The original washroom was a DYI project of the previous homeowners. While they were proud of their job, it wasn’t professional and had some issues.

The Issues

From a design standpoint, several things stood out:

• The toilet was separated into its own room. Not bad on its own, but it was crammed against one wall, and the rest of the room looked empty.
• The spa was bordered on three sides and felt closed in. Its stairs jammed up against the shower and didn’t leave enough room in that area.

From a professional standpoint, there were other issues:

• The drywall work was poor in some areas. The ceiling needed work as well as the area around the shower.
• The drywall angled out at the shower and looked wrong. We guessed that it was due to the plumbing. This was later confirmed as the homeowners were unaware of how to install it into the wall. In addition, the hot and cold lines were reversed at the mixer. They “fixed” the issue by installing the value upside down.
• The tub never drained correctly and was damaging the ceiling below. It was again caused by improper installation and shoddy plumbing.
• The toilet suffered from other issues, and the solid stack they modified looked like someone had tried to paint it with glue. Not sure what they were trying to achieve, but much of it had to be redone.

The Design

The proposed design was much more spacious and had some notable features:

• A large Neo-Shower with custom glass
• Vertical Subway tiling. A first for us
• Wall-to-wall tiling
• Custom wainscot and crown moulding
• “Invisible” joints on casings

The Final Product

We think the final product was worth the effort, and this bathroom renovation is one for the books!

This was a definite challenge. Built during covid, we faced all kinds of issues with supply shortages, a three-week concrete strike, and a shortage of storage space due to their basement being renovated.

The work took place over 2 years as a result of the issues. We had to build the shed in the fall without the slap so it could be used for temporary winter storage. We poured the slab the next year and moved the shed by hand onto it. That is not bad, considering it was 16′ x 10′ and weighed close to 1000 lbs.

The design started with a drawing the client had of the shed similar to the one she envisioned. The pergola was a mish-mash of ideas and parts to create something we think is quite beautiful.

While this was a small deck, there were some definite challenges. We had to build it in a small area constrained by a 36″ gate and a couple of windows. The old fence, once removed, would also leave a weird triangle-shaped patch of grass. They also wanted a pergola incorporated on an 8×12 deck!

We think the final result is quite nice and covers all the bases. Without our modelling software, it would have been a real challenge to help the client picture the project.

Some Features:

• Picture framed decking
• Freestanding
• Custom Flower Box
• Shade sail (not pictured)

We love unusual projects, and this project was exactly that! Custom designs take many builders out of their comfort zone, but not us – we look forward to it. This was an opportunity to sharpen our skills and build what many others only dream of.

The Design

Originally the customer wanted a square deck, approximately 25′ x 40′, with composite deck boards. We advised the client that it would only add a small amount to the project’s overall cost to break it up into different levels and areas but would offer a much greater resale value. They agreed, and we moved on to the next item: composite decking. 

We use Trex for most composite decks because we believe in the product. They offer a strong warranty and were one of the pioneers in the industry. We suggested using their Transcend line in this case, as it offers greater scratch resistance and better texturing.

As usual, we employed 3D software tools to build a visual model and create construction documents that allowed the deck to be built. This allowed the client to make adjustments and pick suitable colours with confidence that the final product would be something they loved.

The Build

We have seen our share of on-ground decks attached to the house. This is not legal as it requires piers 5′ deep (in our area). The ground around the lake is mostly rocky and would make drilling holes extremely difficult, so we designed the deck as freestanding. 

Four-way deck blocks are the best option. If built correctly, the beams and substructure are completely rigid before the joists are even applied. 

While Trex allows their products on 16″ centers, we have found that the board may droop in extreme heat. This is only a visual issue, and the boards return to shape when cool. However, it is only slightly more costly to use 12″ centers, and we recommend it. The decking was also done with a double picture frame on the outside, which requires special framing in the corners and when the boards run parallel with the joists. We used hidden fasteners as much as possible to make the decking as clean as possible.

The Final Products

The end result was quite stunning, and the owners were pleased with the project. As is common with these kinds of projects, we also picked up several others in the area after neighbours saw the work. There are still some lights to add; we will update this post with the final pictures once the job is complete.

Summer 2020

This project was on a beautiful property on the Lake Superior shoreline just north of Thunder Bay. The exterior finishing would consist of the main house, two sheds, a gazebo and a sauna with vinyl siding, soffits, facia, and steel roofing installed.

The house received various renovations and additions over the years, many of which had not been completed by professionals. Portions seemed cobbled together, and we would have to make the entire structure seamless. The job would take some artistry in addition to skill. For this project, we used Board and Batten vinyl siding and 3 Panel Traditional soffits from Royal Building Products.

FIXING THE DOUBLE ROOFLINE

The first issue to tackle was a double roofline on one gable. It looked odd; even the facia boards were different sizes between the house’s front and back. We cut off the lower roof and removed all the facia boards. We would install new boards that were thicker to make everything more sturdy. They would also be wider, helping tie everything together and making the roof look “beefier.”

CUTTING DOWN THE FRONT OVERHANG

A large overhang at the front of the house blocked sunlight in the porch area. The clients wanted it shortened, which would fix the light issue. The change would also make the overall look more cohesive, matching the rest of the house.

REBUILDING THE WORKSHOP ROOF

Next up was the workshop roof. This addition started as a shed that was moved over and connected to the house. The walls were okay, but the roof collapsed due to undersized rafters. Many were also spliced together and oddly spaced. Adding properly sized rafters spaced correctly fixed the issue.

We took the opportunity to correct the overhangs so they were the same as the rest of the house, helping fix the cobbled look. After sheathing and strapping, we installed the steel roof.

THE MAIN HOUSE’S ROOF

The roof of the main house was the largest issue. The largest section in the front had two different slopes. When we ran a string line down the edge, it was over 2 inches high in the middle. It was also quite wavy from side to side. It required a week’s worth of shimming the strapping to get things flat.

After replacing the fascia boards, it started to look polished. We opted for a “rake” edge corner on the roof gables as they really enhance the look of a steel roof. After adding the soffits and fascia, the rooflines finally looked “tied together.”

Levelling the Workshop Walls

The workshop roof was not its only issue; the original owner built the exterior walls with an upward slope. That was fine when taken alone but looked odd with the rest of the house. We shimmed the siding to get it straight and reframed the doorway. After the vinyl siding and door capping, that section blended seamlessly with the rest of the home.

The main beam on one side of the foundation had also rotted away. We jacked up that end and installed a new beam.

CAPPING THE WINDOWS AND DOORS

Window and door capping often makes all the difference to an exterior finishing job. Butting the siding right up to the window or door lacks definition and looks amateurish by modern standards. Adding casing boards and capping can make your project really “pop.”

EXTERIOR FINISHING ON THE GAZEBO

The client wanted a gazebo on the property spruced up. Originally, it would just have a steel roof installed to match the other items on the property. We suggested adding soffits and fascia to finish it off and have the look of a modern metal gazebo but have a much longer lifespan. The results were amazing, and the outdoor space created is very inviting.

FINISHING THE SAUNA

The sauna was in rough shape externally. The wooden frames on the windows were rotten, and the glass practically fell out when we removed them. One was covered over, and the other was replaced with a unit we removed from the main house.

We added the steel roof and siding as we did with the other locations. The door was sticking, so we removed it and planed it down. Although faded, it was still pretty solid, so we proposed using a faux antique finish. It turned out amazing, although our pictures don’t do it justice.

Vinyl isn’t a good choice next to the wood storage, so we took some leftover metal from the flashing and used it where the siding might get damaged.

THE SHEDS

Two sheds on the property needed some work to blend in. The first was new but never finished on the exterior. We added the usual siding and capped the doors in black sheet metal. The owner had issues with bears getting into the garbage, so we made two “bear resistant” trash storage bins and attached them to the shed. In the front, we added a box for tire storage. We will put the house number on the shed in the spring, and it will really stand out from the road.

The toolshed has some interesting features. The sheathing on the bottom was rotting due to trapped water from compost left next to it. We covered the lower portion in black sheet metal and added crushed stone for drainage. The door was capped, new hinges added, and a better door handle installed so the people could no longer accidentally lock themselves inside. 🙂

FINAL THOUGHTS

We really enjoyed working on this project, and the owners were wonderful. They mentioned some other interesting projects they wanted to tackle in the future, so we may be back there soon.

A client approached Mavriq Construction to renovate one section of their house that a previous homeowner had built. There were some issues due to prior poor construction, which needed to be corrected. The project was a bathroom renovation and beautification of other areas in the newer “wing” of the house.

The original bathroom was a sauna that a previous owner had converted to a shower. The headroom was low as that aspect was never changed when they removed the sauna. The drain was in the wrong location, and we had to open the concrete to fix it anyway, so we proposed a curbless shower. It wouldn’t add much to the cost and would be cost-effective for a stunning result.

The original door was tiny and swung out into the hall. We added a pocket door as this allowed a much larger doorway without having to worry about obstructions.

BEFORE THE RENOVATIONS

DURING THE RENOVATIONS

We found several issues during the bathroom renovation that needed to be fixed. The original shower had several plumbing issues and poor insulation on the outside walls. These were quickly dealt with as we rebuilt the room. We used several products from Schluter, including Kerdi Board, Kerdi Line and various waterproofing products. These are fantastic products. They may cost more than conventional materials but produce far better results.

We were asked to replace the stairs with something more attractive and functional. We started by expanding the entrance since it was only 28 inches wide, far too small, as it was the only way to move furniture in and out of that section of the house. In only 2 hours of work, we created a new opening with a properly supported header. When we removed the old stairs, we found a rotting foundation behind them. The rim joist disintegrated, and we replaced it and slightly reworked the concrete.

The ductwork passed under the stairs, and one register was in a closet. We added a header to move the duct further down the wall into the room. There was no cold air return in the area, so we cut a hole in the basement door and installed a grate. Not great, but a vast improvement on what was there. The only way to fix it would have been a massive job since it was slab on grade, and cold air vents would have to be under it.

We capped the stair treads with Oak with a dark stain and painted the rest white. The result is quite pleasing and relatively inexpensive.

THE END RESULT

The clients were delighted with the result and asked us to come back for another project to remove a wall and add a beam. More on that project later. The key takeaway from this bathroom renovation is that sometimes a general contractor can add impressive features at relatively little extra expense. The curbless shower and widened doorway cost under a thousand dollars extra since we were already doing some demolition to those areas. Your choice of general contractor is critical if you want someone who can design, build and think outside the box while on site.