Gorgeous North Oshawa kitchen with Balboa Mist shaker style cabinets and quartz countertops — Gorgeous North Oshawa kitchen with Balboa Mist shaker-style cabinets and quartz countertops

Knowledge is power! We all know that, but sometimes we forget that the best way to ensure success in anything is to be extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter.

The same holds true for kitchen renovations. The more you know about the renovation and what to expect, the smoother it will go and the less stress you will encounter throughout the process. Knowing what questions you should ask and what type of information you should have before you start is key to a successful renovation. We explore our top 10 questions you should have answers to before you start a kitchen renovation.

Prefer to listen?

1. Is your kitchen contractor using his own employees, or will subcontractors complete the work?

You need to know who will be doing the work. If you felt comfortable with the person you met with and really liked them, but they are a general contractor and subcontract some or all of the work, then do you really know who you are hiring? At Multi Trade Building Services, it is all of our own employees that complete all of the renovations. We provide potential clients with a brochure with everyone’s photo and bio on it so they can "meet" the people who will be doing the projects before they even hire us. We also have their photos on our website under the Our Team tab. You need to know who will be in your house working on your kitchen. Just because you liked the person who presented the quote and is part of the sales team doesn’t mean you will feel connected to the people who are doing the work.

2. How long will the kitchen renovation take to complete?

This is a question that is often difficult to answer, and any good contractor will tell you that it will take as long as it takes to get it right. However, you should be able to get a good idea of whether the job will take 2 weeks or 5 weeks. The kitchen is usually a major hub of activity in a household, so you want to know how long to expect the renovation to take so you can be prepared.

There are three different types of kitchen renovations, and each will take a different amount of time to complete. The cosmetic renovation is a simple one that will just involve a few new items such as countertops, light fixtures, sinks, and faucets. The remove and re-Install reno involves removing all the cabinets and fixtures and replacing them with new ones, but in the same locations. A custom kitchen renovation can involve anything your imagination can imagine and can even involve removing load-bearing walls. Each of these types of renovations will take a very different amount of time to complete.

3. Can I use my kitchen during my renovation?

This is an important question to ask because every contractor is different. With Multi Trade Building Services, we leave your sink, fridge, and stove completely functional until the very last minute. We will only remove those items if absolutely necessary. This allows you to continue to prepare meals at home for as long as possible.

However, not all contractors do this. Some find it easier to just remove everything from the kitchen on the first day of demolition. If this is what works for them, you need to be aware of it so you can prepare. No matter when your stove and sink get removed, you will be without the use of your kitchen for a period of time during the renovation.

There are a few things you can do to plan ahead for the times you will be without your kitchen.

We often recommend that our clients plan their kitchen renovations for the summer, when they can BBQ for their meals.
Prepare meals in advance and freeze them. If you have a microwave, you can easily heat up casseroles and still eat at home during the entire kitchen renovation.
If you have family or friends close by, ask them if you can come over each night you can’t use your kitchen. Even offer to prepare dinner for everyone by using their kitchen. They will welcome the break from having to cook, and everyone can enjoy some time together.

4. Will someone be on site every day to work on the kitchen renovation?

This is an important question to know the answer to. If your contractor subcontracts out a lot of the work, that can mean delays on the job site. The contractor might have everything ready for the plumber, but if he subs that work out, he is at the mercy of the plumber’s schedule. The same goes for the electrician, painter, etc.

There is a huge advantage to working with a company that uses its own employees to complete all of the work. At Multi Trade Building Services, it is our own team of full-time employees that completes all of the work on site. That means no delays. When we’re ready for the plumber, we just schedule our full-time plumber for the next day to start his portion of the work. This can make a big difference in how long it takes for the project to be completed.

This question is also important if the company has more than one job going on at the same time and not enough employees to handle the work load. That might mean that they spend a few days on your job and then switch to a different job before returning to your project. This can also mean delays. There’s nothing wrong with a company having more than one job going on at the same time, but make sure they have enough employees to handle the volume.

5. What is the warranty on my kitchen?

Make sure that your contractor offers a minimum 1-year warranty on their work. Also inquire if there is a different warranty on the kitchen cabinets or countertop. These most often come from a different supplier, and their warranty on their products might be different than the one the contractor offers.

Ask your contractor for a written set of instructions on how to properly care for your kitchen cabinets and countertop. You want to ensure that the way you clean your cabinets and counters won’t void your warranty.

6. How often should I renovate my kitchen?

You should plan on renovating your kitchen every 10–15 years, but if you make the right choices in your kitchen cabinets, you won’t need to renovate for about 20 years. The more "trendy" your selection of cabinets, the more often you are likely going to need to renovate.

For example, honey oak cabinets were very popular in the late 80s and 90s. If you’re selling your home, potential buyers will know exactly when it was last renovated. The same holds true today. If you select cabinets that are trendy, such as dark grey base cabinets and light grey upper cabinets, you may need to consider renovating in 10 years so that your cabinets don’t look dated.

To ensure longevity, opt for classic looks for your main cabinets. Go with a white shaker-style cabinet for a timeless look. To add interest or something a little more trendy, opt for a bold countertop or backsplash. Those can easily be changed if they’ve gone out of style.

7. What is the expected return on investment (ROI) for the kitchen I’m planning?

Honey oak kitchen turned shaker white in North Oshawa

Typically, kitchen renovations will get you a 50%–100% return on your investment. However, there are some very extensive and high-end renovations that can diminish the value of your home. For example, we had a client who wanted to take out a load-bearing wall between his kitchen and dining room. He was planning to expand the kitchen into the dining room and eliminate the dining area completely. They entertained a lot and wanted a large kitchen instead. There were going to be two ovens, two fridges, and three sinks in this area, but not even a breakfast area to eat at. They typically just ate in front of the TV in their living room, so this wasn’t a concern for them. Although this is what met their needs, with the cost of this project and the elimination of any eating area within the home, they would never get a good return on that investment, which actually limited who this type of home would appeal to for resale.

Ask your contractor if the choices you are making for your kitchen will get you the best ROI (return on investment). Don’t make this your primary concern. After all, you need to ensure you are creating the perfect kitchen that meets your needs and vision. However, eventually you will want to sell your home, so keep the ROI in the back of your mind.

8. Does your contractor have proof of business licenses, WSIB, and liability insurance?

This is very important in today’s market. Is it a Licensed Plumber that’s doing the plumbing work or just a handyman experienced in plumbing? Is it a Licensed Electrical Contractor that will be completing the electrical work? This is crucial, as it is against the law to hire anyone other than a Licensed Electrical Contractor who is registered with the Electrical Safety Authority to complete any electrical work in Ontario. For more information on this, visit esasafe.com

Ask to see their licenses, ask for a WSIB clearance certificate, and ask for a copy of their liability insurance coverage. All contractors should have all of the above and at least $2 million in liability insurance coverage. If they don’t, you don’t want to work with them.

Another thing to be wary of is a contractor who asks you to pay in cash to help you save a little money. If they want cash and want to do things under the table, will they still answer your phone calls if there’s a deficiency you want addressed? Will they be cutting corners on the project if they aren’t an above-board company that asks for cash deals? For more information on why you should not do cash deals, read my blog post about Cash Deals here.

9. Does your contractor manufacture and install his own kitchen cabinets, or do they come off a factory assembly line?

Stained maple custom cabinets for our client’s unique kitchen in Whitby.

It’s definitely better to have the same person who manufactures the cabinets be the same person who installs them. The reason for this is that if there is a problem with the cabinets, is it the fault of the manufacturer or the fault of the installer? This can become a real grey area if two different companies are involved in the process. Each will blame the other, and getting the issue fixed can be a real nightmare.

Try to work with a contractor that manufactures and installs your kitchen cabinets. Ask to see their workshop to ensure they are made locally and work conditions are safe. Meet the cabinet maker and his crew for an added level of comfort.

10. Is there a project manager that will be overseeing your project?

A kitchen renovation is a large project, and there should at least be one dedicated person that you can turn to for answers to all of your questions. A Project Manager will manage all details of your project, including coordinating the right people to be on site at the right time, ordering materials or fixtures, and ensuring that all of the projects on site are being done the way you envisioned them.

I am the Project Manager for Multi Trade Building Services, and I do all of this and so much more. My clients know that if they have any questions, want to make changes to any of the plans, or just want an update, I’m only a phone call, text, or email away. I try to maintain constant communication with them. Having a Project Manager can make the difference between a stress-free renovation and a disaster.

Asking the right questions and having as much knowledge as possible before embarking on a kitchen renovation is key to a successful project coming together stress-free. If you have more questions or would like to schedule a consultation with us for your kitchen renovation, click here, and we’ll be happy to help.