Britcan Carpentry & Home Improvements has been renovating homes in Hamilton for years and is so confident that they back their work with a two-year warranty. But, with renovation fever continuing unabated, consumers often jump into projects without thoroughly investigating a critical factor—finding the right contractor. Consider a few basics that you should never neglect when shopping around for a build and renovation professional. Word of mouth—Asking friends and family for recommendations is the best place to start. Trusted acquaintances can give you reliable testimony and put you in direct contact with contractors that they were happy with in the past. At worst, they can steer you away from companies to avoid. Preliminary interviews—Once you’ve narrowed down the possibilities, call up each contractor to find out how long they’ve been in business and what experience they’ve had with similar renovations. A simple phone conversation can give you a feel for the kind of businessperson you may be dealing with. If the way they handle your questions seems unprofessional, this may be a sign that their handy work will reflect a similar lack of polish and quality. References—A high quality contractor rarely lacks satisfied customers who are ready to pass on a good word. So, don’t be shy to ask for references. Call them up to find out how they liked the work done and whether the contractor finished on time and on budget. Get it in writing—Never agree to start a renovation project before everything is committed in writing. Make sure the contract clearly states the cost of materials, labour and extra expenses such as work permits. Don’t forget details such as how cleanup will be handled, when and how payments will be made, and expected start and end dates. Make the decision—While the lowest price may seem attractive, your final decision should include considerations such as the grade of materials the contractor plans to use, quality of workmanship, warranties on the finished results, and level of customer service.  For more information on high quality home renovations, visit Britcan Carpentry & Home Improvements at www.britcancarpentry.ca or on Goldbook. Contact them today at 905-928-1128 , or by email at britcancarpentry@rogers.com .

BritCan Carpentry & Home Improvements in Hamilton has been crafting products for house and home for many years. While most of us think of carpenters as the guys who cut and install wood, these experienced trades people are actually some of the most versatile contractors you’re likely to meet on a renovation or building project. One of the reasons why carpenters can do so much skilled work is that their trade involves a surprisingly broad array of abilities that come up repeatedly in building and renovation—measuring, cutting, shaping, fitting, installing—all using a wide range of tools and all with great precision. There’s nothing like an expert carpenter to make two pieces come together seamlessly, either in wood or other mediums such as ceramic, plastic and metal. But, just what kind of work can expert carpenters do for your home? Outdoor projects—Some of the most common outdoor carpentry projects include fences, decks, carports, sheds, and porches. Or, for the more adventurous, carpenters can design and fashion items such as trellises, gazebos, outdoor bars, hot tubs, cabanas, boardwalks and tree houses. The possibilities are almost endless. If you have rotted wood items such as outdoor poles and banisters, a carpenter can also make exact replicas to bring the piece back to life. Indoor projects—The most typical indoor carpentry work includes the biggies— kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and basement partitions. Carpenters can also craft and install smaller items such as rails, stairs, window and door frames, crown molding, mantels, and baseboards. If in doubt, just ask expert carpenters. Chances are they’ll able to do it. Everything in between—Remember that carpenters usually possess skills that allow them to work with materials other than wood. It’s not uncommon for carpenters to also be involved in flooring, drywall installation and ceramic tiling. Some even fashion together creative specialties such as chests, wardrobes, furniture, ornamental work and fancy parquetry. Whatever your home renovation project, check with expert carpenters and you’ll find they can often do much more for your project than you thought. For more information on high quality home renovations, visit BritCan Carpentry & Home Improvements at www.britcancarpentry.ca or on Goldbook. Contact them today at 905-928-1128 , or by email at britcancarpentry@rogers.com .

After completing hundreds of building projects and home renovations, BritCan Carpentry & Home Improvements in Hamilton has seen enough to gather a storehouse of tips for the unwary homeowner. Consider two top pieces of advice that can help you through the emotional, financial and practical roller coaster that homeowners inevitably ride on almost any building project. Reality budgeting—If you want to limit the chances of your building project spiralling out of financial control, it’s critical that you not only nail down a budget, but one that has already factored in room for the unexpected. Extra parts, newly discovered faults in your existing infrastructure, changes in materials—any number of factors can bump up your expenses once the project starts. It’s good practice to decide on a maximum budget and use only 80 per cent of that amount for your material and labour costs. Leave the remaining 20 per cent for those unforeseen expenses and you’ll be less likely caught off guard and out of budget. It’s also not a bad idea to factor in an eat-out amount to your budget. This is critical when you’re renovating a kitchen, but also comes in handy when the inconveniences and stress of the project leave you short on time or energy to cook. Get practical. No renovation or building project comes without a lot of mess, dust and inconvenience. Cover up any furniture or other items that you need protection from the chaos—even if they’re not directly located in the room you’re renovating. Since dust is an insidious traveller of vents and ducts, you’ll be glad you took protective measures once the renovation dust settles. Even after making alternate plans for how you’re going to eat, sleep or shower, it’s essential that you prepare yourself mentally for the possibility that the project may finish later than expected. Whether its supply delays, absent workers, changes in design plans, newly discovered faults in your existing infrastructure or even weather conditions, unforeseen situations are almost certain to arise. But with a bit of advance psychological armour, you’ll be able to move forward and see your project through to a successful finish. Then it’ll be time to sit back and enjoy the results. For more information on high quality home renovations, visit Britcan Carpentry at www.britcancarpentry.ca or on Goldbook. Contact them today at 905-928-1128 , or by email at britcancarpentry@rogers.com .