Which Elements Of A Planned Renovation Could You Be Missing?

It’s hard to take absolutely everything into account when making plans. That’s because our minds generally focus on the biggest priorities first, and then extrapolate from there. So for example, you might set off early to get t the airport because you know a large marathon is taking place across the city, but if you don’t know the exact route that will allow you to arrive on time for your flight, you may find yourself being detoured in ways you didn’t expect.

The same principle applies to renovation. Houses can seem simple when you’re planning to improve or change them, but then you realize small issues come to light when everything is being altered, and that can be challenging. Even with small decorating projects, things might not turn out as you planned—but if you expect at least two things to go wrong, you won’t be disappointed. It’s okay, that’s what your timeline and budget buffer are for.

But which elements of a planned renovation could you still be ignoring, despite those caveats? Well, many renovators have already learned these lessons, so you might find some value in the following advice and paying attention to these key areas.

Windows & Fittings

When walls are being knocked through and rooms altered, windows can feel like the one part of the home that doesn’t need much attention unless you’re removing them entirely. After all, they’re already there, they’re sealed, and they open and close just fine. But that doesn’t mean they’ll match the new setup as cleanly as expected or that they won’t be unaffected by your efforts.

A kitchen extension, for instance, might change how much sunlight hits certain rooms throughout the day, and you might start noticing glare right across the new dining table, or perhaps one room becomes much warmer in the morning than it used to. That’s the kind of thing that only becomes obvious once everything’s in place, and by then, changing the glazing or adding external shading feels like another project entirely. That’s why it’s always worth speaking to a reliable windows service when consulting on your renovation, just to make sure.

Foundational Work

Unless the renovation is a full structural rebuild, it’s easy to think the foundations are solid and can just be built upon. That’s usually true, but if the house is older or the layout is changing dramatically, it might be a good idea to double-check.

Any cracks, wall shifts, or water damage in the basement or crawl space can lead to bigger issues if left untreated, because it may be that adding weight to a part of the home that wasn’t originally designed for is all it takes to cause a slow sag or internal stress line. It’s not hard to see how that might lead to future issues.

Water Drainage & Runoff

Renovation can change how water moves around your property, especially if you’re adding patios, driveways, or changing rooflines. Water doesn’t need much encouragement to start flowing in the wrong direction, and even small changes in slope can create puddles, pooling, or perhaps slow leaks which can be the most pernicious, annoying, frustrating and just plain rude of all.

As such, gutters and drainpipes should always be checked after the work is done, but it’s better to have a plan before that point. At the very least, making sure any new hard surfaces slope away from the property, or that water has somewhere to go that isn’t your basement, saves a lot of time and cleanup effort later.

With this advice, you’re certain to plan your renovation with confidence, and move forward taking into account almost everything you need.

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