ALTHOUGH thor- ough preparations are the key to any remod- elling project, Don and Catherine, rwo West Vancouver homeown- ers can tell you that sometimes even the most careful plans can vaporize. “There are some factors that you just can’t control,” lamented the homeowners. In this case it was a layer dip of factors. . Faced with a basement having a six-and-a-half foot ceiling and a smail single car garage, the homeowners decided to take on a fairly extensive renovation project in the fall of 96. With 2 contractor and designer in hand, the team began to redesign the 1920s colonial to reconfigure the basement plan to better fit THE LEGENDARY AGA COOKER _ ANS ACCESSORIES EXCUISVE - THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND, S: “0 YFRANKS APPLIANCES Barb Lunter A old bouse new look the needs of the growing family. “Basically the basement was not usable space,” com- mented Catherine. “The kids Needed more space to play and my husband required a workspace with a separate entrance." With suppert posts every 10 w 12 Ree usable space was severely limited. Don and Catherine want- ed a basement with a three- room layout and plumbing for a bathroom. The ceilings were to be at PLANS for a more usable basement required tire ceil- ings to be raised three feet higher. least three feet higher to allow for more headroom and 2 new staircase was required to access the new basement plan. Outside, the single car garage was to be torn down and replaced with a double- BOSCH WAIL OVENS || | THE FINEST SUS ZERO COOK! REBATES ¥O $500 REFRIGERATION & ‘WINE STORAGE COOKING PR . REBATES TO $2CO BEST PRICE ON NEW ” REFRIGERATION Pa OR iS REBATES TO $1000 . BEST PRICE —— Bosch HIGH - PERFORMANCE BOSCH DISHWASHERS 503 - Sere car space. The front yard was to be re-landscaped and 2 new entrance was to be added to the basement level acar Don's office. So ia November 1996 che contractor and crew began to STAINLESS INTERIOR, STAINLESS EXTERIOR WITH BLACK CONSOLE GE Profile Ti oe BEST PRICE ON All GE D GE PROFH ANRODUCTS Glarance WE'VE CLEANED OUT OUR WAREHOUSE. HIGH END APPLIANCES ACCESSOPIES AT AND OR BELOW OUR COSI. SAVE AN ADDITIONAL 7% ON ANY CLEARANCE [TEM i Ne est AY FRIDAY TIL 9:00 HANEST VANCOWER 926.0124 | : | ” WMANA, AGA, £3200, SOSO2, DAES, DCS, FABER, GE, GE. REQMOCRAM, GE PVOFILE, £9715, 201A KITCHEGAND, SAGK CHE, MAYTAG, GISELE, “ANASORSC $B Zed, TRALSER EXTERIOR chenges Inciudad a couble-car garage and a new enirance to the basement levei. dig out by hand the 1,000- sq.-ft. arca. Six weeks later and in freezing temperatures the contractor decided the foun- dations uceded to be replaced. Excavation work was now running over estimated costs and things began unravelling. “We had a fixed price con- tract,” remarks Catherine, “the contractor had seriously under-quoted the job and he felt we should pick up the extra tab.” After a few more verbal voilsys the: original contractor lefe the job and a new contractor stepped in. Luckily for the h ers things turned around. The new contractor res- cued the project with a Bobcat and crew. They finished the excava- tion, framed the foundations and, as promised, completed the job. There was no question that an enormeus sense of relief was felt when this stage was completed, “It was quite stressful hav- ing ail these workmen here every single day and being surrounded by people, dust and noise.” remarks Catherine. “However we could finally see the results of the renovation unfolding.” Once the structural ele- ments were in place the final details were added to the basement. ; The result was 4 central staircase leading to the base- ment where three large rooms: now flow into each | ether beautifully. A separate entrance from outside now leads to Don's office with a newly landscaped front lawn and garden area. jomcown- . To maintain the age and character of the home, shin- gles were applied tu the base- Ment exterior. secticns to complement those already on both sides of the house. Stucco was lef on the upper sections. In the end, the renova- tions look fantastic and func- tion well for the homecwn- ers. : The basement space is used now cn a daily basis and the family loves the new. front yard with ali its privacy. Te’s true every renovation has its setbacks. and - Catherine and Don definitely had their share. . Once the work began and. the new space began to take shape, che family agreed that ali the laborious planning was well worth it. ue There’s no question that the results reflect the effort ~ and planning. : When asked what: words . of advice to pass on to future. renovators the Lomeowners reflect, “Be sure to hire the right contractor for: you! job.” a It’s a good idea to care-- fully interview one or wo contenders and always check: "2 | their references. on Fixed price contractors have their pros and cons also. . If you're planning to have a fixed price contract it may be a good idea to divide your. contract into segments with each segment payable. upor completion. arena This: may. limit. problems * before they compound.’ Aside from. the: typical: North Shore turf-relocation program sponsored by. the: local raccoons, .. the © final’: touches . of . landscaping: played out without. any’ snags. mt ‘rhe front yard now boas avery usable patio surround ed by very natural gardens Moped ewites all hes past and future customers bo... Majid Rohanl : Satos & Lease Consuhant Cel: 328-2500 Come in betore Hovember 58th and Majid can pat you fa the vehicle of your choice, at thase great tera. : ne