The Workshop / 22 useful reads / Page 2
Get the paperwork, people, and sequence right. Clear Ontario renovation advice for comparing quotes, arranging approvals, and living through the work.
A municipal building permit does not cover electrical work. Here is who files with ESA, what stays visible, and which final document belongs in your house file.
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Check the gas contractor, appliance approval, and installation records. Plan ventilation and clearances before the cabinets are built.
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A contingency is your reserve for uncertainty, not a contractor bonus or a second finish budget. Size it from the risks the quote cannot yet resolve.
Read the postThe lowest total is rarely the whole story. Here is how to read scope, allowances, exclusions, payment terms, permits, tax, and change-order language before a renovation starts.
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Most Ontario renovation work is taxable at 13%. Here is how to check the math, verify the supplier, keep useful records, and spot the rare rebate situation.
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Deck post, fence post, tree, trench: if soil is moving, request the locate first. The flags are free. Wait for every response before starting.
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The statutory holdback protects against construction lien exposure. It is not the deposit, not the contingency, and not an informal quality-control fund.
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Two federal renovation credits still matter in 2026. Ontario energy rebates are separate. Check which programs fit your planned work and what records they require.
Read the postA change order is a small contract attached to a larger one. It should explain what changed, why, what it costs, and what happens to the schedule.
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Plastic at the doorway is one material, not a dust plan. Good containment starts before demolition and ends only after controlled cleanup.
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