Journal
Notes from the job site
What we have learned building outdoor kitchens, water features, basements, kitchens and bathrooms in Ontario, written for homeowners planning their own.
Design
· 2 min read
Curbless showers: what has to be true before you can have one
A curbless shower needs a recessed floor, the right drain and complete waterproofing. Here is what we check before we say yes to one.
Collingwood and Blue Mountains guide
· 3 min read
Designing outdoor spaces for four seasons in Collingwood and The Blue Mountains
Snow loads, après-ski fire features, freeze-thaw materials and remote owners. How we plan outdoor kitchens and pavilions for chalets and Georgian Bay homes.
Whitchurch-Stouffville guide
· 3 min read
Outdoor kitchens on country properties around Stouffville and Ballantrae
Outdoor kitchens on country lots around Stouffville and Ballantrae: long runs from the house, propane or natural gas, wells, septic and wind.
Materials
· 2 min read
Quartzite, marble or porcelain? Picking a countertop you won't regret
Quartzite, marble, porcelain slab or quartz? How each countertop wears, what it is like to live with, and who each one suits.
Uxbridge guide
· 3 min read
Natural ponds and water features on Uxbridge country properties
Moraine soils, wells and septic, wildlife and winter. What to think about before adding a natural pond or water feature to a rural Uxbridge property.
Niagara-on-the-Lake guide
· 2 min read
Outdoor kitchens and pergolas for wine country evenings in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Shade, heritage review, long summer evenings and owners who are not always on site. How we plan outdoor kitchens and pergolas in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Hamilton and Ancaster guide
· 3 min read
Renovating a century home in Ancaster or Dundas: what to expect behind the walls
Plaster, old wiring, cast iron drains and heritage rules. What we plan for when renovating kitchens and bathrooms in older Ancaster and Dundas homes.
Muskoka guide
· 3 min read
Cottage renovations in Muskoka: timing, access and building for a closed-up winter
Renovating a Muskoka cottage means working around the season, water access, shoreline rules and septic. Here is how we plan it.
Planning
· 2 min read
Finishing a basement in the GTA: do it in this order
Moisture, permits, mechanical, framing, then finishes. Why the sequence matters for a basement renovation in Ontario, and what happens when it gets skipped.
Aurora guide
· 3 min read
Fountains and ponds on treed Aurora lots
Mature trees make Aurora properties beautiful and make water features harder. How we site, filter and care for fountains and ponds under a canopy.
Burlington guide
· 3 min read
Designing a terrace or outdoor kitchen around the view in Burlington
Escarpment ridges and lake views are why many people choose Burlington. How to plan a terrace or outdoor kitchen that frames the view instead of blocking it.
Care
· 3 min read
Winterizing a fountain in Ontario: the fall checklist we actually use
When to shut down a fountain or pond in the GTA, what to drain, what to bring inside, and the small mistakes that crack stone over a single winter.
Markham guide
· 2 min read
Kitchen renovations in Unionville and older Markham homes
Renovating a kitchen in Unionville or an older Markham home: original layouts, opening walls carefully and keeping the character.
Richmond Hill guide
· 3 min read
Finishing a basement in Richmond Hill: what we check first
Moisture, mechanical rooms, bathrooms and the question of a separate suite. What to think through before finishing a basement in a Richmond Hill home.
Vaughan guide
· 3 min read
Planning a backyard pavilion in Vaughan: use the winter, build in spring
Woodbridge, Maple and Thornhill homeowners who want a pavilion and outdoor kitchen ready for summer should start in the fall. Here is what to sort out first.
Mississauga guide
· 3 min read
Backyard projects under mature trees in Lorne Park, Mineola and Credit Mills
The big trees are why people buy in south Mississauga. Here is how we place pavilions, patios and water features without damaging them.
Kleinburg guide
· 2 min read
Renovating in Kleinburg's heritage district: what usually needs approval
Planning exterior work, an addition or an outdoor kitchen in Kleinburg's heritage district? What usually needs review and how to plan for it.
Design
· 3 min read
Seven outdoor kitchen layout mistakes we see over and over
Grills facing a wall, no landing space, smoke drifting into the house. The outdoor kitchen layout mistakes we fix most, and how to avoid them.
King guide
· 2 min read
Ponds, fountains and pavilions on the Oak Ridges Moraine in King Township
King Township properties sit on some of the most protected land in the GTA. What that means for ponds, fountains and pavilions, and how to plan around it.
Oakville guide
· 3 min read
Outdoor kitchens near the lake in Oakville: wind, humidity and materials
Building an outdoor kitchen or terrace near Lake Ontario in Oakville means planning for lake wind, damp air and mature lots. Here is what we choose and why.
Caledon guide
· 3 min read
Planning an outdoor kitchen and pavilion on a Caledon estate
Big Caledon properties give an outdoor kitchen room to breathe, but distance from the house, open wind and planning-area rules change how it should be built.
Toronto guide
· 3 min read
Renovating on a tight Toronto lot: access, neighbours and trees
A Toronto renovation is often decided by things outside the house: how materials get in, where the bin goes, and which trees you are not allowed to touch.
Planning
· 3 min read
What a fixed price actually covers, and what it doesn't
A fixed renovation price is only as good as the scope behind it. How we build ours, where allowances fit, and what no contractor can promise.
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