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Homeowners in Toronto with hardwood floors that need a little love have two options when it comes to restoring their flooring – either they can opt to sand and varnish their floors themselves or they can hire a professional to take care of it for them. While hiring a professional will set you back between $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot depending on the kind of finish that you want and the amount of work that will have to be put into the job. While you will certainly save significantly by doing the job yourself, you will also have to put in your time and effort to do a proper job.
 
Should you decide to do the job yourself, you will have to rent the proper equipment, be sure to have a heavy-duty vacuum on hand and understand the basics of floor sanding. Depending on the state of your flooring, you must start with the heaviest sandpaper and move to the lightest in order to get a smooth finish. You must also remember to apply an even pressure and to go with the grain of the wood to get a consistent look. Removing all of the dust prior and making sure that your floors are spotless before applying your varnish is also crucial to getting that crystal clear look and satiny finish that feels so nice underfoot.
 
Should you decide to hire professionals, there are certain questions that you should ask before signing a contract:
– What kind of experience do they have?
– How many people will b on the job?
– How long will it take for them to finish?
– Will they move your furniture and store it for you?
– How will they clean-up?
– How and when do they expect payment?
– What kind of varnish do they use?
– Do they offer staining as well as varnish?
– Ask for references!
 
Here are the pros and cons of both options:
 
DIY PROS
More affordable
Set your own schedule
 
DIY CONS
Steep learning curve if 1st time
Full liability if mistakes happen
 
PROFESSIONAL PROS
Little effort on your part
Professional results
Guaranteed by company hired
PROFESSIONAL CONS
More expensive

Refreshing the colour palate of your Toronto home is one of the easiest projects for a DIY enthusiast. Painting can a lot of fun and very satisfying as it is one of those projects that can totally transform your living space in very little time. Painting your home is also an inexpensive way to refresh a tired room. To get it right here are a few handy tips to follow.
 
1. Prepare your walls by repairing any major cracks and filling in holes. Be sure to sand and then prime the patched sections so that your paint job doesn’t turn out blotchy.
 
2. Lightly sand your walls to ensure better adhesion of your new paint job. Next wash your walls thoroughly and dry to get the best adhesion possible.
 
3. Paint the trims first and they paint the ceilings and walls.
 
4. To paint the trims, first use a sponge sander to sand the trims wipe clean and apply your first coat of paint. Allow to dry for 24 hour, then lightly sand again, vacuum, wipe clean and then apply the second coat – this will give you a nice smooth finish. Allow to dry for 24 hours then
 
5. Once the trims are dry you can tape them off using an easy release painter’s tape.
 
6. To get a nice finish on your edges and corners paint with a paint brush first and then smooth over immediately with a roller.
 
7. Wait for paint to dry for at least 24 hrs before removing painter’s tape – however, since it will form a layer that could remove some of the freshly applied paint it is best to cut along the edge using an exacto knife before removing the tape.
 
And voilà! You’ll have a beautifully painted home.

The cost of building materials in Toronto can be very high. One of the best ways to keep your costs down while also reducing your environmental footprint is to use reclaimed wood for your home renos and projects. Reclaimed wood can come from anywhere including old pallets, decks, furniture, etc… The biggest hurdle to using reclaimed wood for your projects is preparing it so that it is viable once more. Often reclaimed wood is either damaged, waterlogged or covered in old paint. Getting it ready for a new life requires a little bit of effort but can save you a bundle.
 
Before starting be sure you have proper eye and ear protection. You might also need a respirator if using a large sander. Having access to to jointer/planer is also crucial although you can get away without one if you don’t mind imperfect lines.
 
Your first order of business will be to get rid of any metal in the wood. You’ll need to thoroughly inspect the wood for any form of metal as it can really ruin your blades if any is left behind. Be sure to remove any nails, screws, staples and even rocks that might still be embedded in the wood. If any of the pieces of wood in your reclaimed pile have problems such as cracks, loose knots or rotted sections, there is no point in restoring them unless you are planning to cut those sections away and use the remaining wood.
 
Next use your hand sander to sand every inch of the boards. If you missed any metal, the sander will likely find it for you. Lastly, cut the ends of the boards to make them even – it will help if you plan on sending them through a planner.
 
If you do use a planner, make sure to set it a just slightly larger than your boards and adjust it accordingly after that to the size you want. If you want all your boards to be the same size then you’ll have to set it to the size of your thinnest board. Usually one pass through the planner is enough, depending on the look you want. For a new look, you’ll have to send it through more than once until the desired look is achieved.
 
Be sure to use a clear stain to maintain the beautiful grain of your reclaimed wood in your finished project. If the wood will be used for a heavy use piece of furniture, then you might also consider given it a few coats of shiny varnish.

The new year has started and all of your renovation resolutions can be achieved! Regardless of how costly contractors have become in Toronto, you can make the updates you desire to your home by putting in a little effort and elbow-grease. Naturally some renovations will require an expert to help you out – especially when it comes to plumbing and electricity, but a lot of the other work can be done by yourself. Let’s start with two of the basics.
 
Painting
Painting your Toronto home is not a difficult proposition. Although it can be an arduous task – it can go quickly if you prep the proper way and you are ready for it. The first thing to do is ready the room you which to paint. Sand the walls lightly so that the new coat of paint will better stick to the surface. Wash the walls with a damp cloth to get rid of the dust. Allow the walls to dry thoroughly. Apply painters tape along the edges that you want to protect. Throw down drop cloths and cover any furniture that you aren’t able to remove from the space. Next, start painting! Use long, vertical strokes and apply pressure evenly throughout so that you achieve uniform coverage. A good tip to keep in mind is to have several different sized paint brushes on hand from very wide to ultra thin so that you have the best control in all situations.
 
Sanding floors
If you have tired wood floors, give them a boost by sanding them and revarnishing them. The key to successfully refurbishing your wood floors is to prep them properly. You’ll need to rent a floor sander – in fact, it would be best to rent three – a drum sander, an edger and a corner sander. If the floor is in good, even condition, then you can go with the grain, otherwise you’ll have to start off going against the grain and finish off with one pass of with the grain. You will also have to start off with the roughest papers and conclude with the finest sanding paper. Remember to work in a well ventilated room and to wear protective clothing as it is a very messy and loud job. Also be sure to apply an even pressure and to hold the sanders steady in order to get a professional finish. Once the floors are sanded, sweep, dust and vacuum the floor to get rid of all dust. Wipe down with a damp cloth and then apply your chosen finish.

Despite record property value increases in 2016, according to Re/Max’s housing outlook for 2017 Toronto area real estate prices are set to continue their steady rise. Investors can still hope to turn a profit in the hot market while buyers are going to feel the squeeze.
 
The Building and Land Development Association said this week that Toronto is facing the severest housing-drought of the last 16 years. There is a significant dearth in the supply of new build housing in the current market that looks likely to continue into 2017. The shortage of new build housing puts added pressure on the resale market, placing sellers in an enviable position while making it tougher for buyers looking for something they can afford.
 
Government policies aimed at suppressing demand have largely not worked as the result has been builders investing in fewer projects thereby placing greater demand on existing properties prices. Instead of trying to suppress demand it would be better if the government helped increase the supply of housing in order to stabilize property values.
 
Regardless of what side of the fence you are on, one thing is sure – Toronto’s hot property market is sizzling and there is money to be made if you play your cards right. However, if you are a buyer be prepared with a large down payment or be patient in order to get the house you want at the price you want. In fact, waiting until spring when the market picks up again it probably your best bet if you want a better deal than what you will find right now.