Lowering a basement floor doubles the usable area of a bungalow. It is also structural work, and the difference between underpinning and benching is real.
Category: Interior
Renovating a Don Mills Home: Working With Mid-Century Bones
Don Mills houses reward restraint. Where to spend, what to leave alone, and why a rear addition beats a second storey on a shallow roof.
Side-Splits and Back-Splits: Renovating North York’s Awkward Floor Plans
Split-level houses are not compromised, they were built to a different brief. Two or three well chosen openings is all most of them need.
Attic Insulation in Postwar Bungalows: The Cheapest Comfort Upgrade
A bungalow has more roof per square foot than any other house shape. Here is why attic work pays back fastest, and why sealing has to come before insulating.
Aluminum Wiring in North York Homes: What to Do About It
North York houses built between 1965 and 1975 often have aluminum branch wiring. Here is how to tell, why it matters, and what the real fixes are.
The Homeowner’s Guide to Managing a Renovation: How to Not Lose Your Mind
Renovation horror stories are everywhere, and most of them have one of two villains: a bad contractor, or a bad client-contractor relationship. The first is a contractor selection problem. The second is a communication and expectation problem, and it happens even with…
Leaside Real Estate and Renovation: What the Numbers Tell You to Upgrade
Leaside is one of Toronto's most consistently strong real estate markets – detached homes on good lots, walkable to transit, excellent schools, and a physical housing stock (Tudor detached, solid brick semi-detached) that holds its value well. The renovation calculus in Leaside…
Interior Painting in Toronto: How to Get a Result
Interior painting is the most commonly DIYed home improvement project and the one with the widest gap between a good result and a mediocre one. The difference is almost never the paint – it's the preparation. Here's what actually makes the difference.…
Solid Core vs. Hollow Core Interior Doors: Why It Matters More Than You Think
Interior doors are one of the most deferred upgrades in a Toronto home – and one of the most impactful when they're finally done. Most homes have hollow core doors, installed during construction because they're inexpensive and light. Most homeowners who replace…
EV Charger Installation in Toronto: What You Need to Know
Electric vehicle ownership in Toronto is growing fast – and the home charging question comes up almost as soon as people drive the car off the lot. The dealership recommends a Level 2 charger. Someone in an online forum says a standard…
