Magnolia – Design & Build

OTTAWA HOME RENOVATIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Deciding whether to begin a home renovation naturally comes with many questions. Take a look at our answers to common questions we get from Ottawa homeowners.

OTTAWA's Trusted HOME RENOVATIONS experts

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about working with Magnolia Construction on your next home renovation project? We took the time to gather some of the most common questions we get from our clients. If you have any specific questions regarding a home renovation project, contact our team today!

Yes, we can! If all you want us to do is help with the design of your home renovation, we will do that for you. By working with Magnolia, you can take full advantage of our design process, which breaks down remodelling into various components.

Interested in working with Magnolia Construction, contact our team today!

We recommend starting from the outside and work your way in. Of course, we’d all love that gourmet kitchen or professionally finished basement. But these finishes are pointless if you have foundation issues or if you have a leaky roof! Always protect the building envelope first and then you can focus on those fancy finishes.

Contact Magnolia Construction if you have any questions about working on a home renovation in Ottawa.

We will do our best to minimize disruptions in your home during renovations. However, it is difficult to anticipate how much disruption will be necessary until the project is underway. Our team will maintain full transparency and communicate with you as the remodel unfolds.

Get started on your home renovation with Magnolia Construction, contact our team today!

 

Our best advice is to be realistic about what you can afford and always budget for those surprises that may pop up along the way! We recommend budgeting about 20 percent to cover any unexpected expenses.

Contact our team at Magnolia Construction if you are interested in working with us on your next home renovation project!

The time to complete a project depends entirely on its size and scope. Of course, your complete satisfaction is our goal, so we will finish every project as quickly as we can, without sacrificing quality. Once we commit to a timeline, we make every effort to meet all deadlines.

Interested in working with Magnolia Construction? Contact our team today!

Our quotes are very detailed and the prices within them are firm. However, with any home renovation, there are occasionally unexpected costs that occur once a project has started. Our team keeps in mind the original budget discussed and we will always discuss extra charges before proceeding!

If you are interested in working with us, contact our team at Magnolia today!

This is one of the most frequently asked questions when researching cabinets for a kitchen remodel. There are advantages and disadvantages to using either material and deciding which one is best often comes down to personal preference. There is a general perception that plywood is better than particleboard – maybe because plywood has the word “wood “in it. Most people figure plywood is real wood while particleboard is a cheap imitation. Surprisingly, in many cases, particleboard is a much better option than plywood.

Contact us today to determine the best option for you!

Do I need to have design ideas before I start the renovation process? – Absolutely not; but it helps if you do. Your Free Design Consultation is meant to help generate ideas or work through the ones you already have.

Give Magnolia Design & Build a call today to make your design dreams come true.

It depends on what is planned for your kitchen renovation. When you start working with our team, we will provide a breakdown and timeline for your project. Here’s a sample timeline (for illustration purposes only) of a kitchen remodelling project that does not include removing or adding walls:

  1. Meet with a remodelling consultant for a Free Design Consultation and get a proposal – 1 week
  2. Meet at our showroom, finalize the scope of the project and the terms of a Remodeling Agreement – 2 to 3 weeks
  3. Select all the materials for the project – 1 to 4 weeks
  4. Materials are ordered and delivered – 4 to 8 weeks
  5. Demolition and removal of old materials and appliances – 1 week
  6. Installation of new materials and appliances, flooring, plumbing and electrical work, painting – 3 to 4 weeks
  7. Finishing touches and clean up – 1 to 2 weeks

Contact Magnolia Construction to give you a better idea of how long your project will take.

Wood flooring is not usually recommended for kitchens. That said, it’s still a very popular choice. If it works visually, go ahead and use it – especially if you are opening the kitchen into an adjacent space with wood flooring. Generally, designers choose other materials over wood because of both the “wear and tear factor” and possible exposure to water damage. Since the kitchen is a high-traffic area, the finish will wear off a wood floor more quickly than in other low-traffic parts of your home and will need to be refinished periodically. Also, because there is plumbing in a kitchen, wood floors are at a higher risk for water damage. A tile floor is more resistant to leaks and humidity.

Magnolia Construction can help you decide which option is best for you. Give us a call today to discuss your next home renovation.

Of course, re-facing is less expensive than replacing cabinets – but it is usually not recommended. If you are planning to replace doors and drawer fronts you’ll also need to replace the front face of the cabinet frame to make sure the doors and visible parts of the cabinet match. Re-facing the frame is where problems usually occur. If the laminate shifts or peels away, an unattractive seam shows. This is the most typical complaint among re-facing clients.

If you have any design questions for our team at Magnolia Construction, book a consultation with our team!

What features should I plan to invest the most in for my new kitchen? – From a functional standpoint, cabinetry is probably the most expensive item in the kitchen, mainly because of its sheer volume. However, you can also spend a lot of money on your countertops and flooring, depending on the style and materials you like.

Magnolia Construction can help you plan, give us a call today.

Every client has their own requirements and vision for renovating their bathroom. Typically, a bathroom renovation process consists of the following steps:

  • Updating bathroom fixtures
  • Replacing the floor
  • Re-tiling the walls and shower area
  • Updating plumbing
  • Repainting the ceiling and walls
  • Replacing existing bathroom ventilation
  • Updating/rearranging the lighting

Other services for a bathroom renovation may include:

  • Installing a skylight window
  • Installing a bidet
  • Installing a steam shower/jet tub
  • Annexing an adjacent closet to add extra storage space
  • Installing a heated floor

Contact Magnolia Construction to discuss how our team can help with your bathroom renovation in Ottawa.

Re-glazing is a great way to save money. It requires less labour and eliminates the cost of installing a new tub. Many older tubs are cast iron – meaning they are very sturdy and made from expensive material. In addition, some older tub models may be deeper than new tubs. Yes, there are several good reasons to re-glaze but there is one big disadvantage — it doesn’t last. The glaze usually begins to wear off within a few years. Depending on usage, the tub may need to be re-glazed in three years. Nothing really replaces the visual appeal of a brand-new tub. If you want to do it right and are not limited by budget, replacing the tub is the best way to go!

Contact Magnolia Construction to discuss the best option for your bathroom renovation budget!

Depending on your style and taste, flooring and wall tiles may be the most expensive investment. Other considerable expenses are the fixtures and shower systems you would like installed. When you work with our team, we will be able to provide you with advice on how to plan and budget your bathroom renovation!

Magnolia Construction can give you a better idea of what to invest in. Get in touch with us by simply giving us a call to discuss your bathroom renovation.

This absolutely depends on the size and scale of your planned renovation project. The time frame for a small bathroom renovation vs a large kitchen remodel can drastically vary. That being said, the earlier you plan the better. Depending on the time of year, you can expect a delay in actual construction while things are planned and organized. The physical renovation will take up a large portion of time as well.
Spring and summer are usually the best times of the year for building and renovations. Winter weather in Canada can bring forward interesting challenges when it comes to logistics. However, here at Magnolia, we can help arrange whatever works best for you and your family.
Absolutely! Unless you don’t have time to do the renovations before you move, adding renovations and improving your property can help increase the value of your home when you sell. It can make your home more comfortable and appealing to live in. Ideally, you should give yourself enough time to actually enjoy the finished product after the renovation before you sell.

This can be a tricky answer depending on your particular situation. Here are a few factors that may point toward getting a renovation for your home:

  • You want to do one! Enjoying how your space looks and functions are extremely important to our emotional well-being.
  • Your home is showing signs of deterioration or is very outdated.
  • You have the funds to do it. Contact Magnolia today for a free quote!
    Your space isn’t functioning properly or the way you would like it to.
  • You plan on selling your home and would like to increase the value of your property.

When choosing to hire a renovation contractor for a large project, it’s extremely important to do your research! A few things you may want to consider when looking for a renovation contractor:

  • How long the company and contractors have been in business for. This can attest to how successful they have been. Did you know Magnolia Construction has a rich history that dates back to the 1980s?
  • Ask about past projects to see if the results that a contractor or company produces are along the lines of what you are looking for.
  • Make sure they are licensed and insured.

Although a deep clean is not necessary before a renovation process, decluttering and removing any belongings that might get in the way of the process is a good idea. You don’t want items lying around that could break or get covered in dust, paint, or debris. For example, if you have any picture frames hanging close to the renovation area, taking them down would be a good idea so they don’t fall down from any hammering or drilling involved in the process.