HBK Constructions - Home, Bathroom & Kitchen Renovations

Planning a home extension project can be quite a challenge. Whether you’re planning on adding a second storey, a lateral extension, a bump out, adding a garage, or even putting in a sunroom, there’s a lot to consider. You need to be aware of all the steps you should take to properly plan out your renovation project. To help you be better prepared, we gathered the top 5 home addition mistakes to avoid:  Mistake #1 – Underestimating your home addition’s cost Extending your home is a major project. You’ll need to take the time to cost out its entirety and allocate budget accordingly. Starting with proper planning – with the help of an architect or architectural technologist – you’ll already be headed in the right direction. Not only will you have to budget for their assistance, but also for the actual renovation process.  It all depends on how grand the project you have in mind is and what kind of professional you hire.  Depending on the materials used, the price w...

If you’re looking to make a dramatic change to your home , updating your windows is a great option! We know, windows don’t sound like a ‘fun’ place to spend your money, but it is a great investment considering windows are key for protecting your home, keeping hot/cool air in (and out!), and adding value to your home. Before you jump in to upgrading your windows, make sure you know the 4 differences between vinyl and wood windows. First, let’s decide which is the best material option for you. Vinyl windows are made of polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as PVC . PVC is a plastic material that is also used to make plumbing pipes, electrical pipes, and other plastic items. Unlike the first generations of vinyl windows, you can now get them in an array of colors. Take your time in deciding on a color, vinyl windows have a life expectancy of over 20 years! Vinyl windows are also more affordable, which is why they are in high demand and you see them frequently getting installed. W...

A home addition is often the most expensive renovation one can get done on their home. And, while there might be many advantages to getting your home extended, deciding to go through with a home addition isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. To be well aware of what you should consider, here are 5 home addition questions you can ask yourself before moving forward: Why do I want a home addition? It’s important to think about why you want to add living space to your home. Is it to make your home’s facade more imposing or to add space to your kitchen? Sometimes, simply restructuring your home’s interior by removing walls, for instance, is enough to gain the additional living space sought after in rooms you deem important. If the costs of expanding your home significantly outweigh buying a new house, you’ll then need to consider the pros and cons of each option. Everyone’s living situation differs, it all depends on your needs. According to municipal laws, what am I allow...

Congratulations, you’ve purchased your first home! In the hustle and bustle of moving in, it’s easy to overlook routine home maintenance tasks. We know reading that might have been a bit daunting, but don’t worry, most of these tasks take a few minutes or a quick call to a professional! Take a deep breath and enjoy this home maintenance guide for first-time home owner. 1. Clean your Garbage Disposal Pour a cup of vinegar into an ice cube tray and freeze it. Once the cubes are frozen toss them in the disposal and turn it on. The vinegar will dissolve the scum build-up and the cubes scrub the blades and drain. You’ll want to repeat this two to three times per year to keep your disposal smelling fresh and running properly. 2. Check your Crawl Space for Water This isn’t the most glamorous job, but it’s important! We recommend grabbing a Tyvek suit from your favorite home improvement store to make it a little easier on you. Suit up, grab a flashlight, and crawl under your house. Pa...

If your home is lacking space, but you aren’t looking to move, a home extension might be the right alternative for you. We’ve put together an overview of the three most common types of house additions. Keep your needs and wants in mind when checking out all you need to know about these types of home additions.  A lateral house extension What is it? It’s quite simple: it’s extending your house sideways (i.e. taking up more space on your land). More often than not, people opt for a garage as an extension. Some even get a room above their new garage. It’s usually a bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. However, you’re free to put any kind of room above the garage, like a cozy living room to sit back and relax.  What kind of house can this be added to? Usually, a lateral extension is added to a cottage that already has a second floor. You can also extend a bungalow if you simply want to add a garage or room and your land’s space permits it. What you need to kn...

Has your home become too small since you purchased it? Have your needs and budget evolved since? Well, if you love where you live, but are just tight on space, adding a second storey might be the right way to remedy the situation. Your neighbourhood will remain the same and you won’t have to deal with having to move all your belongings into a new home. Though, home extensions are major projects. To ensure the project’s success, it’s best to do business with the best qualified contractors. Find all you need to know for a successful storey addition below. Why Add a Second Storey? First and foremost, adding a second storey adds living space to your home. But, why not take the opportunity to give your home more of an imposing look? Essentially, you want to live in a bigger home that fits our needs and wants, without moving out of our current place. When moving into a new home, we usually move into a new neighbourhood with new neighbours and don’t really know what to expect of the...

Living through a remodel is a challenge for everyone in your home – even your pets! Even the best prepped homeowner will find that having a jobsite in your home will bring you some high-highs and low-lows. Trust us though, it’s worth it! Now imagine what having noisy house guests does for your pets?! As a team of pet lovers, we’ve put together a guide to help you care for your pet while your home is under construction . 1. Find a safe space for your pets. For the safety and your pets and the workers, your fur babies need to be kept away from the work areas. Keep signs on doors alerting workers to “keep closed: pet inside” or something to that effect. Depending on the extent of your project and layout of your home, here are a few options to consider: Keep you pet in a closed room during the day that workers will not need access to. Provide a secure dog run or catio out of the workers way. Board at a kennel. Drop off at doggy day care. 2. Introduce your pets to the workers...

Story addition, rear extension, basement underpinning…there are so many types of home additions , it’s easy to get overwhelmed! The first question you should ask yourself is this: why do you need more space? Our Advisors narrowed it down to the 5 most common reasons their clients have chosen to take on a home extension project, and have suggested the best type of addition to fit that need.  1 – Another bedroom for a new bundle of joy A big change that often brings clients to us is the arrival of a new baby, when their house is already at max capacity. This is popular reason for a home addition. Luckily, a newborn doesn’t have to mean a new house! If your home already has a second floor and a garage, you can simply opt for a room addition above the garage.  If your home is only one storey, consider a second storey addition. Though it is quite a large and expensive renovation, the square footage of your home would double, with will add value to it and allow you to stay i...