Do You Want It Cheap?

Do you want quality or less expensive cost when it comes to a renovation project? Simply put, you can’t have both. The end result and look of a renovation depends on your contractor’s skill, but its longevity depends on the quality of the materials used and how they are properly installed.

Sure, a finished renovation done with cheaper products looks just as good new as one done with higher quality products. But within five years, you’ll be able to see a difference — both in the way it looks and in the way it performs. For example Ikea cabinets verses semi or custom. We can guarantee you that the custom cabinetry built with better wood product verses particle board, hardware, and finishes will last longer. The question then becomes, how long do you want your renovation to go on looking good and performing? Less than five years or do you want your investment to last considerably longer?

When it comes to building supplies, not all are created equal. Suppliers, most offer everything from top quality products right down to the cheap stuff: At the bottom end of the spectrum they tailor to customers whose top priority is cheap. Again we emphasize quality and cheap don’t coincide. Take paint, for another example. Why are some brands twice as expensive as the other? White paint is white paint, right? Ask a professional painter who has experience with all the different brands. They’ll tell you about adhesion, ease of use and application times, getting a good bead to paint a clean edge, and about durability. Any professional painter will have a preferred brand, but it’s rarely the bargain brand. Why? Because painting with the cheap stuff means you’ll need to paint again in two years time.

Higher quality and higher priced materials have added features, such as moisture and mould inhibitors, harder woods, or better hardware (ie: drawer glides). Extra steps are also taken in their manufacturing process to achieve higher durability, making them more resistant to wear and tear. Side by side on the shelf in the store, the two products could look identical except for the price tag.

Bottom line, you need to do your research on the products you’re considering during your next renovation project, talk with your contractor during the budgeting process. Find out if there are alternatives that deserve consideration to increase the longevity of the work, and have the budget adjusted to include those products. Make sure you get it done right the first time and don’t settle for the cheapest option available when your home deserves better.