Renovation projects in the time of COVID-19

Note: this article will evolve as we get new recommendations from government authorities. Please note that the information you are reading now could be different tomorrow. The advice presented in this article should be interpreted as a suggestion. 

Update on January 7th 2020

As the number of cases is going up across Canada, provincial and federal governments are announcing new measures every day. We will try to update this article accordingly, but we strongly urge you to check out your local government websites to see if any of these measures affect construction and renovation projects. Here are the links to these websites:

• Government of Canada

• Government of Newfoundland

• Government of Nova Scotia

• Government of New Brunswick

• Government of Prince Edward Island

• Government of Quebec

• Government of Ontario

• Government of Manitoba

• Government of Alberta

• Government of British Columbia

• Government of Yukon

• Government of North West Territories

During this pandemic, many people are wondering what to do with regard to home renovation projects. There are projects that were started a few weeks, even a few months ago and projects that were supposed to happen in the near future. Other people also want to start planning renovation projects for the upcoming months. However, it can be difficult to make plans and specific decisions in light of the current period of uncertainty. 

Now that we are embarking on the second wave, we all have a little bit more experience than six months ago, when we had to get used to the sanitary measures. Many people relaxed a bit over the summer, but with the number of cases increasing exponentially and the tough decisions being made by the government, it becomes very important to take things seriously again.

This is why we have decided to prepare a short guide to help you with your decision process.

Getting quotes: meeting contractors in person or not?

You've most likely heard about the concept of social distancing. This expression is on everyone's mind at the moment and underlines the importance of limiting the proximity between people to reduce the chances of transmitting the disease. 

Ordinarily, most quotes are carried out in person. Contractors head to the place where the work is supposed to be done and will meet with the potential customer. However, with the goal to adapt to current recommendations, it is strongly advised to opt for other techniques when evaluating renovation projects, especially for interior transformations. 

In most cases, it is possible to find ways to present quotes remotely. You will notice that this is contrary to what we would usually recommend, as in-person meetings are normally better. However, in exceptional situations, we have to find tailored solutions!

Here are alternative solutions to presenting quotes in person. These should be prioritized if your projects are happening indoors or if government authorities restrict in-person meetings (as is the case in several Canadian provinces for a time). 

• Evaluations that are done by phone, when the contractor does not have to see the elements that will need to be renovated. Please note that video calls are preferable. 

• Video call evaluations (Skype, Facetime, Messenger, WhatsApp and other video communication tools) to allow the contractor to see what needs to be renovated. You can also send clips to the contractor, which they will evaluate remotely;

• Email communications, where you can send photos, plans and precise descriptions of your needs, your budget and your expectations. 

Are the contractors that you are contacting insisting on meeting you in person (ex: for an emergency)? Be sure to ask them what measures they are applying to ensure the safety of all the persons involved. Are they practicing good hygiene? Will they be staying over for a long time? Do they absolutely have to come?

We've created an article and sent a list of tips to the contractors who are a part of our network so they can adapt their approach with regard to quotes and renovation projects. You can also check out this article which gives you information about managing quotes that you are getting via email or by phone.

More than ever, communications are important between our team, our clients and our contractors. This is a shared responsibility between all the parties that are involved and we are ready to get to work to adapt to the situation! 

For renovation projects: do we postpone the project or go forward with it?

You've scheduled a project and you're wondering whether you should postpone the project or launch the renovations despite the current situation? There is no universal answer and we must say that it's on a case-by-case basis, especially since the situation is evolving quickly. 

Indeed, it's hard to present a specific answer that covers all circumstances. Let's look at a few scenarios to study different possibilities:

Is your project urgent? Head to the next section of this article.

Scenario #1 A contractor was supposed to come to your home to renovate a bathroom starting next week. The contract was signed several months ago and you bought the materials. 

It would be completely understandable for you to opt to postpone the project. Be sure to communicate with the contractor ASAP, let them know about your preoccupations and see if you can agree to postpone in the short or medium term.

Are you still hoping to start the project? Talk about the protection measures in terms of hygiene and security. Have a detailed plan with the contractor and their employees to limit contacts between people and to be sure that safety conditions are good. Also, check with your local government for updated information about what is permitted and what is forbidden at the moment.

Scenario #2 You have a short renovation project (lasting a few days) that was supposed to happen in the upcoming days. For example, masonry, installing exterior siding, installing a fence...

Talk to the contractor to know what they are planning to do to observe government guidelines, especially if the project requires that several workers be present on-site and that they work side-by-side.

Is it possible to reduce the number of workers present on the worksite? Can a relay system be established? These are questions that you should ask the contractor. With the most recent guidelines, chances are that they will want to wait until after the situation has settled down. 

If the project is set over a long period, you should establish a plan in case there are regulatory changes. For example, if there is a government decree which makes it so that carrying out the work becomes complicated, even impossible for a while, no one wants to be stuck in a tricky situation! 

From the outset, you could have a plan in case the rules change, so as to avoid having to ask questions at the last minute.

Scenario #3 The project is currently happening and you are wondering whether it should continue. Once again, this is a legitimate question that deserves a much longer response than what we can provide in a few lines. However, here are a few avenues to explore to feed your thought process:

Do you have a lot of stuff left to do? If not, the workers could speed things up to complete the project. That being said, if the things that are left to do are not essential, this process should also be postponed. 

Would your house be in danger if the work is not completed? For example, if the contractors are working on the structure of the home or on the masonry, it would not be great if the work is abandoned for a few days, even a few weeks. If such is the case, it would be best to at least secure the area in question and leave it as is until things settle down. 

If there are many things left to do and the project is not dangerous like in the previous example, it may be best to press pause for a while and stick to securing the area where the work was started. 

Should you go forward with emergency renovation projects?

There are several categories of renovation projects that could be presented as urgent. Here are a few examples:

• Plumbing issues that keep the system from working correctly;

• Electricity issues that affect the way the system works and is supplied;

• Work that should be carried out to fix a dangerous problem (bulging brick wall, broken window, broken door, water infiltrations, natural disaster)

• Heating problems;

• Problems with door locks. 

For emergency work, you can find solutions so that the work can happen as soon as possible. Try to work with contractors that are open and transparent about the measures they are adopting to adhere to recommendations in terms of hygiene and security. Also, stay tuned to any decrees being presented by your provincial government, as well as the federal government.

Are contractors considered an essential service if they are carrying out emergency work? The answer to this question varies from one province to another. Check your local government website for updated information.

Whenever possible, try to communicate with your contractor by email and by phone. Once the contractor is on-site with their workers, be sure to adopt social distancing measures. 

Current government recommendations for renovation projects

These past few months, most restrictions on worksites have been lifted by federal and provincial governments throughout the country. However, social distancing and increased hygiene measures are still very important. Also, since the situation is quickly evolving into a second wave of the pandemic, new measures and rules could be announced pretty much any day. 

We recommend that you keep an eye on any government communications pertaining to the field of construction and home renovation to know what is permitted at the moment. At the end of this article, you will find a list of links to provincial government websites, where updated information should be made available.

And what about RenoQuotes.com?

Since our platform (RenoQuotes.com) can operate entirely with a team that works from home, we will be able to continue referring contractors and customers, all while favouring compliance with the measures that are required by the different levels of government. Our goal is to play a role in relaunching the Canadian economy once this situation is behind us and the best way to do so is to support local businesses. In using your platform, you will be helping two Canadian businesses! 

Speak to contractors

More than ever, now is the time to show solidarity, flexibility, openness and understanding. Clients and contractors have to focus on communications, listen to each other's needs and fears. By setting up this communication method, a beautiful structure of mutual aid is established! 

We are going to update this article according to how the government's recommendations evolve. If you wish to have more specific information about how the situation is being approached in your province, check out the following websites:

• For Alberta

• For Ontario

• For British Columbia

• For Nova Scotia