BILD: Home renovation projects can reduce costs

Published Jan 10, 2025  •  3 minute read

A qualified Adaptiv Home Renovation Specialist can assess your home for safety and accessibility.

For those who wish to stay in their home, Adaptiv Home Renovation will continue to gain popularity as our population ages

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When looking at renovation and custom home trends for 2025, designers are predicting a shift toward nature-inspired elements; consumers are anticipated to choose warmer tones when selecting colours for their interior spaces and bringing the outdoors in.   

Updating your home with colors, fabrics and kitchen counter choices that reflect these new trends provides an opportunity for an update and refresh and will make your home feel more comfortable and fresh.   

Renovating your home also provides opportunities to renovate and transform your home to enhance its environmental performance, comfort level, homeowner livability and ongoing operational costs. 

Energy efficiency is a key priority that will only gain further traction among homeowners in the New Year, specifically Net Zero homes and renovations. A Net Zero home — either new or renovated — can produce as much clean energy as it consumes, is far more energy efficient than a typical home and greatly reduces your environmental impact.

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It also increases comfort and reduces ongoing operational utility costs. Each aspect of the home works in tandem to produce a consistent temperature throughout while preventing drafts and filtering indoor air to diminish dust and allergens.

Built to a higher standard than the requirements of the building code, a Net Zero home is so well-insulated and airtight that outdoor sounds like traffic virtually don’t exist.  

A qualified Net Zero renovator can assist you in retrofitting your home to become as energy efficient as possible. A certified Net Zero renovation expert knows how to reduce renovation and operating costs and is well-versed in any local incentives and financing programs, which are an added bonus when considering this type of project.  

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Laneway and garden suites are also a growing trend that is becoming ever more appealing for their ability to provide a unique housing solution, while breathing new life into potentially unused areas, in the midst of the region’s housing supply and affordability challenges.

To accommodate this type of housing, the federal government announced in early December that it is doubling the eligible amount for a low-interest loan program for this type of project from $40,000 to $80,000. These particular types of accessory dwelling units (or ADUs) can provide housing for family members, generate income, or create live-work opportunities.

Laneway suites are secondary dwellings constructed behind traditional street-facing homes on lots abutting a public laneway; garden suites are detached secondary dwellings situated in the rear yard of a main residence and are intended as a modest, self-contained, separate housing unit that is integrated into the existing neighbourhood.  

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Lastly, Adaptiv Home Renovation will continue to gain popularity as our population ages. Adaptive Home Renovation is an approach to home modification for those who wish to stay in their home for as long as they can, regardless of age or condition.  Practitioners of the Adaptive Home Program assess present and future needs to modify an existing home (doors, bathrooms, kitchens, access etc.) for aging in place and/or disabilities. A qualified Adaptiv Home Renovation Specialist can assess your home for safety and accessibility and can offer responsive design solutions, including ramps and slopes, zero-step thresholds, and curbless showers.  

No matter how you would like to refurbish your home, a professional RenoMark renovator can assist you in planning your renovation or custom home design project. For further information about the program and to find a RenoMark renovator in your area, please visit: https://www.bildgta.ca/find-a-renomark-renovator/. 

Dave Wilkes is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), the voice of the home building, land development and professional renovation industry in the GTA. For the latest industry news and new home data, visit www.bildgta.ca. 

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