Brentwood Remodel! Follow Along Our Journey

[rage2]

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It’s hilarious you point that out. It’s legit one of the items we sent back to the contractor. Not quite a full mudroom but a little built out that would be floor level at the landing. We would them do a couple shelves to store shoes, with a couple sets of hooks above it for costs of guests.

Attachment 89228

Something simple like this, but with a built in shoe shelf.

Also, no need what so ever to apologize. Part of posting is to get feedback/opinions/information. Everyone has thoughts and I’m a firm believer in the more information the better.

I wish kids would use any of that shit.

Rectangle just did my brothers house in varsity where I grew up in. Good choice.

Edit - my bro says you reached out to him for a reference check. Small world.

[Buster]

Are they good? Phase 2 on my house is coming up within the next year.

[rage2]

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Are they good? Phase 2 on my house is coming up within the next year.

From the pics I’ve seen pretty solid. Will let you know once I’m back in Calgary and check it out in person.

Edit - the only other thing I noticed was how long it took. They’ve been at it since the summer and just ready to move in this week. Meanwhile we signed our office lease months after they started, designed, bid on contractors, built out and moved in a month and a half before they were done. Not sure if that’s the norm, commercial being so much faster.

[dezmarez]

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I wish kids would use any of that shit.

Rectangle just did my brothers house in varsity where I grew up in. Good choice.

Edit - my bro says you reached out to him for a reference check. Small world.

Bahaha too funny. Yea, I totally creeped him, but he was awesome in responding back to me and providing info on his experience.
Calgary really is a tiny place.

- - - Updated - - -

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From the pics I’ve seen pretty solid. Will let you know once I’m back in Calgary and check it out in person.

Ya we are three days in, so still a long ways to go. But so far so good!

[R154]

You are living 3 houses away from my best friends, parents. 2 streets away from the first place I ever rented.

[dezmarez]

Clean demo completed on the main floor.

Asbestos abatement started today, so next time I have access, drywall should be gone.

Blue carpet is gone!

[Buster]

awesome...keep the updates coming.

[The_Rural_Juror]

Thanks for sharing the journey, dezmarez.

[RawB8figure]

looking good. Does rectangle bring in their own demo crew or do they just general contract and sub all the trade work out?

[dezmarez]

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looking good. Does rectangle bring in their own demo crew or do they just general contract and sub all the trade work out?

They have their own demo crew working on it. We had to sub out the Asbestos Abatement for obvious reasons, but are coordinating with the Rectangle team.

[cam_wmh]

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Looks fun buddy, I hope the reno team has more skill than you do on the ice!

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bahahah thanks Richie.
This was supposed to be my anonymous safe space to post! I've been exposed.

Hahaha that username, MD. How’s the groin?

[dezmarez]

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Hahaha that username, MD. How’s the groin?

hahaha been here since 04. Follow along!!

We shall see tonight. Will give it a go. Need to stay ahead of @riander5 in the stats column.

[cam_wmh]

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hahaha been here since 04. Follow along!!

We shall see tonight. Will give it a go. Need to stay ahead of @riander5 in the stats column.

Just don’t pass to him, stats page says ya ain’t getting it back.

[Zero102]

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Clean demo completed on the main floor.

Asbestos abatement started today, so next time I have access, drywall should be gone.

Blue carpet is gone!

It's a really good sign that they caught the asbestos in the drywall - that is something that all the hacks just ignore. Sounds like you've got a reputable outfit working on the job that really cares. In my neighbourhood all the houses were built during the years asbestos was used in drywall mud (and in the floors....) so I shudder every time I see big piles of smashed up drywall outside a house because the homeowners are renovating themselves and don't understand.

I live in a very similarly laid out 1979 bi-level (in Vernon though, I'm a Calgary ex-pat now) so I'm following your thread with great interest as I often dream of hiring out the work and having my place re-worked. Thanks for posting here and being so great about answering questions!

When shopping around for contractors/design companies, do you find a lot are asking for up-front payment? Or are some willing to come view the place and do some sketches before asking for money?

[dezmarez]

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It's a really good sign that they caught the asbestos in the drywall - that is something that all the hacks just ignore. Sounds like you've got a reputable outfit working on the job that really cares. In my neighbourhood all the houses were built during the years asbestos was used in drywall mud (and in the floors....) so I shudder every time I see big piles of smashed up drywall outside a house because the homeowners are renovating themselves and don't understand.

I live in a very similarly laid out 1979 bi-level (in Vernon though, I'm a Calgary ex-pat now) so I'm following your thread with great interest as I often dream of hiring out the work and having my place re-worked. Thanks for posting here and being so great about answering questions!

When shopping around for contractors/design companies, do you find a lot are asking for up-front payment? Or are some willing to come view the place and do some sketches before asking for money?

Awesome to hear that. Hope you enjoy the remainder of the thread. (I hope I enjoy it too)

None of the contractors asked for money up front to look at the property. Two of them did a rough sketch/budget prior to asking for any money.
Keep in mind we were interviewed top rated design/build firms, so I think that is pretty standard.

We have had two other family memebers complete renos over the past year, used two other companies, and they both had the same experience. (getting rough drawings/budget prior to any money exchanging hands)

[dezmarez]

Had our first little hiccup, but with the Asbestos Abatement company, not Rectangle.

We had to tear the ceiling drywall down, given the positive test results in the drywall mud.
We received quotes from three companies, and 2 of the 3 said that we would need to have the attic insulation removed prior to them starting, as when they took the ceiling drywall down, the attic insulation would fall down with it, and if that happens they need to include it as "toxic waste".

The last one said they felt the vapor barrier would hold the attic insulation in place, so we wouldn't need to pay to have the attic insulation removed. So, we picked them to complete the abatement.

Fast forward to this week....and wouldn't you know it! The 2 companies who said the vapor barrier wouldn't hold were right. The vapor barrier wasn't strong enough to hold the attic insulation up. So we have had to pay an additional cost of having the attic insulation removed prior to the abatement work continuing.

Off to a good start haha

[dezmarez]

UPDATE!!

We have just heard back from Rectangle, and the City of Calgary, says our addition plans violate city code, so we can't push the house back the 20' we wanted.

Apparently, can only increase the depth of the house by 15'. We will have make up the room on the width side.

Stay tuned for an updated floor plan/design. Fun times fun times.

[dezmarez]

Even with the building permit delay, demo is still progressing...

Asbestos abatement is now complete, as well as exterior demo has begun.

[dezmarez]

Demo is almost complete, couple updates:

-All previous framing has been removed. We have the below blank canvas.
-Basement Demo is complete, new framing has begun
-New sub floor in place
-Exterior demo is almost done

[rage2]

I hope you’re taking this opportunity to get cat6 wiring up to date. My brother got @kenny to show up with a spool of wire and setup a bunch of Ethernet drops and ceiling wiring for unifi.