restorations today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

A carefully crafted design is vital to any successful home renovation. A design plan will lay out all components of your project and provide a road map for its progress. Project delays, cost overruns, last-minute changes, and other stressful issues can arise without a well-thought-out design in place.

Hiring a designer will help eliminate those problems. Hiring a renovation company that offers in-house design services will take problem-solving to the next level. Peak Improvements are the premier general contractors in Edmonton. They share how in-house design services can ensure your project’s success.

There are a lot of things to consider

Major home renovations are complex and have many elements to consider. These include architecture, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, lighting, aesthetics, and the materials you choose. Edmonton general contractors will manage all these things for you, but to do so, you will need a complete plan.

Going at this alone can be stressful, time-consuming, and often expensive. Hiring a company with an in-house designer and project manager will make for a more positive and smoother experience.

Communication and collaboration from the start

Having a designer as part of that same team ensures that even the most minor details are considered. As part of the team, designers will work closely with architects and with you to create this plan. Your project manager can then communicate directly with the designer to ensure that what is being designed can be built without issue.

Because everyone is from the same company, that communication is fluid and effective. Issues will be taken care of quickly, so your project stays on track and on budget. With everyone on the same team, in-house design services will ensure the best results and will create smoother home renovations in Edmonton.

The design-build process gives better results

Design-build renovations have been part of Peak Improvement’s process since 2007, and for many good reasons. With this process, you’ll work closely with their design and architectural team to share your dreams and needs for the renovation. Interior designers in Edmonton will take your needs, tastes, and personality to create a beautiful and functional space that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

Peak Improvements has found that this design-build process results in projects staying on budget and schedule. Design-build focuses on details, so the talented trades working in your home can provide consistent quality on a well-managed timeline. In addition, it offers greater transparency for you as the homeowner and for everyone working on the project.

To start on your home renovation’s design, contact Peak Improvements today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

You want the best for your home. If you’re renovating and want to use stone countertops, the first step is choosing a stone provider and installer for the job. How can you be sure you’re choosing the right company for the job with so many companies out there?

VE Stone in Surrey is an experienced natural stone countertop provider. They share five reasons why you should choose them for your stone manufacturer and installer:

1. Experience and reputation

VE Stone has built a solid reputation for customer service and excellent work. When fabricating and installing stone, you want to make sure you hire a company that knows what they’re doing. The experts at VE Stone can work with your design plans to create perfect countertops. Installing stone countertops is best left to the professionals. VE Stone installers are so good that your countertops will be virtually seamless.

VE Stone is also RenovationFind Certified. That means they have been prescreened and vetted by a third-party organization to ensure proper licensing, insurance, and a clean legal and financial history. They are a company you can trust.

2. Choose your slab

When purchasing natural stone for your countertops, you want to be able to look through a selection of slabs. Every piece of granite and marble is different and unique. Choosing a company with access to the actual slab will allow you to pick the piece you want. You can also decide what area of the slab you wish to fabricate into your countertop if there is a colour or veining pattern on one end of the slab you like best. With other countertop companies, you can only choose from what you see in their showroom.

Check out these granite colour ideas for your kitchen renovation.

3. Massive selection

VE Stone has hundreds of different stone colours and designs to choose. Whether you want granite, marble, or engineered quartz countertops, they will help you find the perfect match for your home renovation. They also carry many different brands, including Caesarstone, SileStone, LG Viatera, Quartzform, and many others. Having variety and lots to choose from gives you more options for your kitchen and bath projects.

4. In-house stone fabrication

VE Stone is a full-scale fabrication company. That means they manufacture your countertop right in their shop. In-house fabrication allows for more straightforward communication and custom work for your countertops. When you purchase a countertop from a company that sources their fabrication out-of-house, all communication goes through a third party instead of from the source itself.

5. Top-of-the-line technology and equipment

VE Stone will template your project using advanced digital technology. Their accurate measuring will ensure your countertop design is precise. When it’s time to cut the stone, they input CAD drawings into their automated 5-axis Italian Intermac Master CNC saw. From there, the CNC cuts, shapes, and polishes your stone. Their CNC saw uses the most advanced technology in the stone industry. It can make precise cuts for stone countertops but also can do dimensional stonework for unique projects.

Countertops in Surrey

VE Stone is a full-scale fabrication facility. They work on the smallest bathroom job to the largest commercial project. At their facility located in Surrey BC, they have hundreds of different stone colours for you to select from, include granite marble and quartz.

Visit their showroom or contact them today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Surge protectors are used to protect your electronics and appliances from surges in your electrical system. A surge is a sudden boost in energy flowing through the circuit that exceeds the designed capacity of connected equipment.

What causes power surges?

An electrical surge happens when something boosts the electrical charge somewhere along the line. For example, an air conditioner kicking in or dishwasher cycling can cause a burst of energy on the circuit. Sometimes a power outage or restoring an outage can cause surges. Less commonly, lightning can cause power surges.

When these things happen, they create a surge of electricity in your system. Then it can push it into directly wired and plugged-in devices. Without a surge protector, a power surge can cause damage to your electronics and appliances.

Westland Electric Ltd. in Calgary shares more about surges and what you can do to protect your devices and appliances from surge damage.

What is a surge protector?

Typical surge protectors plug into your outlets, like a power bar, that can help protect your electronics. Homeowners often use them for computer equipment or home entertainment systems. The power bar has a built-in surge protector to help protect the devices plugged into it from damaging surges.

On a larger scale, there are whole home surge protectors installed on your main electrical panel. Complete home surge protection will block or ground the high voltage flow and limit the electrical current flowing through the electrical system. Due to the fact that the most common causes for power surges occur inside your home, bi-directional whole-house surge protection is a wise investment.

Choosing a whole-house surge protection solution

Surge protection is worth the investment. If you add up the cost of replacing your electronics, appliances, and other devices, you could be out tens of thousands of dollars. Because power surges are going to happen, investing in a quality whole-home surge protector makes sense.

Westland Electric works with CLEAN-VOLT™. All surge protectors are supposed to attract energy surges and dissipate them before they can damage your devices. Unfortunately, many of the cheaper options do not reduce the energy surges enough to ensure the optimal lifespan of your electronics. Sometimes, their reaction time isn’t quick enough to dissipate the voltage to an acceptable level. In addition, most surge protectors degrade a little after each surge and make them less effective over time. Eventually, they will stop protecting your electrical system properly.

CLEAN-VOLT™ uses a specific varistor technology to handle heavy volumes of electricity and dissipate it at incredible speed. It ensures energy surges are brought down to a safe and acceptable level every time. In addition, the system will not degrade over time and can withstand years of usage. Investing in CLEAN-VOLT™ surge protection will provide an environment for all of your electrical equipment to reach the manufacturer’s intended life cycle and save you money over the long run.

Learn more about how CLEAN-VOLT™ surge protection works.

Electricians in Calgary

Westland Electric Ltd. is an established electrical company in Calgary. They offer a whole suite of electrical services and can help you with renovations, service upgrades, repairs, and more. Their knowledge and experience allow them to deliver excellent service and skilled work for every job, big and small.

If you’re looking for an electrician you can count on, contact Westland Electric.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com