Can I renovate during a COVID-19 lockdown?

If you’ve been spending more time at home than ever before, you’re probably feeling a strong urge to spruce up your space. Whether you’re planning a fresh coat of paint or a complete gut job, home improvement projects are a great way to make daily life more comfortable and significantly increase your property value.

Given the current COVID-19 situation, here are a few key things that all homeowners should keep in mind before hiring professional tradespeople to help with their home renovations.

[Photo Credit: Rawf8]

Canada is experiencing a surge in residential renovations in the wake of COVID-19 as homeowners look to improve the look and functionality of their homes. A December 2020 study by Canadian market research firm Leger found that 65 percent of homeowners have renovated their homes, and two in three homeowners plan to renovate by September 2021.

The increased demand for professional home renovation companies is leading to labour shortages, a backlog on building permit approvals, supply-chain issues, and record-high prices on popular construction materials like lumber. When planning your home improvement project during COVID-19, allow for an extended timeline and a higher budget.
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In order to help manage the spread of the COVID-19 virus, health authorities have implemented regulations on renovations in certain regions within Canada. Check the official government guidelines for your jurisdiction before hiring any home renovation contractors and remember that lockdown restrictions can change frequently. For example, Ontario recently lifted its emergency orders and residential construction has been permitted to resume as of February 10 under the province’s colour-coded COVID-19 Response Framework.

Health and safety should be a top priority on any construction site, particularly during a pandemic. If you’re planning to have tradespeople working on-site at your home, there are a number of enhanced precautions that should be in place to protect everyone in the household:

• Before hiring a home renovation contractor, ask questions about their COVID-19 safety measures and the steps they take to protect themselves and homeowners.
• Ensure all workers are wearing appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) that covers their eyes, nose, and mouth.
• As much as possible, avoid coming into close contact with workers in your space and maintain at least two metres of physical distance. Wear a mask if you need to interact with any tradespeople.
• If you’ll be working at home during renovations, relocate your office to an area of the house far away from your renovation contractors and designate one bathroom specifically for tradespeople.
• Wash your hands frequently with antibacterial soap and disinfect all shared surfaces and high-touch areas (doorknobs, faucets, countertops, handrails) to keep your home as sanitary as possible.
• If possible, open windows and doors to increase ventilation throughout the home.

Before undertaking any large-scale renovation project, it’s important to get quotes for the work being done so that you can create an accurate budget. If you need help financing the project, some homeowners choose to leverage the equity they’ve built up in their home and apply for a home renovation loan through their bank or credit union to help cover the costs.

And remember, if you are upgrading or altering your home to make it safer or more accessible, you may be eligible for a federal or provincial home renovation tax credit.