Do I Need a Building Permit for a Bathroom Renovation?

by Nancy Boudreau | Jul 26, 2021 | Bathrooms

Whether you’re planning a bathroom remodel or a kitchen overhaul, homeowners need to comply with building codes and local zoning by-laws and regulations. Permits are required for the safety of the occupants and so that the structure is solid and built properly.

The scale of your intended bathroom renovation project will determine whether or not you need a building permit and the type of permit. With a vast knowledge and experience of bathroom remodels, the Nuenza interior design team provides you guidance. Each city has its own regulations. Clients should inquire with their municipalities for the permits.

The National Building Code of Canada

The National Building Code of Canada is developed by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes. The National Building Code consists of construction guidelines and building practices that take into account a new building’s design and construction, as well as any major changes to older buildings. 

Changes made to the National Building Code are for regional purposes. They’re published as provincial codes, which are what the majority of contractors use for their work. Cities and municipalities may make further adjustments to the National Building Code for local needs, from determining the minimum or maximum height of a fence to the distance of an air conditioner from the property line.

Provincial Permits

In some cases, you need provincial permits. Montreal does not issue permits for the following:

• Plumbing
• Electrical Work
• Heating (Electrical or Gas)

Residents in Quebec must contact the Régie du bâtiment du Québec to obtain these types of permits.

Montreal Building Permits

Generally, you don’t need a permit for simple renovations that are considered aesthetic work, such as:

• Changing carpets or flooring 
• Painting walls
• Replacing cabinets, counters, sinks, or tubs 

A building permit is required when a renovation project affects:

• The foundation
• The building’s structure (i.e., walls), or 
• Adds square footage to an existing home. 

The homeowner is legally responsible for purchasing and obtaining the necessary building permits unless they work with a renovation company.

What Happens if You Don’t Get a Building Permit for a Bathroom Remodel?

Renovating without a permit or deciding to cut corners is never the best way to save money or time. You’re not only risking the safety of your family, but you’re also not in compliance with city legislation. 

In terms of safety, the floor can sag and slope if you remove a wall for a larger space. Maybe the wall you decide to remove is a supporting wall, and without it, the roof can cave in. It’s vital never to take on bathroom remodels that go beyond the aesthetic changes listed above. From updating plumbing systems to adding a dividing wall, it’s also critical that you work with a trusted contractor.

Have Your Remodeling Project Completed by a Professional

A new bathroom can be a lot of work, especially if you’re gutting the entire room. When you work with Nuenza’s professional team, you work with a reputable contractor that can handle the permits, so you have peace of mind. 

Not only is it our job to ensure you have a final space that looks and feels amazing, we always make sure your project meets provincial and municipal requirements. And if you’re still on the fence about a bathroom remodel, our team can present many bathroom renovation ideas to inspire you!

Contact our team today to get started.

How Much Do Bathroom Renovations Cost?

by Nancy Boudreau | Aug 18, 2020 | Bathrooms

Are you at your wits’ end bumping into your partner as you get ready in the bathroom? And after a hard day, do you dream of relaxing in a spacious, jetted tub? What about adding a little seating area where you can de-stress as you do your nails?

Nuenza is here to help you design, optimize space, and turn your bathroom into an oasis. Whether you want contemporary minimalism, Bohemian chic, or Zen paradise, we guarantee that your bathroom renovation in Montreal is possible with your budget.

What Do You Want to Accomplish with Your Bathroom Remodel?

Before you start hacking away at a wall or buying swatches, make sure you know what the purpose of your bathroom renovation will be, and how to achieve it. Will you be expanding the room and adding square footage? Optimizing the preexisting space? Updating the style?

For your renovation to go smoothly, it’s always best to ask yourself the following questions:

• Is it a master bathroom or a half bath/powder room? A master bathroom includes the shower, tub, sink and toilet while a half bath or powder room has only a toilet and sink, sometimes doubling as a laundry room.
• Who will use the bathroom? Think of gender and age. A kid’s bathroom will be designed much differently than that for an adult.
• Are you updating the style? Maybe you’re tired of the floral wallpaper or want to replace that pink tub.
• Do you want to modernize its functionality? It might be time to remove your shower curtain and install a glass shower stall instead.
• How do you want the room to flow with the rest of the home? Some homeowners like to have a consistent design theme throughout the house,while others prefer each room has its own distinctive flair.
• How do you want the room to accommodate your needs? If you and your partner share the bathroom, would separate sinks allow each of you to have enough space to get ready at the same time?

All of the above questions will help to give you a better idea of the renovation costs to expect. Remember that if you plan on renovating more than one bathroom, you will need to apply the above questions to each one.

Depending on the type of bathroom renovation and your needs, the average cost to redo is between 20k and 55k since plumbing and tiling are expensive and the bread and butter of a bathroom. Other factors that will affect pricing are your preferences, materials used, and market inflation.

Work with the Nuenza Team!

To renovate a bathroom, you need a skilled team who knows how to turn your ideas into a reality within your budget. Nuenza can help you save money while still having an inviting and high-end bathroom in the end.

Did you know? Nuenza is one of the top three custom cabinet designers in Montreal, QC. We would like to thank all of our clients and well-wishers for keeping trust in us and choosing us to serve their needs. After a rigorous 50-point inspection, Nuenza became one of the top three companies. The process looked at reputation, history, complaints, ratings, nearness, satisfaction, trust, cost, and general excellence.

We are always happy to discuss your project’s unique details, such as its renovation costs and design elements, so get in touch with our team today to start the process of renovating your bathroom!

Design Ideas to Turn Your Bathroom into an Oasis

by Nancy Boudreau | Jul 22, 2020 | Bathrooms

Everyone spends a lot of time in the bathroom. 

It’s not only a place where we groom and shower, it’s also a place we go to regain our composure or relax. Many people choose this place out of all of the other rooms in their home because it has a lock on it. You can shut the world out for an hour or two. 

Since the bathroom is such an intimate place, why not customize it to make it as comfortable as possible? IF you find you’re bored with your all-white bathroom or would like better lighting to do your hair, shaving, and make-up, Design Nuenza can help. 

Read on to find out how you can create your own ideal design and create a bathroom environment where you feel like yourself again.

Wall Materials

Turning your home bathroom into a spa is still very much trending. And part of that trend is using stone for your walls. Depending on your budget, there are a few natural stone choices that will make your bathroom more rustic or luxurious. Limestone, soapstone, and onyx are popular choices. 

Tiles are another way to go. Adding tiles to your walls will provide texture, whether you opt for a geometric or oddly-shaped pattern. 

You’ve most likely heard of marble being used for countertops, but it can also be used for the walls. It will give the room a clean look while providing a natural pattern of colour, such as white with pearl grey tones. 

Remember that you can choose which walls to redo. Some homeowners prefer to renovate only the shower walls in one of the above materials while others do the entire room.

Lighting 

Achieving the best lighting is tricky because the room’s configuration and your needs will greatly affect your lighting choices. For example, if your countertop is at the farthest point away from the window, you will need optimal artificial lighting fixtures. 

Lighting fixtures come in all shapes and sizes:

• Recessed ceiling lights
• Ceiling lamps
• Pendant lamps
• LED strip lighting
• Vanity lighting
• Wall sconces
• Chandeliers

Because lighting is so difficult to decide upon, a balance of natural and artificial light is essential. Our experts can discuss at length what you’re looking for in order to provide you with the best design results.

Hardware

Silver faucets, drawer handles and lighting fixtures are nice, and some people prefer them while others want to find features that pop, particularly if the walls are white.

Here are some colors to consider in your Montreal bathroom remodel:

• Black and pewter will draw the eye in and help to break up any large expanses of white walls or cabinetry.
• Gold is subtle, like silver, but it has an extra level of luxe that will make it stand out without being too startling. If you’re looking for gold in a darker shade, then brass is the answer. Both gold and brass will warm up your bathroom’s décor.
• Brushed nickel is darker than silver and can be the solution for homeowners who want something in the silver palette. It’s ideal for pairing with blues, green, and shades of purples.

You can also mix and match metals. Our experts will provide you with suggestions.

Start Your Bathroom Remodel Today!

Nuenza will help to turn your bathroom into your personalized oasis that’s there for you at the end of every hard day. Our staff makes the process fun and hones in on your style, whether it’s contemporary zen or rustic cottage. We will discuss your budget, expectations, and requirements to narrow down your choices and begin renovating.

Check out our bathroom portfolio, or contact us today!

5 Rules to Follow in Bathroom Feng Shui

by Nancy Boudreau | Apr 14, 2020 | Bathrooms

Thinking of incorporating the ancient practice of feng shui into your next renovation project? It’s a great way of introducing a calming feeling throughout your home! But the bathroom is often the hardest area of the house in which to manage the flow of energy. 

Luckily we’re here to help you navigate the ins and outs (and the yin and yang) of good feng shui. Get familiar with the concept, set some objectives, and then let Cuisines Nuenza help make your dreams come true with a perfectly planned home renovation project.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng shui is an ancient traditional Chinese concept linking a person’s destiny to the space around them. Literally translated, the words mean “air” and “water”, and they describe the balance and harmony that those who follow feng shui seek to achieve. 

As a system, feng shui aims to control the flow of energy (known as qi) through the arrangement and orientation of objects and rooms within a space. The goal is to maximize the favourable effects of qi while minimizing its negative effects. 

Why is Feng Shui Important?

Striking the right balance requires careful thought and deliberate decision-making. Qi that travels through a home too quickly or too slowly is believed to be unfavourable, and it can lead to negative consequences in a person’s life. 

A home with too much fast-moving qi can lead to a persistent feeling of restlessness, with residents having difficulty making decisions or sticking to commitments. On the other hand, if qi is not allowed to flow freely enough, motivation becomes an issue, and communication between inhabitants can be negatively affected.

The goal of creating a well-balanced flow of qi is to perpetuate a feeling of calm throughout your entire home. And that includes the bathroom!

The Rules for Good Bathroom Feng Shui

Bathrooms are generally acknowledged to be a bit of a feng shui challenge due to their tendency to store bad energy. But we’ve got you covered with the best tips for keeping that qi flowing at just the right speed. 

1. Plan Your Layout

When it comes to good bathroom feng shui, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you are planning the layout of your home, do not place the bathroom near the centre of the building. Followers of feng shui say this brings bad luck and poor health to the building’s inhabitants. 

It’s also not advisable to place a bathroom in view of the main entrance of a home, or facing any other important rooms such as the kitchen, dining room or master bedroom. If you already have a bathroom in one of these positions, try placing a screen, curtain or houseplants in between the two areas.

2. Keep It Clean

Ensuring your bathroom is kept tidy won’t do enough to regulate the flow of negative qi. A feng shui expert will tell you that the bathrooms in your home have to be spotless and sparkling.

This is easier to do the fewer items you store in that room. If you have a busy bathroom, be sure to find top-notch organizational solutions to help declutter your walls and shelves. The less of a mess things are in there, the more relaxed you’re guaranteed to feel.

3. Mirror Effect

Mirrors are very useful tools to help balance the energy in your home because they can be used to redirect the flow of qi. Practitioners state that qi can escape from a home through its toilets and its drains, and a mirror placed on a bathroom door helps prevent this from happening.

At the same time, it is said that mirrors double what they reflect. So be mindful of placing any reflective surface in areas where they might mirror dirt, clutter or sharp angles.

4. Windows of Opportunity

In feng shui theory, a home’s windows symbolize the eyes of the adults and the voice of the children. Clean, clear windows with lots of daylight are key to well-balanced qi.

If your bathroom has no window, use green plants and incense to help the flow of positive energy, and install a dimmer switch to better control the light.

5. Show Your True Colours

Cut through the sluggish energy that a bathroom emits by decorating with light, warm colours. Whites, reds, oranges and yellows can all be used to strengthen the area’s qi. Avoid dark colours like grey, blue, or black, since the bathroom is an area already full of yin and lacking in yang.

Let Cuisines Nuenza Be Your Guide

The key to great feng shui is careful planning and mindful decision-making. Mastering the flow of qi in your home can be a daunting task, but breaking the problem down to each individual room will have you restoring calm to the four corners of your house in no time. 

Trust the experts at Cuisines Nuenza to help make any renovation project easier, whether it’s the whole building or just the bathroom! Contact Cusines Nuenza for a free estimate today, and take the first step towards creating good feng shui in your home!