Some of the most popular trends in home renovations at this time of year have to do with, not surprisingly, ensuring a home is warm and cozy for winter.
Replacing an old furnace with an energy-saving one, for example, or installing double-glazed windows are a couple of renovations that are presently trending, according to Chris Smith, owner and project manager of Strokes Renovations in Richmond.
But that’s just the beginning. People are also looking at everything from re-doing bathrooms to gutting kitchens.
In fact, renovation spending has been growing steadily in Canada in the last few years. In 2015, residential renovation spending crossed the $70 billion mark — $20 billion more than the spending on new dwellings, according to Altus Group, a Toronto-based global real estate consultant.
The growth of renovation spending in 2017 is expected to be 2.5 per cent, following a 1.9 per cent growth rate in 2016 and one per cent in 2015.
Renovations that are most likely to add value to a home are those implemented in kitchens, on flooring or those where new windows or doors are installed, according to Smith.
He explained that features such as quartz countertops and “magic corners” are in vogue in kitchens in 2017.
“Instead of using granite or marble countertops, people now like quartz more,” said Smith, who explained that quartz is more durable and easier to keep bacteria-free.
To make full use of the space, more people are adopting “magic corners” in their kitchens, where everything in the cabinet can be pulled out easily.
Another popular choice for a kitchen is a gas stove over an electronic one.
“They have better heat and more even cooking,” said Smith.
Another new feature in the kitchen is “hidden” microwaves and fridges — both are covered by a cabinet door.
“Especially in condos, many places now use counter-depth fridges that are not as wide as traditional ones and don’t stick out, to make them part of the cabinet.”
For bathrooms, Smith noted that more people chose to remove the bath tub and have a spacious walk-in shower instead.
And, Smith said more families now prefer wooden floors because they are easier to clean.
“Engineered hardwoods are more popular than wooden ones; they are more resistant to moisture and heat compared to solid hardwood,” he adds
Having been in the business since the 1970s and started the company in 1991, Smith has seen significant changes in the renovation industry.
“People renovate much more now,” said Smith.
“Before, they just moved to bigger houses, but now they tend to stay in the same place and do more renovations.”
The city’s affordability problems also put challenges on renovation companies to come up with new strategies as people live in ever-smaller homes.
“Condos are more practical – we need to help the owners save as much space as possible, and create more storage rooms,” he said.
“And more condos have kids so sometimes we have to turn one of the rooms into a nursery.”
Smith recommends customers make sure to ask for references when choosing renovations companies.
