Redo a room with online renovation help

Find tools, articles and expert advice from professionals

By Heather Camlot

Some people fear home renovations. I love them. I walk around my house imagining the possibilities and the wonders that a torn-down wall, a fresh paint job or a whole new bathroom can do.

I have no experience in home renovations but like so many other do-it-yourselfers, I turn to the Internet for help in planning and executing my home-improvement projects.

Cut down on costs

Richard Shin, a first-time Toronto homeowner, undertook his own home renovations mostly to save on costs and to gain experience for future projects and upgrades. “With this being our first house, I thought it would be a good time to understand the needs and wants of being a homeowner,” he says.

To date, Shin has completed some major tasks, including the makeover of two bathrooms, the basement and a baby room. “I think the basement apartment and three-piece bathroom were definitely a rookie reno,” he says. “The four-piece bathroom/spa was a definite upgrade. Of course, I did a lot more reading and researching through the web.”

Proceed with confidence

Once you have the basic tools, building materials and instructions, Shin says all you need is a bit of confidence. “Never think that a reno job is too big for the do-it-yourselfer. It just requires more research, planning and of course effective cost management — or a bigger loan,” he jokes.

Read, read, read

Start your home reno research with design ideas that can be adapted for your particular space. “What I did was Google a lot and spend a lot of time just reading from many different sites,” says Shin.

Jeffrey Veffer and Kim Silk moved into their first home in May 2003. Since then, the Toronto couple have painted every room, installed crown moulding, renovated the master bedroom closet and built a fence.

“All of [the projects] turned out really well. Some, like the crown moulding, were a far more intensive investment of time and energy, and caused a fair amount of frustration,” explains Silk. “Others, like the fence, took time but were relatively simple to do.”

Adds Veffer: “The Internet has a lot of resources to demonstrate how to build something, so the projects seem less intimidating.”

Consult online design tools

Take a look at some of the following web site tools to kick-start your own renovation ideas.

EasyClosets.com: Input your measurements to upgrade your closet
IKEA: Check out the 3-D kitchen and office planners that use items at the store. Price your design; then print the list and go shopping.
Mill’s Pride: Find design tools for closets and kitchens. Print your product list and head to the Home Depot.
BobVila.com: Find deck, workshop, patio, kitchen and garden designers that customize the look you want to your specifications and requirements.
Kohler: After registering, you can explore different bathroom models in 3-D and then plan your own.

Gather information and costs in one place

Another important way of making a project less intimidating is having all the information you need in one place. Keep track of costs, requirements (permits, building codes, materials) and instructions in a home-reno journal.

For example, from Microsoft Office Online, click on templates and, under CareMore categories > Calculators, download the bathroom remodelling costs template and open it in Excel. Change the title, items and costs to suit your reno; then print. Meanwhile, in a Word document insert links, images, paint samples, notes and whatever else you feel is necessary to accomplish your reno goals. Print and bind with the templates and a few blank pages, to which you can add fabric swatches, receipts and measurements. This way you can look up your room specifications quickly — without having to sort through masses of paper.

Seek advice from professionals

While there are plenty of ups to taking on your own do-it-yourself project, there are also plenty of downs. “Frustrations, frustrations and more frustrations, especially when you think you’re following directions,” says Shin.

While you may feel confident about the instructions, some projects, once underway, turn out to be a little more complex. “Have an idea of what you’re getting into. Not everything on the Internet is as easy as it looks,” says Veffer.

“Start small,” adds Silk. “Back up your research by talking to contractors or knowledgeable people at the hardware store.” You can also find helpful advice online.

DEWALT.com: Woodworking articles offer carpentry tips and instructions for using power tools.
This Old House: See know-how guides for interior and exterior projects and video tutorials for home improvements and repairs.
Ask the Builder: Read easy-to-understand, informative articles on everything from creating a vaulted ceiling to laying ceramic tile.
Home Depot: View step-by-step instructions for more than 150 projects, rated by difficulty and time.
DoItYourself.com: Explore a vast depository of detailed instructions, interactive how-tos, project checklists, forums and calculators.
RONA: See great guides for renovating the kitchen, bathroom and basement. The site includes information on basic planning and decorating.
Canadian Home Workshop: The magazine for do-it-yourselfers has plenty of tips, tricks, pros, projects and plans.

When the job is done, stand back and appreciate your handiwork. Then start envisioning your next project. For Veffer and Silk, research has already begun on a basement renovation.