Remodeling Basement in Home Renovations Real Estate Flipping Toronto

This summer we’re remodeling the basement and putting a sunroom on the front of the house.

Basement Renovation Starts With Amdry Sub Flooring

After lowering the basement floor and installing proper drains, Kevin elected to use Amdry basement flooring applied directly onto the concrete slab. We would then apply a thick orange coloured cozy shaggy carpet on top of that material – for sure, the kids will love it growing up, and then complain about our taste when they remove the mess in twenty years, but they wont remove the Amdry sub floor underneath… Kevin believes that will last forever.  It does have a space age look and feel, and the material is heavy duty durable and something that looks like it would last a long time in either dry or wet conditions a concrete floor sweats – and these channels in the material let the cement breathe

Amvic insulated wall panels are safe, secure, easy-to-install, and makes cozy spaces where your ears pop when the door closes.

Purchasing the material required more than internet searches – i had to pick up the phone and make some calls!  The basement walls are to be  composed of Amdry insulated wall panels and you can see Kevin Dugard selecting the best examples at the Rona at Islington and 401 in Toronto

It was a time and place – Kevin had an avocado submarine sandwich in the store Subway, and felt sick on the way home.  that this happened to me once too.

AMENDMENT  You can see more of us purchasing the basement flooring and insulated wall panels on Red Flag Deals and a similar notion about basement flooring and insulated wall panels on Toronto Forums where we’re now selling the surplus for Kevin who characteristically overestimated and bought too much after being given a great price for a large order.

A couple articles warned us away from other green trends , and so went with it and made a meme specific content  like Green Trends Bring Red Ink when Flipping Houses which has more pictures

Smojoe blogged about insulated wall panels and basement flooring and helping friends flip houses on his blog.

Steel Bending Architectural Renovations

Architectural Explorations

My love of art and architecture follows me where ever I go.  Even on my walks.  I’ve always had a fascination from afar with architecture.  It  is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction.   I like exploring communities that surround me and seeing what works, in the material form of buildings.   I notice how some buildings surpass others, while many get transformed with many generations.   Some keep their architectural integrity while being renovated to fit contemporary times.  As as I  walk or bike ride in different neighbourhoods to explore the city I notice the various structures and materials.   I am constantly comparing and admiring.  Each unique community I have seen has homes that have gone through some incredible transformations.   I notice that are a few in need of some extra TLC.   I gather ideas for renovations in my mind sometimes when I see this.  I especially notice an abandoned church in my area.    It catches my eye and I get such a thrill to think of it’s possibilities.    I would love to have the finances to purchase and restructure while keeping it’s architectural integrity.  Many times the historical integrity is gone after renovations to meet the needs of today.   Some areas such as the Distillery District has learned to keep the importance of historical heritage within structures which can be a costly affair.

Distillery District Historical Integrity

Being a lover of the arts I enjoy architecture as well and one of my favourite places is the Distillery District.   It’s mostly because of the historical integrity  that was kept with the redevelopment of the building structures.   Everywhere you go in the Distillery you see signs of the old and the new.  I also love stumbling across buildings and unusual structures in other areas of Toronto. There is one particular cube like building located off of Eastern Ave that seems to be the home to a few people. This cube like structure located just off of the DVP is really interesting. It leaves me amazed and curious about the structural quality of the building. However, it’s been there for a while. It makes me think of the old warehouse building I’m living in now, in which was once a perfume factory and an old cleaners at one point. Most of all it makes me think of an abandoned old water tower I used to drive by everyday. I often wondered if it could be transformed into a cool building to accommodate people to live in.

Curvilinear Clever Structures

Most people are not aware it is possible to build such unusual paradigm shift buildings.   Especially because the round structure have a need for bending steel pipe in order to utilize space and have proper plumbing and firm structures.  But like aircraft in the sky houses can be built with curves too.  I did not think this was possible until I was introduced to a company located in California. I wonder if Yurts buildings and other clever structures take advantage of this power to bend steel and other metals. I am curious about how many powerful services out there are available.  It really does seem to be limitless.  Architects most enjoy the freedom with the  types of possibilities for clever structures.     I’m sure there is a high price tag involved with the extra amount of creative freedom.   However,  I like to imagine a street of curvilinear buildings lining a street with it’s, think outside  of the box, style.