Home Renovations In The Time Of COVID-19
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During the pandemic, many people are unsure of how to move forward with their renovation projects. Whether you were in the midst of a project, about to start a project, or in the planning stages of a new renovation project, the arrival of COVID-19 definitely threw a wrench in your plans.
You may be left with questions, concerns, and a general sense of just not knowing how to move forward. We tackle the questions that we are hearing the most from our clients so that you can approach your next project with confidence.
Should we postpone our project or move forward?
If you’ve got a home renovation project scheduled for the near future, you may be wondering what your next steps should be. Should you postpone your project or continue on as scheduled? There is no one-size-fits-all answer and you need to evaluate your situation before making a decision.
If you had a renovation or remodelling project scheduled for a week’s time, it is completely reasonable to postpone. Be sure to speak with your contractor immediately and see if they are comfortable with rescheduling your project.
If you want to move forward with the project, speak to your contractor. Ask them the tough questions—are they able to observe the government guidelines that are currently in place? What precautions are they taking to ensure that they are not putting you at risk? How many workers need to be present for the job? And is there a way to reduce this number? Is there a way to be mutually assured that you have not been in contact with anyone with COVID-19?
If you are both comfortable with these answers—and the Ontario government does not have any restrictions that specifically affect your situation—you can make the educated choice to move forward with your project.
If your project is currently underway, it is best to postpone whenever possible. If there is a lot left to do and those things are unessential to your living arrangements, you should reschedule with your contractor.
On the other hand, if the renovations that are underway are essential to the safety of your home, it would be best to complete the things needed to ensure your home is a safe place to live.
Should you meet with your contractor?
We’ve already mentioned that it is extremely important to keep the lines of communication open with your contractor. And while in the past you wouldn’t have hesitated to set up a time to meet in person, social distancing practices have made that option unavailable.
Whether a contractor is presenting you with a quote, or you need to speak with them about the state of a current project, this should be done virtually. While it would be normal for a contractor to come into your home to evaluate your property, use a video call to tour them around your home. You can also use email to share more detailed images of your home.
What should you do when your renovation is an emergency?
There are several categories of renovations to can present as urgent and are therefore deemed essential services:
Any plumbing issues that keep the system from working properly
Electricity issues that affect the way the system works
Problems with door locks
Work that was needed to fix a dangerous issue
Heating issues
It is essential that this work is carried out promptly, and that you work with a contractor who is open and honest about the measures they are using to adhere to the government recommendations for their safety and yours.
Current Ontario recommendations for home renovations
Under the current regulations, residential home renovation projects are permitted to continue if the necessary permits have been granted or if they involve renovation work to existing properties that started before April 4.
As we mentioned above, there are a lot of different home renovation projects that are deemed essential. Because of this and the fact that there is no way to monitor those that are and those that aren’t, construction has been allowed to continue.
The best advice we can give you is to make an informed decision—with the help of your contractor—that is best for you and your family.