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What is the Cost to Develop a Basement in Saskatoon?

Jordan Krawchuk — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:51:27 +0000

Well, that’s kind of a loaded question. How do we ensure we are comparing apples to apples when dealing with the costs of such a large project like a full basement development? A very good start would be to get a good consultation from your contractor. Be sure you understand the quote they are providing you. Be sure the quote covers what you need completed, is understandable, and is detailed enough so you know exactly what you’re getting, why you’re getting it, and how you’re getting it.

What’s the difference between a $32,000 basement and a $42,000 basement that is the same square footage? In my experience it’s mostly in the materials you’re getting. Basement developments are large projects; therefore we work in $5000.00 increments when proving budgeting in a ballpark allowance. In other words, there can be big savings when it comes to client selections. For example, I would always give a client a healthy allowance to purchase high quality flooring, custom millwork, and most definitely a strong fixture supply for their bathroom during their project selection process. This healthy allowance is provided to you at the beginning quoting stage before we actually sign and start your development.

When you are dealing with a contractor and an estimate for such a large project, be sure you know what you are getting for your money. With our basement developments we might be the $42,000 guy competing with the $32,000 guys. Trust me; you will win in the end with us and the extra $10,000.00 you might be seeing on my quote is actually all the quality materials that we are leaving in your basement when the project is complete. There is a very big difference between the other guys’ $60.00 sink purchased overseas and my $200.00 sink that was made in Canada. You always win in the end with Krawchuk Construction.

What we feel is required from a Saskatoon basement finishing specialist these days…

Jordan Krawchuk — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:25:26 +0000

Krawchuk Construction Inc. is proud to be Saskatoon’s only basement development specialist. What does being a basement development specialist mean? Quick and to the point: it’s simply all we do. How does that make us specialists? It’s a little harder to answer that question. We believe in our industry it’s easy to call yourself a contractor. In fact, the next time you go for a drive around Saskatoon take a look out the window at your neighboring vehicles. The first thing you will notice is the staggering number of “businesses on wheels”. It seems in this day and age on the prairies everyone is a contractor. We are not trying to demote our so-called competition, but rather trying to protect the most important party in any business relationship: the client. We believe we have entered the realm of specialist in our area of contracting as we devote all our attention to one area: developing Saskatoon basements. This has allowed us to acquire a great amount of experience in several varying basement environments.

Another way we stay specialized is by bringing the same tried and tested trades along the way with us, allowing them to actually become specialists with us. We only use the best and the best have to last in order to become a partner with the Krawchuk name. Our team is full of journeyman experts that specialize in their specific areas in the building industry. This basically helps create a highly educated and experienced army ready to undertake any basement project. We have, in fact, developed everything from homes built in the 1920s to brand new homes built yesterday. Both bring on their own set of similar but yet different challenges. The nice thing about us is we aren’t a general handyman company; we feel we surpassed the tinkering stage along time ago. We would like to call ourselves a home builder’s little brother. Basically, this means we do everything a home builder would do but only concentrating on the basement space. We feel this would give our clients the reassurance that we have you covered, we have been there and done that, and we want to help by bringing our expertise into your future basement development and only into your basement development. Is that crazy? Why would you want someone that spreads themselves thin on everything in the building industry when you could have someone that only works on and specializes in what you want them to do. It’s kind of like buying a car from a car dealer rather than going to Wal-Mart to pick out your next minivan…makes sense to us.

Saskatoon Bathroom Renvation? – Rub A Dub Tub

Jordan Krawchuk — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:36:34 +0000

Once you are ready to start the bathroom in your new home renovation project, you will find it is the most complicated area. Many different trade areas are involved and the cost is high. These areas include framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, flooring, and finishing. Be sure to be on the ball with time frame and process. Once you are ready for your plumbing rough-in, you will need to install your tub. If your project is like most you are going with a one or two piece tub with a shower surround. Here is the kicker: most of the time, once you install these tubs they are in and they are not coming out, without great expense or damage. The problem that occurs mostly is the tub has a fault or defect. Now what? You just spent 1000.00 dollars on a plumbing rough-in and about the same on your tub. What do you do? The tub is the hardest, biggest, most expensive piece in your bathroom and getting it in and out of the house affects the entire finish of your house. First, kick yourself for not checking over the tub in more detail like you planned. Second, call the tub repair man. Yes, it is possible to fix your brand new fibreglass, acrylic or metal tub. Check your local tub repair listings or give us a call. Lesson learned: always “rub down your tub” before installation, and definitely don’t rely on the manufacturer’s word before you take it out of the store. It’s your fault and problem once you load it onto your truck.

Jordan And Amanda Krawchuk
Krawchuk Construction Inc.
www.krawchukconstruction.com

Saskatoon Do You Have Basement Wall frost?

Jordan Krawchuk — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:16:13 +0000

Interior Basement Wall Damproofing! What is it? Is it any good? First of all, basement damproofing is a black tar spray or a plastic poly that is applied up to grade level on the interior side of your basement walls. When new homes are built, it is usually applied by the home builder and is therefore visible from the inside of the basement. If it is not present, the basement contractor or home owner must apply it before they frame and insulate the basement. Yes, I said it, “poly up against the basement wall”. This building process was designed to ensure that any insulation or wood below grade that may be touching concrete would not wick up the moisture if ever present. Or, if you have water enter the basement through the walls it would not hit any wood or insulation but exit the wall under the bottom plate. Is anyone else thinking moisture? When you frame any exterior wall including basements you must seal a poly layer onto the warm side of the wall as well, and as per city permit standards you must use acoustical sealant on the bottom of that poly to adhere it to the concrete/wood floor and the newly built wall’s bottom plate, creating no air movement. “How does any moisture build up or leakage from the concrete side exit the wall area if it is all sealed at the bottom plate? They say it escapes out the top of the concrete wall where the wall is above grade. Yes concrete breathes, but water moves downward and frost melts into water. I have a hard time believing that this is a good practice. I do approve some of the attributes of damproofing, however it has the potential to cause problems. Old houses didn’t mould because they could breathe. We didn’t wrap them in plastic. Think about taking a plastic bag, placing some water in it, putting your house inside, and then tying a knot in the end. How does the moisture get out?

Jordan And Amanda Krawchuk
Krawchuk Construction Inc.
www.krawchukconstruction.com

Beware of illegal Saskatoon businesses

Jordan Krawchuk — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:37:37 +0000

Always…………………..I mean always do a check on the contractor you are hiring to come into your home for renovations or repairs. It’s very easy in today’s Internet world for people to call themselves “contractors”, or even licensed and insured contractors. Ad agencies like Kijiji – although their hearts might be in the right place – can’t be responsible for all the people that post ads. Many of the so called “contractors” are trying to drum up business the wrong way, without taking the proper steps. They are going straight to the Internet to advertise for free and put lies on their ads to get the customers’ attention. Beware; it’s easier than you might think. Trust me; it’s even happened to me, until I made the important phone call to the City of Saskatoon. Phone the business licence department before you hire them and definitely before you pay them. The bottom line is: if they don’t have a licence under the name they are advertising with THEY DON’T HAVE A LEGAL BUSINESS. If they don’t have a legal business you can bet your dollar that they don’t have insurance. Do your homework; trust me it pays off.

Jordan And Amanda Krawchuk
Krawchuk Construction Inc.
www.krawchukconstruction.com

Tub VS Shower – When building your new Saskatoon bathroom…???

Jordan Krawchuk — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:12:45 +0000

Whether you are renovating an old bathroom or building a brand new one, the question of tub vs. shower is a big one. Along with this choice you are also trying to fit that magic number: yes, your budget. The initial thought of “A shower will be cheaper” is usually a misconception and often is not correct at all. In fact, unless you are really tight on space or you are against a tub completely I recommend going with a one- or two-piece tub/shower. It simply gives more options to either soak in the bath or zip into the shower. Now, the general misconception is that a shower is smaller and will be cheaper. Let me try to explain this to you, a really good tub will cost you between $600.00 and $1000.00. I just bought a great two-piece tub for a small basement bathroom and the total was $585.00. With this you are completely ready to go and use the unit, it’s watertight with a full tub surround, and the kids or wife can still have a bath. When going the shower route, usually my clients will want a neo-angle shower. Well, let’s price this out. Shower alone is $600.00 not including doors, and the glass doors are around $700.00 installed, equalling $1300.00. Yep, you may have just broken the bank and the wife and kids……….. well, no bath. Just a tip: be sure to think this through before rushing into a decision that will affect your family and future needs. Krawchuk Construction would be happy to help you out with any and all of your choices. Happy building.

Jordan And Amanda Krawchuk
Krawchuk Construction Inc.
www.krawchukconstruction.com

Taking the time to get the right tool saves time in the end.

Jordan Krawchuk — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:58:37 +0000

How many of us have opened a paint can with a flat headed screwdriver, or worse off a chisel? Guilty. Have you ever used a real paint can opener to open a paint can? Yes, it is much more efficient for the paint can and your knuckles. How about using a Leatherman tool to put together a child’s toy or tighten a few screws in a loose banister? This is just the beginning of using the right tool for the right job. Whether you believe it or not it’s a rule that is only out there to make your life easier.

Safety first is a huge consideration when it comes to home projects. Try taping a few of your fingers together for a day to simulate an injured hand. Frustrating, isn’t it? How does it save time if you have to go get the proper tool and stop working on your project? Well, it saves time in the following ways:

1. You had to start a new project because you broke the first one,
2. You broke the tool you were using (the incorrect tool) so now you need to replace that one you broke and take time to get the correct tool,
3. You spent too much time trying to make the wrong tool work like the right one,
4. And of course, you injured yourself so you lost time going to the emergency room.

Trust me on this one folks; as an Industrial Arts teacher we have many different types of students to troubleshoot many different types of tools in many different situations. Also, as a contractor I find myself in many different situations where certain tools work better than others. It pays off in the pocket book, time sheet and blood pressure to use the right tool for the right job.

Jordan And Amanda Krawchuk
Krawchuk Construction Inc.
www.krawchukconstruction.com

The joys of soundproofing – It’s way too loud in here!

Jordan Krawchuk — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:25:56 +0000

All families are in need of some quiet time; kids are too loud keeping mom and dad awake, or maybe you are at my stage of things and the last thing you want is to wake your one-year old up just after she falls asleep. “Not a good situation.” How can we help prevent the sound from vibrating throughout homes? Well, interior soundproofing is the answer. What is it? To answer that simple question: it’s an interior insulation that holds little to no R-value (level of protection from outdoor cold temperatures). It gets installed just like regular exterior bat insulation, except it is installed on your interior walls and floor areas, also creating a fire barrier – which in my mind is an awesome idea. Anything that slows down my house from burring to the ground giving me more time to get out, thumbs up on my end. The long and short of it is that it works, however you need to keep a few things in mind when planning to soundproof your home. When it comes to soundproofing there are a few things that alter the results:

· Joist spacing – fitting the soundproofing as tight as possible to all areas to avoid air movement.
· Pipes and vents in your way – anything that is in your way will alter the ability to fit soundproofing in, therefore altering the ability to soundproof properly.
· Drop ceilings allow soundproofing to be placed right on top to secure better placement.
· Heat ducts and fresh air holes allow sound to travel directly from room to room. This cannot be avoided.
· Spray-in soundproofing is the best as it adheres to all gaps and areas creating no room for air movement, in turn not letting sound travel.

On a downside beware of water leaks because if soundproofing gets wet it soaks up water like a sponge. Having a wet sponge inside my wall cavity is not what I want as water plus no air circulation equals mould. Be sure you are aware of what you are doing and trying to achieve in the soundproofing world if you are thinking about adding it to your house. Of course if you have any questions contact your local materials dealer or contractor.

Here are a few links that might help:

http://www.roxul.com/home

http://www.pinkbuilder.ca/quietzone-acoustic.html

Jordan And Amanda Krawchuk
Krawchuk Construction Inc.

Proper Saskatoon yard drainage – This years’ meltdown its on its way out!

Jordan Krawchuk — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:37:08 +0000

Be sure to have all of your downspouts placed in the down position, and extended at least four feet from your foundation wall. Also ensure that you are draining all water away from your house’s foundation. You would be surprised how little water you actually need to be up against your foundation wall to allow seepage into your basement. Saskatchewan basements are all guaranteed to have cracks in them due to freeze-thaw with season changes; even new basements are not in the clear. Weeping tile only helps when the water gets to the bottom of the foundation wall. I finish basements all the time and I haven’t come across a basement yet “new or old” that didn’t have at least hairline cracks running throughout the walls. Water get through hairline cracks too. Proper yard slopage, gutters in the right spots and no sitting water will be the first steps to keeping yourself dry this spring.

Jordan And Amanda Krawchuk
Krawchuk Construction Inc.