HOME IMPROVEMENT Archives

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Home renovations can add functionality, comfort and value to your home. Of course, home renovations can also be costly, and if you want to get the best return on your investment, there are some key factors to consider.

We talked to David Steckel, a home expert at Thumbtack, about what projects homeowners should prioritize and the best way to get the work done efficiently and on budget. Keep reading for 10 things Steckel says every homeowner should consider before starting any home renovation project.

1. Updating Key Areas Doesn’t Have To Blow Your Budget

Homeowners know that updating bathrooms and kitchens is a good investment because not only are the spaces more comfortable, but these rooms — when updated thoughtfully — can help sell a home. But what if you’re on a budget? Steckel says these

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Toronto Blue Jays announce $230 million stadium renovation plan

By Walter P. Corry

On August 2, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

TORONTO — The Blue Jays announced plans Thursday for a $230 million renovation of Rogers Centre, their downtown home since 1989 but said the change will not involve replacing the artificial turf surface with grass.

The renovation, to be undertaken in stages over the next two or three winters, will begin with replacing all the seats in the upper deck, adding raised bullpens in left and right field, adjusting the dimensions and heights of the current outfield wall and adapting outfield seating areas to add bars and patios, as well as a section of bleachers.

“The largest focus was to focus on modernizing the fan experience,” Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said.

Shapiro did not disclose the outfield dimensions and fence heights, saying they have not been finalized.

After the 2023 season, the team will remodel the lower bowl to create better sight lines and reduce the amount of foul

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Home renovation creates a modern Beach house in Toronto

By Walter P. Corry

On August 1, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

When you live in a 126-year-old house that’s been only moderately updated over the years, you learn to live with some discomforts.

For Shelley and Paul Williams, that meant warning guests to wear extra layers in the winter because their Toronto house in the Beach was completely uninsulated. Navigating the gaps between the creaky hardwood floors. Getting dressed by the glow of a flashlight in the upstairs hallway because the bedroom closet was tiny and the feeble ceiling lights didn’t make a dent in the dark, windowless passageway. Then there was the worrisome knob-and-tube wiring and ancient plumbing that lurked behind the plaster walls.

For years, the couple debated making small changes or gutting the place to modernize it. Then they reached a fork in the road.

THEN: The old, small kitchen was at the back of the <a href=

“The kicker for me was the day I opened a kitchen cupboard and the whole door came off in

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Group of adults use kids to steal $3,200 from Oakville home renovation store

By Walter P. Corry

On July 29, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

By Gene Pereira

Published July 15, 2022 at 3:41 pm

Halton Regional Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying four adults who used their kids to conceal stolen items from Home Depot in Oakville. HRPS IMAGES

Halton Regional Police are looking for a man and three women who used four children to help conceal $3,200 of items and then walk out of an Oakville renovation store.

The theft took place at approximately 6:21 p.m. on June 23, 2022 at the Home Depot, located on 2555 Bristol Circle.

The group walked into the store’s electrical department where the four adults proceeded to load two shopping carts with electrical wire, two fans and two water bottles, valued at over $3,200.

The four adults hid the store items with bags, kids blankets and the kids themselves before leaving the store without making any attempt to

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Majority of Americans think home renovations take longer than planned: survey

By Walter P. Corry

On July 27, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

More than half of Americans think their home improvement project will take longer than planned, according to a survey from Angi. (iStock)

The majority of Americans (52%) believe that home improvement projects will take longer than expected, but many are still confident in their ability to do the projects themselves, according to a survey from Angi.

U.S. home improvement sales are projected to increase to more than $550 billion this year as more Americans choose to do their remodeling projects themselves, according to Statista.

When looking at cost, women were 10% more likely than men to believe that DIY renovations would save money over hiring a professional, the survey said. Separately, about 12% of millennials said they thought renovations wouldn’t break the bank.

The survey also said that 74% of Americans have some confidence in their ability to oversee a home renovation project, but 20% have

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House Renovation in Gracia / Parramon + Tahull Arquitectes

By Walter P. Corry

On July 26, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

House Renovation in Gracia / Parramon + Tahull Arquitectes

House Renovation in Gracia / Parramon + Tahull Arquitectes - Interior Photography, Closet + 17

Area :
753 ft²
Year :

2022
Manufacturers : Hansgrohe, JUNG, Daikin, Duravit, Franke, Grohe, Irsap, Marset, Ondarreta, Vaillant, Faro, Jueric, WISA, Wow Design

House Renovation in Gracia / Parramon + Tahull Arquitectes - Interior Photography, Table, Windows, Wood, Countertop, Chair, Sink, Beam — © Judith Casas Sayós

Text description provided by the architects. This is a house for a family of four on the top floor of a 1900’s apartment building located in the center of the Gracia district in Barcelona.

The wooden beams are the only original element (a previous refurbishment had already removed all the original woodwork, floors, and paneling). They are stripped

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Planning a home improvement project?

By Walter P. Corry

On July 24, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

Author of the article:

Linda White • Special to Postmedia Network

This project by MGB Construction Group Ltd. won the 2022 BILD Renovation Award for Best Kitchen Renovation over $100,000. ROBERT HOLOWKA | BIRD HOUSE MEDIA

Kitchen renovation offers best return on investment: survey

It’s often been said that the kitchen is the heart of the home so it’s no surprise that it offers the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to home upgrades.

“Kitchen renovations typically yield the greatest return on investment, as this space is most frequently used and is perceived as the gathering place and the

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Home Construction and Renovation – City of Burlington

By Walter P. Corry

On July 23, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

If your house is a semi-detached or detached property and you are planning a construction project we are here to help! This is the page to get you started on your journey, with the information you need to make sure you have all the right permits and clearances in place. Whether you’re doing the work yourself or are hiring someone to do it for you, read on to find out more.

In some cases, you may also need approval from external agencies like Burlington Hydro, Conservation Halton, Ministry of Transportation, Niagara Escarpment Commission, etc., as applicable.

Consolidated Pre-Building Permit Review

Most home renovation and construction projects require a Building Permit, but before you can apply for a Building Permit you need to apply for a Consolidated Pre-Building Permit.

The Consolidated Pre-Building Permit process includes a Zoning Review, Grading and Drainage Review and a Forestry Review.

If you’re not sure that

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Home Improvement Book Shows Homeowners How to Save Money When Building or Remodeling Without Sacrificing Quality

By Walter P. Corry

On July 21, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

With COVID-related inflation driving up prices, homeowners need to re-examine how they are spending their money says author Joe Oswald.

CHICAGO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — As if the COVID-related supply chain disruption making it hard to find many consumer items hasn’t been bad enough, many homeowners suffered sticker shock when the price of lumber hit an all-time high last spring, blowing construction budgets and forcing people to delay their home improvement projects. The cost of gasoline, groceries, food, and other commodities have also increased over the last year, and some areas of the country are seeing a rise in natural gas and electricity prices resulting in higher energy bills. Inflation like this can put a serious dent in household budgets leaving many homeowners to reconsider their plans to build a new home or remodel an existing home.

Home Improvement Book Shows Homeowners How to Save Money When Building or Remodeling Without Sacrificing Quality — Home Improvement Book Shows Homeowners How to Save Money When

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‘Priceless’ Treasure Buried in 1934 Found During Home Renovation

By Walter P. Corry

On July 20, 2022

In HOME IMPROVEMENT

A man in New Jersey has spoken about his joy at discovering buried treasure on his property as he renovated his home, according to reports.

Richard Gilson found buried treasure from the 1930s after he began digging a hole as part of his renovations on Friday at his home in Wildwood, according to a 3CBS Philly report.

Speaking to 3CBS Philly, Gilson said he had been renovating his home for the last two years when he stumbled across the buried treasure in the form of rolled up $10 and $20 bills all with the same date on them, 1934.

“Somebody went under there with a little shovel and buried that thing under there,” Gilson said.

“They were hiding that money from somebody for something. You’d be

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Category: HOME IMPROVEMENT Page 1 of 4

1. Updating Key Areas Doesn’t Have To Blow Your Budget

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Consolidated Pre-Building Permit Review