RND Construction has a whole-home renovation to showcase on the 2021 Reno Tour.
It’s a project that started with a new kitchen, ensuite and kids’ bathroom and grew to become a whole-home remake that showcases family-friendly, durable, easy-to-clean finishes and increased storage.
The Reno Tour is presented by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association and showcases renovation projects by members of RenoMark (a program where participating companies are pre-screened and must meet strict guidelines).
The virtual tour offers interactive 3D walk-throughs that let you explore each project at your own pace and includes descriptions of each of the projects, many augmented with details such as before-and-after photos, intro videos and other multimedia labels.
Here’s more info on RND Construction and its project (edited for clarity).
Q: What made you decide to join the tour this year?
A: As active members of GOHBA and the community, we always enjoy participating in the tour, supporting charity and meeting new people. We’ve prided ourselves on taking part in the tour since its inception in 2015.
Q: Why choose this project for the tour?
A: Part of the reason is due to the scope of this project. It started out average — cosmetic changes to complete before the family moved in — then went to almost the entire house. The accent blue colour everywhere is just phenomenal, too.
Q: Tell us a bit about this project.
A: Initially, the scope of work started with a few cosmetic changes — new kitchen renovation, ensuite and kid’s bathroom. However, it quickly turned into redoing the entire house. The only places where we didn’t renovate at least one item was the main-floor powder room, the stairs and the basement bathroom. Otherwise, at a minimum, we installed new flooring, some drywall or a new coat of paint.
The design style for this project is very different than what we usually showcase. Our submissions are typically very modern/minimalistic, with neutral colours and delicate finishes.
With two busy children, this renovation required durable, easy-to-clean finishes with more storage and needed to fit into the pop-art-inspired style of the parents. For flooring, we upgraded the existing laminate wood-like planks with stained engineered oak. For the kitchen and basement, the laminate tile and carpet were replaced with cork tiles.
The most challenging part of this renovation, as it is for any renovation, was the unexpected problems. When the old floors were being removed, we found water damage both on the floors and under some windows. After investigation, we found the windows had not been properly installed and the sheathing was rotten. After replacing the rotten pieces and protecting the area against future water damage, we were able to continue with the esthetic changes of this home.
It turned out great!
Q: What should visitors watch out for when they tour the project?
A: We are seeing homeowners pulling away from the full white kitchens and adding more visually complex or colorful finishes. This kitchen is no exception, with the vibrant blue backsplash. And with the work-from-home order, people are wanting better usage of their home. In this home, this shift is evident with the under-the-stair reading nook in the basement, which is typically reserved for basic storage.
Q: Will you be adding any extra details, such as pop-up info on materials used or being able to see before shots from the same angle?
A: We have some before images to help see the transformation the home went through.
Q: Tell us a bit about your company.
A: We’ve been around for over 30 years with a focus on building energy-efficient, air-tight, healthy homes. We do all of this keeping in mind that, at the end of the day, the home has to look spectacular. It’s all said in our mantra: Sustainability with Style.
