what i do & advice for you

I don't usually use my blog as a forum to talk about my job and my day to day work.  It's usually a case of my blog being a reprive from work.  But, from time to time, things cross over.

For those of you who are new to my blog, I am an architectural designer in Toronto, working as a Design and Custom Home Manager.  For the last 10 years, I have been designing and building custom homes and renovations - from initial designs and schematics, to construction drawings, interior design and full project management.   My day to day is spent both in the office and on job sites, handling client designs, liasing with the City & Ministry and managing trades and overseeing work.

The popularity of renovation and design shows on TV, as well as magazines, blogs and web forums have started to really open up the field of renovation and construction to the Do It Yourselfer.  Homeowners have gone from tackling small decorating jobs like painting, flooring and cabinetry to handling larger jobs such as demolition, structural work, plumbing and electrical and more recently, overseeing full construction projects.  You can search just about any construction topic on the internet and find someone who's willing to tell you how to do it yourself and save a couple of bucks.

I am a natural DIY'er, but on certain subjects, I draw the line.  For instance, if I have a toothache, I go see my dentist, he's the one who has the training and experience to deal with the toothache, not me.  Same goes for the profession of architectural design and construction.  Who would you rather have handling the opening up a loadbearing wall, designing and sizing of a structural beam and the support down to the foundation - an expert, or John Doe who doesn't know the first thing about structural support but managed to whip up a sagging handyman special out of toothpicks that cost him 25% of what a professional would charge.  Likewise with design, is it best to talk to a professional designer, with training and experience, who can take your wishlist and thoughts and turn them into something better than you imagined while designing around structural and Code requirements, rather than consulting your neighbour down the street whose living room you like.

A word of advice - hire a professional.  I've come into too many handyman specials that have required remedial work a few years down the road that have cost the homeowner a lot of undue stress, headache and cost.  There are several issues to consider when taking on a renovation or construction project that you may not be aware of:

PERMITS

As soon as you touch structure, plumbing and HVAC - a permit is required from your municipality.  This step ensures your work is carried out correctly to Code requirements, within Bylaw requirements and will be inspected.  Yes, there are additional fees and timeframes - but piece of mind that your work won't fail, fall down, leak etc in my mind is worth that.  Any electrical work, unless completed by the homeowner, is required to be performed by a licensed electrician and a permit is required either through the municipality or local association - here in Toronto it is the Electrical Safety Authority.  If you decide to complete work without a permit, there are generally fines, time delays, orders and other consequences that could arise if caught.

TRAINING & LICENSING

Here in Ontario the government permits a homeowner to complete design and construction work without a licence.  However, the government requires that all designers - architectural, structural, HVAC, etc - be licenced - which is on top of traditional schooling, certificates, diplomas and degrees.  This requires testing, evaluation and updating of qualifications.  A designer must have a Building Code Identification Number which means that the individual designer has performed in class training and passed an elaborate examination process in order to prepare drawings and has an understanding of the Building Code and good practices.  The onus in no longer on the city for inspections, and variances or violations are the liability of the designer or trade completing the work.

QUALITY OF WORK, NUANCES OF CONSTRUCTION & TIMEFRAMES

With the exception of few contractors out there [believe me, I know them] work carried out by professional is completed quicker and cleaner.  After all, they've done it more than once before.  The experience and know-how of hiring a professional is extremely valuable and will save time, energy and headache.  One of the most common diy tasks is tiling. It's something I've done before, but unlikely to do again - especially larger jobs such as showers.  For instance, slopes for drainage, setting edges, cutting around pipes and fittings, grout consistency, scratch coat and wiremesh - there is a definite science to watching my tiler complete his work.  All things I will say I never even thought of.

LIABILITY, SAFEY & THE MINISTRY

In Ontario, as soon as a homeowner hires more than one trade on a project at the same time, they are considered a Constructor and are responsible not only for filing all of the required paperwork to the Minstry such as Notice of Project, Form 1000 etc, for ensuring a safe work environment is present and identifying hazards, but are also liable should any Health and Safety issues arise.  For instance, if Jane and John hire a carpenter and an electrician to do a kitchen remodel and the electrician is injured on the job, Jane and John may be fined or liable to pay insurance for this worker.  General Contractors and PM's are required to carry this sort of insurance and liability.

So, a few things to think about on your next renovation.  Many of my clients, both on large and small projects, will attest to the benefit of hiring professionals not only to oversee the work, but complete the work.  Experience and know-how are more important than the dollar figure.  It is not my intention to criticize or berate anyone who has decided to take on a renovation themselves, and if you have, kudos to you.  I just wish to educate the remainder of the people out there on what to consider and the implications.  I care a great deal about my profession and hope to ensure that the standards are upheld.

If you are thinking about renovating, Brendan Charters from Eurodale Developments wrote a great article for the Toronto Star yesterday with tips and advice for homeowners.  You can check it out here.