Category: Home Renovation

Basement Flooring Costs and Ideas

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Basement Renovation Ideas

Basement Flooring Costs and Ideas

For stylish basement flooring, vinyl, hardwood, carpet, tile, and even concrete are all popular flooring options for basement renovations.  If you’re on the market for new flooring for your basement, you’re sure to find the right style at the right price – advances in flooring technology allow for any type of flooring to be applied in basements.  With that in mind, there are special considerations that need to be made; in particular, basement flooring needs to stand up well to moisture and in many cases temperature variations.  From there, you’ll want to consider the function of the space – are you finishing a suite, adding a living room, creating more bedrooms, or building a utility room?  And of course, you’ll need to consider your style and your budget.  Now that you know some of the main considerations in basement flooring purchases, let’s have a closer look at some flooring ideas and their associated costs.

Vinyl

Luxury vinyl flooring has revitalized the vinyl flooring game.  Versatile, durable, and affordable, vinyl tile is a great basement flooring option that’s also attractive.  Vinyl is available in a wide range of colours and styles – it can be made to look like hardwood or even ceramic tile.  One of the main benefits of vinyl flooring for basements is that it holds up well in moist environments.  The cost is attractive too if you’re on a budget with vinyl flooring for basements ranging from $2-5 per square foot.

Carpet

For living spaces, carpet can be a great option for basement bedrooms or recreation rooms.  Synthetic carpets such as nylon and polyester are recommended as they’ll stand up better to moisture.  Still, carpet is best in a dry environment.  These types of carpet usually come in at under $8 per square foot and installation is affordable too.

Hardwood

Hardwood can be tricky in basements because these floors are easily damaged by moisture as they may warp.  However, engineered hardwood provides the aesthetic of hardwood with improved durability.  Indeed, engineered hardwood stands up well in moist environments as it is much less likely to warp.  Engineered hardwood flooring for basements is also an environmentally-friendly option as it can be made from recycled materials and it can also be refinished.  However, this type of flooring tends to be on the more expensive side averaging around $8 but up to $16 per square foot.  Installation can be pricy too.

Other Basement Flooring Ideas

Tile, laminate, and finished concrete are also popular in basements.  Ultimately, basement flooring should be waterproof and durable but that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice aesthetic.  When considering your basement flooring options, speak with your flooring professional to determine the best floor for your space, your style, and your budget.

How Much Does it Cost to Renovate a House?

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How Much Does it Cost to Renovate a House?

Renovating your home is an exciting project.  While there are many demands and even stressors, the finished project can make a significant impact on your quality of life and the value of your home.  With that in mind, these can be expensive renovations – depending on the scope of your renovation, your design choices, materials used, the size of your home, and even your geographical region, renovation costs can vary widely.  Particularly with rising materials costs since 2020, timing your project is critical.  How much does it cost to renovate a house?  There isn’t a hard and fast answer to this question, but let’s take a look at some of the factors that will influence your budget.

Common Factors that Influence Home Renovation Costs

Some of the main factors that impact how much your home renovation will cost are the age of your home, the scope and duration of the project, variable labour costs, and materials used.  More specifically, older home renovations can cost more especially when unexpected costs pop up.  Large-scale and longer-term projects will certainly cost more – more rooms renovated, more materials, more labour, etc.  Additionally, labour costs can vary not only geographically but by the skills and experience of the labourers; and similarly, if you’re investing in top quality fixtures and finishes, expect costs to be higher.

How to Calculate Costs

As you can see, there are many factors that will influence the cost of your renovation; but you can certainly estimate costs based on your own goals.  Working with a professional contractor is a great way to answer the question, ‘how much does it cost to renovate a house?’  A contractor has experience working with home renovation projects of various scopes and also with different materials and labourers.

Other than that, you can consider typical costs for different renovations. Let’s take a closer look.

  • Basement renovations can have a significant impact on the resale value of your home.  Whether you want to expand your living area, develop a rental suite, or add a bedroom – costs will vary.  Basement renovations can cost between $10,000 and $50,000 depending on your goals.
  • Bathroom renovations can cost up to $20,000.  Adding a bathroom will be more costly.
  • Kitchen renovations are popular and among the most expensive.  If you’re looking for new cabinets, appliances, fixtures, and lighting, kitchen renovations can cost $50,000 or more.
  • Bedroom and living room renovations usually cost a little less as there are fewer fixtures and features.  The cost of bedroom renovations usually involves flooring, lighting, and wall covering costs.  These renovations can cost $5,000 or more.

Remember, home renovations are a collaborative project that include you as the homeowner, you contractor, architects, designers, and labourers.  Ideally, you’ll work with a skilled and experienced contractor that can help you get the home renovation of your dreams on a budget that works for you.

The Cost of Condo Renovation in Vancouver

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The Cost of Condo Renovation in Vancouver

Widely recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Vancouver is home to an internationally diverse population of people who love the city for its urban amenities as well as access to unparalleled natural beauty.  And though Vancouver is inarguably stunning, condo owners want their home to be equally stunning.  So, what is the cost of condo renovation in Vancouver?  Many factors will influence the cost of condo renovation, but let’s discuss typical costs and construction considerations for each room in your Vancouver condo.

Kitchens

Kitchens tend to be the most expensive renovation for condos.  Cabinets and countertops, flooring and baseboards, lighting, appliances, and drywall, tiling, and/or painting are all elements that may undergo renovation in our condo.  As you can imagine, the costs of each of these elements can vary significantly but a typical kitchen condo renovation in Vancouver will range from $20,000-$30,000 and sometimes more.

Bathrooms

Bathroom renovations can also be on the more expensive end of the spectrum, particularly if you are replacing fixtures such as bathtubs, showers, toilets, and sinks.  You’ll also want to factor in the cost of finishing features such as tiles, flooring, baseboards, and lighting.  A beautiful bathroom mirror can make help your bathroom condo renovation in Vancouver make a major impact, but often at a cost.  All combined, expect your bathroom renovation to hover around $10,000-$15,000 for a total overhaul.

Living Spaces

Living spaces such as dining rooms, living rooms renovations, and bedrooms tend to be the most affordable.  Depending on the scope of your project, you’re going to need to consider the cost of flooring, drywall repairs and paint, window coverings, and possibly even furniture.  These living spaces can often be renovated for under $15,000.

Of course, the cost of every renovation will depend on your unique goals and budget.  Many Vancouver condo renovation costs can be much higher or even much lower than the numbers indicated here.  Luxury fixtures and appliances alone can cost thousands of dollars, but you can often save money with your renovation by refurbishing your fixtures or purchasing more affordable (or even used) appliances. 

Ultimately, careful planning is the only way to truly get a sense of the costs of a condo renovation in Vancouver.  Working with qualified professionals including contractors and designers can help you get a clear picture of your costs.  Remember even a small condo renovation project can have a huge impact, not only on your personal enjoyment of your space but also on the resale value of your condo.  Start by setting clear renovation goals and researching the costs of materials, design, and installation so that you can negotiate your renovation within your budget – no matter  how large or small.

How Long Does it Take to Remodel a Kitchen?

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If you’re asking the question, “how long does it take to remodel a kitchen?” and you’re looking for a hard and fast answer, you’ve come to the wrong place.  In fact, many factors will influence the duration of a kitchen renovation and any contractor that quotes you a timeline upfront and without assessing your kitchen first is probably setting you up for disappointment.  Even the most carefully planned and organized kitchen remodel can face unpredictable delays.  So, with that in mind, let’s have a closer look at what you need to consider and how you can estimate the timeline for your kitchen remodel.

Design Phase

The design phase of your kitchen remodel is essentially in your hands and you can take as much or as little time as you want.  Still, during this phase you want to plan for the finished renovation which includes considerations of appliances, flooring, countertops, paint, and lighting.  At some point in the design phase, you’ll want to consult your contractor about your design decisions to ensure there aren’t any structural or other pragmatic barriers to the renovation.

The design phase helps you determine the scope of your project and from start to finish usually requires at least a week – regardless on the size of the kitchen or the scope of the renovation.  Keep in mind, a complete remodel where cabinets, appliances, and flooring are all removed will take longer than a smaller project that may only involve upgrading cabinets and paint, for example.

Once the design has been finalized, you’ll collaborate with your contractor to purchase all the products and materials you’ll need for your kitchen remodel.  One thing to keep in mind is that it can take upwards of a month or two for all materials and fixtures to be ordered and delivered.

Demolition

After the design phase, you’ll be ready to start your renovation.  And, what’s the first step in remodeling your kitchen?  Demolition.  Usually, demolition is a relatively quick process that requires only a few days.  However, if major structural changes are needed (like moving a wall), demolition will often take longer.  Ultimately, you want your demolition to be safe and there may be permits required if you are moving load-bearing structures.  As such, demolition could take several days or even a couple months.

Utilities Installation

Again, depending on the scope of your kitchen remodel, you may need to reconfigure your plumbing, gas, and electricity.  Major changes to kitchen layout will often require new utilities layout – expect this stage of your renovation to take one or two weeks.

Fixtures and Features

Installation of new lights, floors, fixtures, and other features will again vary depending on the scope of your remodel.  Nevertheless, flooring, cabinets, and countertops can be assessed and installed within a week or two.  Lighting will usually take at least a couple days, as will installation of backsplashes.  During this phase, all the elements that make a kitchen a kitchen need to be managed and this phase can take from several weeks to a month or more.

Finishing

Finally, finishing carpentry involves your contractor attending to all the details and to wrap up any loose ends in your kitchen renovation.  This phase usually lasts a couple days. 

As you can see, the typical kitchen remodel can range from 3 to 6 months in duration; and that’s providing everything goes right!

Choosing Floors for Basement Renovations

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Choosing Floors for Basement Renovations

Basement renovations allow homeowners to expand their living space and increase the resale value of their home.  When it comes to renovating your basement, there are so many great options – create a new living room, add an entertainment room such as theatre or games room, or even build a fully equipped suite.  Whatever your basement renovation, there is a flooring option to match the function and style of the room as well as your budget.  For more information about choosing floors for basement renovations, keep reading!

Basement Flooring Need to Know

Your basement flooring should be durable, functional, and stylish.  For these reasons, one of the top flooring options for basement renovations is vinyl flooring.  Vinyl flooring is durable and holds up well to high traffic, moist environments, and will stand up well to even the harshest elements.  Whether you have pets, small children, or rowdy house guests, vinyl flooring stands the test of time.  Add to that the versatility of vinyl flooring and it’s no wonder that it’s a top choice for basement renovations.  There are many stylish vinyl flooring options and all of them will endure all that basements have to offer.

Indeed, basement renovations and flooring choices for the basement need special consideration.  Hot water tanks and laundry facilities are often found in basements, so flooring needs to survive potential floods.  Additionally, basements usually feature a concrete slab, so moisture from the outside environment and even drastic temperature changes can wreak havoc on basement floors – but not vinyl.  Carpet easily damages, tile can get too cold, and hard wood is not recommended for moist environments.  Vinyl flooring, on the other hand, can mimic the appearance of natural wood flooring, provide the comfort of carpet, and doesn’t get cold like tile.  Plus, vinyl is affordable.  It’s almost perfect for basement renovations.

Keeping up with the Joneses

Fortunately, vinyl flooring can also have a serious aesthetic impact.  Vinyl flooring is available in a wide variety of styles and finishes.  For example, for a more contemporary design, homeowners love the sleek aesthetic of faux wood finishes that vinyl flooring offers.  Indeed, vinyl flooring looks like real wood, and many manufacturers provide flooring with subtle nuances such as “distressing” to make vinyl floors appear to be reclaimed wood which is very popular these days.  Alternatively, herringbone designs on vinyl floors are also very trendy in 2021. 

So, when it comes to basement flooring, remember that you need to consider features such as durability as well as style.  You’ll find many different vinyl flooring options to match whatever basement renovation you’re planning and to suit your personal style.  As an added bonus, vinyl flooring tends to be very affordable so it’s easy on your budget too!

Basement Renovation Ideas

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Basement Renovation Ideas

Basement Renovation Ideas

An unfinished basement offers a unique opportunity to expand the living space of your home.  In the past, the basement may have been a forgotten space for storage, laundry, or other utilitarian purposes, but today’s basements serve much more variable purposes.  From extra bedrooms to games rooms, suites, and everything in between, the following basement renovation ideas may give you an idea of how to make better use of your unfinished space.

Playrooms, Games’ Rooms, Home Theatres Galore!

Your basement renovation may be the perfect opportunity to create more space for entertainment.  Maybe you want a room where your kids can play and not mess up the main living area of your home, or maybe you want an adult games’ room where you can play darts or billiards.  There is even a growing trend to convert basements into home theatres.  Your imagination can really run wild when renovating your basement.

A kids’ playroom can be built with slides, climbing walls, and even monkey bars so that your children can be active even on a cold or rainy day.  Also, consider how to incorporate storage for toys and games to keep your home more organized.  If you build a home theatre, you can get a big screen TV or projector, rows of reclining chairs, and an impressive sound system. 

Add Liveable Rooms

A basement renovation is also a great opportunity to expand the living space of your home.  Added bedrooms or living rooms are a common choice.  If your family is growing, you want more room to relax, or you have regular houseguests and you want to make them comfortable, adding an extra bedroom or living room might be your ideal solution.  Even smaller basements can be renovated to add more living space.  For a bedroom, consider a Murphy bed and creative storage solutions.  For a living room addition, consider keeping the basement living room more casual with a more formal living room on your main level.

Health and Wellness…or Maybe a Place for Drinks!

You could convert your basement into a home gym, or you could make the real adult choice to create a bar or wine room.  A moderate to large sized basement is ideal for a home gym.  You’ll want to choose a durable flooring option to protect surfaces from heavier equipment; but, you don’t need to get too fancy with your gym either.  Some free-weights and other simple equipment combined with a TV to follow online workouts might be all you need.  On the other hand, if the gym isn’t your thing, you could renovate your basement into a bar with cabinets, countertops, stools, and even a keg tap.  For the “more sophisticated” alcohol connoisseur, the basement is often the perfect location for a wine cellar.  Temperatures tend to be cooler and you can install multiple wine racks and even wine fridges to display your favourite varieties.

As you can see, there is so much you can do with a basement renovation.  If you know what you want to do with the space, work with a professional contractor to ensure you create the space you want on a budget you can afford.

Kitchen Renovation Ideas

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Kitchen renovation Vancouver

From the simplest paint job to a major kitchen renovation, there are many ways you can refresh your kitchen that can fit into almost any budget.  As the kitchen is a key room in the home, it is also one of the most frequently renovated; and yet, coming up with kitchen renovation ideas can be challenging – especially if you are on a tight budget.  Thankfully, the following kitchen renovation ideas feature updates that can be easily adapted for cost savings; alternatively, you can also adapt these renovations to the luxury end of the budget scale. 

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinet renovations make a mark.  Indeed, of all our kitchen renovation ideas, new cabinets are likely to make the biggest difference by revitalizing the look of your kitchen but also by improving functionality.  Additionally, updated kitchen cabinets will have a huge impact on the resale value of your home.  Nevertheless, cabinets can be expensive, so if you’re looking to save money consider keeping or reusing old cabinets.  A little bit of elbow grease and a new coat of paint can brighten up your kitchen – and if you add new hardware, you’ll hardly recognize your old cabinets.  If you’re less concerned about budget, consider consulting with a kitchen design expert to reconfigure the layout of your cabinets to make your space more efficient.  There are even new cabinet designs that improve storage and functionality that make a great long term investment.

Countertops

Natural stone countertops are expensive but they are durable, sophisticated, and elegant.  If you can work granite or quartz countertops into your budget, you won’t be disappointed as they require little maintenance and resist heat, stains, water, and bacteria.  That being said, laminate countertops are great for the budget and they’re available in many different styles, colours, and patterns.

Appliances

The upfront costs of new appliances can be a deterrent for some home owners looking for low cost kitchen renovation ideas, but it’s also important to consider the long-term energy savings of high efficiency appliances.  A new energy efficient refrigerator and dishwasher can save you hundreds of dollars in electricity bills over the years which means they pay for themselves.  Plus, new appliances are offered in an impressive array of colours and finishes and they can make an impressive impact on the aesthetic of your new kitchen.

Lighting

Upgrading the lighting in your kitchen gives you flexibility over how and where light is focused.  Ultimately, layering lighting so that you have decent ambient lighting as well as task lighting allows you to illuminate your kitchen according to your needs.  If you’re already updating cabinets and countertops, consider installing task lighting under cabinets.  Also, consider decorative lighting to add aesthetic appeal – chandeliers and pendant lights are great choices for sophisticated designs, or for a contemporary look consider directional spot lights or pot lights.

Remember, your kitchen renovation should reflect not only your budget but your personal style as well as practical elements related to how you use your kitchen.  With careful planning and research, you can achieve an impressive upgrade to your kitchen on any budget.

How to Pick Lighting for your Home?

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Planning a home renovation? Getting the right lighting for your home can have a huge impact not only on style but also function.  Depending on the room, your lighting is going to change – you’re not likely to use the same lighting solutions in your kitchen as your bedroom, for example.  Additionally, there are so many available lighting options today – from chandeliers and pot lights to LED lights and hanging lights, there are many factors to consider when choosing lighting for your home.  Let’s have a closer look at some of the most important considerations so you can learn how to pick lighting for your home.

Types of Lighting

First understand the basic types of lighting – ambient, task, and accent lighting.  Sometimes you’ll mix and match different types of lighting in a room.  Ambient lighting is your primary light source – two of the main examples in homes are overhead or recessed lighting fixtures.  You’ll want to consider how much light you’ll need in a room depending on its function.  Kitchens and bathrooms usually have more ambient light than bedrooms, for example.

As the name implies, task lighting provides adequate light for specific tasks.  When you’re watching TV, applying makeup, or reading a book, you’ll probably benefit from some task lighting.  Table lamps or a mirror lights are both examples of task lighting.  They can increase lighting in a specific area, but can be deactivated when they’re not needed.

Finally, accent lighting represents a style choice.  You may use accent lighting to highlight your favourite art or a specific feature of your home.  For example, accent lighting may be installed around a fireplace so you can accent pieces on the mantle.

Types of Fixtures

Next, it’s important to understand that there are many different lighting fixtures.  From sconces and flush mounts to lamps and chandeliers, different types of lighting fixtures will often serve different purposes.  Sconces are mounted to your wall and usually act as accent lights.  Flush and semi-flush mounts are usually installed in the ceiling and provide ambient lighting.  Chandeliers and lamps are usually design features that may provide both ambient light and accent lighting.  You can probably even remember using desk lamps as task lighting.

Lighting for Space

Finally, consider the space you are lighting when trying to pick the right lighting for your home.  Entryways generally benefit from brighter, ambient light mounted in the ceiling.  For more flexible design, living rooms are well-suited to ambient light from floor lamps and table lamps.  Consider installing a dimmer switch in the living room for more control over lighting.  Dining rooms should feature a balance of light – enough for eating and chatting but not offensively bright.  A chandelier or mounted fixture over the centre of the table is traditional.  In the kitchen, consider pairing ambient lighting with task lighting where you do most of your kitchen work.  For your bedroom, a softer, ambient light with a couple of lamps for task lighting are great ideas; but for the bathroom, you need a lot of light.  A variety of sources allows you to add more light as needed – and don’t forget task lighting for your grooming tasks.

How to Choose Flooring for your Home

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How to Choose Flooring for your Home

When it comes to home renovations, there are so many options available that it can be a daunting task to find the right flooring for your home.  Depending on your material and style preferences as well as function and budget, selecting the best flooring is more complicated than simply finding a look that you like.  With that in mind, this guide will address many of the key considerations you need to make so you don’t have to guess about how to choose flooring for your home. 

Budget

Not all flooring is priced the same.  On the cheaper end of the flooring spectrum, laminate options are the go-to.  You can choose styles that look like hardwood at a fraction of the cost – you can even find bargains where you’ll pay less than $2 per square foot.  Engineered wood flooring gets a bit more expensive, particularly as you look at more exotic woods, but these options are still affordable and range between $2 and $5 per square foot.  High quality laminates and vinyl tiles will also land you closer to the $4 or $5 per square foot price.  The most expensive flooring options tend to be exotic hardwood floors made from mahogany or Brazilian cherry, as well as premium laminate or vinyl floorings.  Ultimately, if you know your budget, you can focus your search on systems that fall in your price range.

Function

Next, think about the room or rooms where the flooring will be installed.  Is it a high-moisture space?  Is it a high traffic area?  What about pets or children?  When flooring rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom or areas in the basement, you want to choose a flooring system that can stand up to moisture.  Concrete, ceramic, or porcelain or vinyl tile floorings are great options for high moisture areas.  If moisture isn’t a consideration, most types of flooring will be suitable – but there are still some questions to be answered.

If you want a floor that will stand up to high traffic, pet stains, or the whims of children, more durable flooring systems such as ceramic or porcelain tile are also great.  If you want durability as well as versatile style options, laminate and plank vinyl flooring are also great options.  Also, you may shy away from carpet because of potential stains, but if you’re less concerned about spills and accidents, carpet flooring is long lasting.

Maintenance

Finally, remember that all flooring systems require regular care and attention.  Vinyl flooring and laminate flooring tend to require the least maintenance – regular sweeping and occasional damp mopping will usually suffice.  On the other hand, hardwood floors are more susceptible to scratches and may need to be refinished from time-to-time.  Regardless of the type of flooring system you install, remember to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning and maintenance to ensure the longevity of your floors.

Now that you have a sense of some of the most common factors to consider when choosing flooring for your  home, you can easily focus your search to find the right style for any room.

Budgeting Patio Renovations

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Budgeting Patio Renovations

Home improvement projects are exciting and sometimes stressful at the same time.  No matter the project or intentions, it is easy for renovations to get out of hand and over budget.  So, if you are planning a patio renovation and you have a budget in mind, how can you keep yourself focused and on budget?  The following tips will help you keep your patio renovations on track with respect to both schedules and finances.

Planning, Planning, and More Planning

Planning and prioritizing every aspect of your patio renovation is the cornerstone to keeping the project on track and on budget.  From the earliest planning stages including setting timelines, finding contractors, and getting your permits to the final touches of the decorative process, careful planning can make a huge difference when it comes to budget.  Your planning must include project schematics that will allow you to break down costs according to various project stages from demolition (if required) and construction to finishing and decoration.  The more detail that goes into planning your patio renovation, the more likely you will be to keep the project within your spending limits.  If you are new to outdoor renovations, consider working with a professional contractor who can help you understand all the nuances of your project and how to budget effectively.

Research Supports Planning

We really cannot overestimate the importance of planning at every stage of your renovation and this should include careful research into material and labour costs, local permitting requirements, design trends and more.  It is always helpful to check out similar patio renovation projects in your neighbourhood or even through online research.  You can even research creative ways to repurpose your current outdoor facilities.  For example, if you have a flower bed constructed from re-useable brick, can you transform it into a walk way?  Knowing what you have, what you need, and how to use your resources effectively will help you spend your money efficiently.

Allocating Funds

It can often be helpful to break down your patio renovation into smaller chunks or milestones and then allocate funds.  Say that you want to remove an old deck before building a new one – you can break down your project into two different stages and research funding requirements for each.  Then you can allocate your budget accordingly.  Likewise, your renovation project might be broken down into various categories such as

  • Labour,
  • Materials,
  • Furniture, and
  • Accessories

Each of these categories can receive their own budget.  If you go under or over budget in one area, you might find you have funds to move around.   Another trick is to purchase gift cards or project cards from home renovation depots and allocate these cards to different aspects of your project.  This will allow you to effectively monitor your spending.

Contingencies

Finally, it is always important to set aside at least 15% of your total budget for unexpected costs.  Taxes, cleaning materials, or unanticipated challenges can and likely will impact your budget.  Setting some money aside to cover the costs of these contingencies is always recommended for renovation projects, including patio renovations.