Custom Home Interior Renovations
Quality is a very important factor in building or renovation construction.
Why select Quasar Trend?
In Canada and the U.S. there are tens of millions of skilled workers, and not surprisingly millions of unskilled workers who along with suppliers, inspectors, engineers, architects, interior designers, sub-contractors, landscapers, and more are presenting themselves to this ever-demanding market.
Quasar Trend’s goal is to make it a headache-free operation for you where the result is a home that you are proud to share with family and friends for years to come. Bringing in the right crew that you can trust with your most treasured and valuable asset can be a stressful decision. We understand this and put ourselves in homeowners’ shoes, making sure that they will be taken care of from the beginning through to the end.
- There are many reasons why people just like you have decided that renovating their home might be their best option.
- You just bought a home that needs upgrading
- Upsizing your home due to new family members
- Expanding your use of existing space – such as finishing basement
- You’re creating a space for rental income to secure your financial future
- The current design is outdated and you need remodeling for a fresh new look
- You’re aging, or have aging relatives and you want to make your home more functional for retirement living
Whatever your reasons, we are here to help you.
Years Established
Completed Projects
Basement Renovations
Bathroom Renovations
Kitchen Renovations
KITCHEN RENOVATION
The kitchen is the heart of your house, having a new and modern kitchen can make your home great. Quasar Trend even provided renovation services for the kitchen. Read more →
KITCHEN IS THE HEART OF THE HOUSE
SMART KITCHEN DESIGN
There is a saying among realtors that if the kitchen is of good quality and design, the house won’t sit on the market for long.
The most loved space in almost every home is the kitchen. All members of the family and especially the person who does most of the cooking will fall in love with a well-designed and professionally built spacious kitchen. The kitchen is the traditional gathering place for families and friends where we celebrate life and conversation over social meals together.
A good kitchen must be as spacious as the available space permits it to be. Smart kitchen design also considers functionality, the comfort of use and accessibility of items, proper arrangement and proximity of appliances, and overall a chef-friendly environment.
Years Established
Completed Projects
KITCHEN MATERIALS AND CONSIDERATIONS
Material
Cabinets and countertop material have a wide range of options to choose from.
Cabinets are typically made of wood, MDF, Laminate or Thermofoil.
Wood options can be of various species such as Oak, Cherry, Maple, Birch, etc. Each has a unique grain, colour, and style. If you are considering a kitchen makeover or your building a new home, you will have many wood options to choose from, depending on your available budget.
While wood options are typically on the more expensive end, Thermofoil and Laminate are product materials that can offer more budget-friendly prices. Combinations of material can also be used to balance costs with design preferences. For example, the cabinet boxes can be mostly made out of laminate while cabinet doors and drawer faceplates can sport a higher-end look with real wood or painted MDF.
The general design of the house can also drive your decisions regarding the choice of materials to be used. For example, an ultra-modern house may not benefit from wood grain stained cabinets simply because the look may not go well or flow with the rest of the house design.
High-quality hardware makes a great deal of difference in both conveniences of use and longevity of cabinet doors and drawers.
Cabinet dimension considerations
- Lower cabinets are 34 1/2″ height and 24″ deep.
- Countertops add 1 to 1.5″ to the height making the final height approximately 35 1/2 to 36″
- The width of cabinet boxes will depend on kitchen design and available space and can vary between a few inches up to 36 inches
- Larger widths can be built but it is not typically recommended for cost and practicality reasons
Upper cabinets can get different heights depending on the ceiling height and the design of the kitchen, but accessing the very top parts may require step-ladder. The depth is usually 18 inches, and the width usually follows the lower cabinets for the best final look and proper arrangement.
For high ceilings, if upper cabinets are not boxed at the top, they become a dust collector; If you prefer, the cabinet maker can build cabinets to the ceiling with moulding at the very top to connect the cabinet to the ceiling, finishing the look. This will also give you additional storage for items you want accessible but which are used less often.
The distance between the lower and upper cabinet is usually around 18 inches but can be slightly more or less depending on the ceiling height and kitchen cabinet design.
Kitchen islands
For walking space and to ensure you have enough room to open all the doors, including those on your appliances, you should have at least 36 inches distance between your lower cabinets to the island, but ideally, 48 inches for homes with enough space.
Countertops
We recommend avoiding tile countertops as they tend to collect dirt and staining between tiles, on the grout. Certain natural stone products like marble are also susceptible to staining from food-spillage and occasionally discolouration and cracks caused by thermal-shock from hot pots.
Some countertop materials require regular maintenance to keep them looking new and fresh. The homeowner should carefully consider the implications of practicality over the visual appeal with an eye toward long term use. Every counter looks great when it’s first installed, but some can be permanently marred by hot pots and spilled red wine.
High-quality hardware (cabinet door knobs and handles) makes a great deal of difference in both conveniences of use and longevity of cabinet doors and drawers. An important consideration regarding hardware is choosing a single-hole mount versus a double hole mount. Should you ever wish to change your hardware you will need to get a set that matches the drilled holes in your cabinet doors.
Appliances
There is a broad range of appliance manufacturers with different quality levels, sizes, features and price points. For example, a gas cooktop can range from $2,500 to $25,000, installed. Your available choices will depend on your budget and the quality you’re looking for, which should generally match the overall look and feel of the home. If you’ve gone very high-end on all your other finishes, you probably won’t want a $500 white electric stove in your kitchen.
For a modern linear style kitchen, the depth of the fridge and cooktop/oven should not exceed the standard 24″ depth of the cabinets. With a fridge, for example, less depth can mean less storage, however, fridges today can now come with a wider profile. That means you can recover the storage space in your fridge, but you’ll use a wider swath of floor space for it to fit.
Flooring
Reliable plumbing work in the kitchen is a must, the last thing you want is a leaking sink drain or a loose dishwasher connection with the potential to damage cabinetry and floors beyond repair. MDF is particularly susceptible to swelling if it suffers water damage.
Our designers have the knowledge and experience to help you make all the smartest and best choices for a kitchen you will love for years. Call us for a free consultation.
BATHROOM RENOVATION
Consider why you are renovating your bathroom and keep your goals, intent, and purpose on track to help you make the best investment choices. Read more →
WHAT ARE BATHROOM & WASHROOM TERMS?
BATHROOMS RENOVATION KEY FACTORS
A bathroom, washroom, & powder room all serve the purpose of personal hygiene activities.
In typical Canadian housing, a powder room refers to a smaller washroom generally located on the main floor, available for guest use, and usually containing a toilet and sink.
The terms bathroom and washroom are used interchangeably and usually refer to a more equipped facility hosting a toilet, sink and either a bathtub or a shower stall or a combination of both. Larger washrooms may also have room for a double-sink vanity, a bidet, and often a small storage cupboard.
Generally speaking, bathrooms (as well as kitchens) require periodic care & updating because they are high traffic areas and generally reflect the style and design of either a previous owner or previous era.
Bathrooms and kitchens make the home. This is where personal space and style converge, where all the available choices of tiles and mirrors, vanities, knobs and handles, colours, fixtures, countertops, paint, flooring and lighting come together to make your unique statement. And when those design elements become dated and stale, it might be time to brighten your home with a fresh bathroom renovation.
When beginning your project keep these key factors in mind:
A clean looking and spacious bathroom might require repurposing some floor space from an adjacent area, such as your bedroom, to make the bathroom larger. Consider your needs carefully because determining the basic footprint is the first decision you’ll need to make.
A licensed & skilled plumber will be required to ensure your project is carried out safely, and with appropriate attention to doing it right the first time. Some handymen will try and convince you of their great plumbing skills, but that’s like asking the receptionist at your doctors’ office for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Professionals know how to build it right to help you avoid future problems with leaks, clogged drains, and low-pressure faucets.
Consider why you are renovating your bathroom and keep your goals, intent, and purpose on track to help you make the best investment choices. For example, you may want something for your personal use that’s a little higher-end than what the local housing market has available. That may be great for you, but you need to remain cognizant about overspending if you’re prepping the bathroom as part of a rental space unit, or if you’re intending to sell your home.
Years Established
Completed Projects
Common terms you should know
Here you can see common terms about bathroom renovation service:
Shower pan
Shower base
Building a shower base requires specialized skills to create the proper slope towards the drain. This traditional method of building shower floors is performed less frequently today because of the ease of installation and lower cost of shower pans, as well as the long-term wear and tear considerations. If tile grout cracks, water will eventually find its way through resulting in possible shower base mortar cracks and/or moisture & mould problems, and the consequential damage to the floors, ceilings and walls affected by the leak.
Shower waterproofing kits
Tiling the floor
Heated floors
Framing
Plumbing installation
If you must use an exterior wall it is recommended that the wall be built out by doubling the depth of the framing, insulating with 5 inches of 21lb spray foam, and ensuring the water pipes adjacent to the wall are adequately wrapped in additional insulation as needed.
If your shower is below the attic and you intend to use a rain shower, make sure there is sufficient space in the attic space to properly insulate your water pipes which will enter the shower through the attic space. Attic spaces in Canada often reach sub-zero temperatures. The same is true if you are running plumbing through any other unheated area of your home (crawlspace, garage, attic and adjacency to or egress through an outside wall).
Wall-mounted toilet seats
Bathtub framing
Shut off valves
Fan
Make sure to properly insulate the fan vent within your attic space, and extend the venting out through the roof to prevent venting into your attic. Excessive humidity will cause condensation and moisture buildup inside the attic space, making it a prime growing environment for mould. It is always recommended to leave the fan to run for 10 to 15 minutes following a shower, to help evacuate the moist air. Some people recommend running the bathroom fans for 2 hours every day to help circulate stale air in the home.
BASEMENT RENOVATION
A basement is the space resulting from the excavation for footing and foundation walls of a home or a building and is fully or partly below the ground floor. Read more →
WATER LEVELS IN THE GTA
In cities with high water levels, homes often do not have basements due to risks of flooding and water damage. Fortunately, this is usually not the case in the GTA, except for a few low-lying areas near natural water sources, such as lakes.
UNFINISHED BASEMENTS
Unfinished basements typically accommodate hot water tanks, electrical panels, furnace systems, laundry rooms, and storage spaces. The floors and some parts of the foundation walls are usually made of exposed concrete on the floor, and cinderblock walls, and often there is insulation taped to some or all parts of the exterior walls to maintain a warm environment.
WHY FINISHING BASEMENTS
Finished basements are often repurposed as kids play areas, home office, entertainment and party rooms, additional family living space, a second kitchen, home theatre, extra bedrooms, home gym area, or a combination of all or some of these items.
Some people prefer to finish their basement to rent as an “apartment” to tenants for an extra source of income. Rental units have different code requirements than if you are simply using the extra space for your purposes, rather than for a legal tenant. If you are going to finish your basement for rental purposes, we recommend applying for the appropriate permits and understanding the code requirements.
There are numerous code elements you must be aware of before renting your space out to someone else. Here are just a few examples;
- There needs to be a certain % of windows based on the square foot of the rental space
- You will require a dedicated entrance door into the basement for tenant security
- You must make sure there are at least two points of egress in case of fire or other unexpected situations requiring immediate escape. Egress is the term used in the building code meaning “exit”.
There may also be requirements for fire barriers between floors
Years Established
Completed Projects
What’s the minimum, so you can call it finished
A basic finishing job involves framing, plumbing, electrical wiring, insulation, drywall, lighting, and flooring, and HVAC. What this will give you is a basic space that you can use for basic purposes. Adding furnishings, home gym equipment, toy boxes, and other portable items make the basement rooms useful.
If you want your basement to have some purpose-built design elements included, you can consider adding a kitchen, bathroom, finished laundry room, bar, steam room, wine cellar, dedicated home theatre room, and so on. These items all reflect how you want to use the space and each will have it’s own specific requirements and costs.
Consider this before you finish your basement
Before finishing a basement, you should make sure your basement is completely dry and that there is no water seepage through the foundation walls, flooring, or drain system. Usually, wet basements have a mildew smell, similar to cat urine. Upon entering a basement an early indicator that you may have a moisture or dampness problem will be your sense of smell. A dry and healthy basement should have little to no smell on its own.
If the water is fresh, for example leaking from a tap and running into a drain, you may only be able to identify this with a visual check for damp walls, discoloured insulation if it exists, or actual water on your basement floor. Before venturing into finishing your basement it’s important to resolve the cause of any water issues before getting started, and making sure your basement is dry.
In some extreme cases, if the basement has any dampness or leakage coming from outside of the home, waterproofing from the outside walls and possibly re-grading the soil or improving the drainage adjacent to your house may be required.
Some older homes have basements that are just too short to be effectively used as a living space making them impractical for renting out. In such cases, additional height can be added by an excavation of the soil under the home and lowering the basement floor. The general process for this begins with demolishing the old slab (basement floor), digging further down until the required depth is reached, underpinning the footings, and pouring new slab; all this should happen before any other finishing operation in the space begins.
Adding extra windows, or widening the existing ones will make the basement into a more pleasurable living space because of the additional natural light.
Basement renovations are truly exciting and help families get more enjoyment from their home.
Each renovation, addition, or remodeling project has structured processes.
What are the phases?
1. Consultation
Homeowner(s) sit with us to share their thoughts and expectations around the project in general including the scope of work, timeline, and budget. Consultation sessions are educational for both parties; we get to know you and your plans while you get to know us and the possibilities we bring. We firmly believe that when both parties work together toward a good and trustworthy relationship, it forms the basis of a successful project.
3. Adjustments
The quotation is developed based on the outcome of the initial consultation. Once the homeowner reviews that plan, we can discuss any cost, quality, or scheduling adjustments that might be required before making any go-forward commitment. This stage will see the finalization of the work scope, list of finishes, along with agreement on the budget and schedule.
5. Operation
Upon receiving the required construction permit(s) and the first payment, Operations begin with attention to safety, deadlines, and quality of work. Regular site visits by homeowners are encouraged for them to see the progress and discuss matters as they happen.
Notice
We listen to your stories, we consider your concerns, and we evaluate potential costs versus your budget to come up with the best solutions for your home renovation project. Our goal is to make it a headache-free operation for you where the result is a home that you are proud to share with family and friends for years to come.
2. Quotation
Following the initial consultation where the project requirements are outlined, we will provide homeowners with a detailed quotation. This step enables homeowners to gain a clearer perspective on the scope of work and allocation of budget.
4. Contract
Following the initial consultation where the project requirements are outlined, we will provide homeowners with a detailed quotation. This step enables homeowners to gain a clearer perspective on the scope of work and allocation of budget.
6. Deficiencies
Upon substantial completion of the work homeowners are asked to prepare a list of deficiencies according to the stated deliverables and reasonable expectations of quality. Each item on the list will be carefully evaluated and considered for remediation.
7. Final walk-through
Once the construction is completed and space has been cleaned, a final walkthrough with the homeowners ensures that everything is done following our standards and homeowners’ expectations. At this stage, there will only be minor touch-ups or known deficiencies remaining that have an agreed-upon plan for correction. Minor items are considered as needing one-day or less of attention and will be scheduled as soon as possible. Once those minor items and any outstanding deficiency remediation actions are completed, the homeowner will then officially assume responsibilities for ongoing homeownership maintenance and will release the final payment as per the draw schedule