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Toronto Epoxy Floor Installation
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How to Install Epoxy Flooring in Your Home

BVM Contracting has successfully installed epoxy flooring for many custom home projects in Toronto, and has an outline below that will answer the following questions:
Epoxy Flooring, otherwise known as resinous flooring, is highly durable, customizable, sustainable, and decorative floor finish for any surface. Epoxy is a highly resistant flooring, and can withstand to high levels of wear and tear. This makes epoxy one of the most long-lasting flooring options.

Epoxy flooring is most widely applied to concrete surfaces, which makes them great candidates for application in new home construction and home addition projects. Usually epoxy flooring is installed in basements, garages, and outdoor landscaping areas like porches and patios.
- Can increase brightness in the area with a high-gloss finish
- Resists oil stains and water
- Can create anti-slip surface with additive
- Prevents wear and tear of existing concrete floors
- It is a durable surface that can withstand a lot of traffic and wear and tear
- Requires little to no maintenance
BVM Contracting has completed many epoxy floor installations in the past, and have created a video that goes over the process of installation. In the video we have our new custom home build basement at Phyllis Avenue finished with epoxy flooring.

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Step 1: Floor Grinding, Surface Preparation, and Repair

In order for the epoxy to adhere properly to the floor it needs to be clean and porous. If the concrete floor has cracks or any chips they need to be repaired.

It is important to confirm that the floor has not been previously sealed to make sure the epoxy adheres properly. Test this by pouring water on the floor, if it doesn’t soak in and beads together it is likely that a sealant has been used. If this is the case the floor may not be a suitable candidate for epoxy floors.

It is also important to ensure that the temperature of the floor is suitable as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. Your General Contractor will be able to help with this!

Step 2: Installation of Coloured Epoxy Primer Coat and Finished Appearance

Using a polyurethane system, a mixture of the resin/epoxy and the suitable pigment for the finish colour is used. The product is applied with a roller and/or squeegee to ensure the entire surface is covered by the primer.

Once the primer is installed there are three different finish options:
1. Decorative Flakes: Applied when the primer is still wet and the chips are applied directly into the base coat.
2. Metallic Finish: Applied when the primer is still wet, the epoxy design that the client wants is poured. Any additional designs that the client wants is applied at this time as well.
3. Industrial Sand Epoxy: Sand it added into the the primer and rolled in to achieve an even distribution. To achieve an even coat an additional coat is applied with more sand. This gives this type of epoxy floor a very durable and non-slip finish. This is also the final step in this flooring system, and step three is not needed.
Step 3: Installation of Clear Top Coat: This is the final step where the floor is applied with a clear polyaspartic top coat. It is recommended that the top coat is left to cure for a minimum of 24 hours before any foot traffic.
This is a question that we get asked a lot of customers and it depends on the type of finish, location of the epoxy flooring, if the floor is existing or new, and overall square footage of the area. For more information about pricing for your project please book a no obligation renovation consultation below!

Book an ONLINE renovation consultation!

Please book your online renovation consultation to start your renovation journey! Even though we are socially isolated for the near future doesn’t mean that we can’t start a conversation about your proposed home renovations. Now is a perfect time while we are at our homes to figure out what the next best plan is for home improvement. You can rely on BVM Contracting to guide you through the renovation and home building process, even if it has to be done online!

We are looking forward to getting you started off in the right direction and learning about your project.

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
September 15, 2021
Cliffside – A Gorgeous Neighbourhood to Live and Grow in Scarborough
The Cliffside Neighbourhood is a Hidden Gem in the Scarborough Bluffs

From the lovely Cliffside Village that boasts a ton of different amenities (including Starbucks!) to the beautifully crafted road South of Kingston Road that boast some of the nicest properties in Scarborough, Cliffside is a great place to live, grow, and also build your dream home!

In this Blog we dive into a brief history of Cliffside, some of the attractions and amenities in the area, as well as some of the projects that we have completed over the years.
The Cliffside neighbourhood was originally called Mortlake, which was named after a small village outside of London, England. The neighbourhood consists of homes built from the 1920’s all the way to the 1950’s when the neighbourhood grew substantially after World War 2. This variation in decades between new housing starts can be found as you stroll through the Southern areas of Cliffside, with Tudor, Craftsman, Cape Cod, Elizabethan style homes sprinkled throughout!

We would be lying to you if we said we haven’t gone on a few drives to check out the beautiful architecture still existing in the neighbourhood!
Cliffside is the perfect mix of suburban living mixed with plenty of greenery and outdoor activities. These are some of the must-see areas of the neighbourhood:
- Scarborough Heights and Scarborough Crescent Parks
- Cliffside Village (stretches from Kennedy Road to Midland Avenue along Kingston Road.
- The Scarborough Bluffs Tennis Club calls Cliffside their home
- St. Augustine Seminary, which boasts a ton of open fields and beautiful architecture overlooking Lake Ontario
The amentities are awesome as well! With a Shopper’s Drug Mart, No Frills, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and many other small businesses in between, you do not have to go far to get what you need for you and your family!
For being residents of the adjacent Cliffcrest neighbourhood we actually haven’t completed too many New Home Construction or Home Addition projects in the Cliffside neighbourhood. Though that is about to change, we are working on getting two separate projects in this area started in 2022! The most notable project that we completed is below:

35 Fishleigh Drive (Home Addition) – Link Here

Located with a waterfront view on the amazingly posh Fishleigh Drive, this was one of the first larger home addition projects completed on the street back in 2015. The house was converted from a 1000 square foot bungalow to a 4000 square foot home addition.

The house was recently bought by a couple that reached out to us to marvel at the quality workmanship, they even gave us a Google Review because they were so happy with the house!

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
April 16, 2021
Lumber Prices and How They Affect Home Additions and New Home Construction
Everything you need to know about the elusive “lumber” line item!

In the last year alone, many material costs in the residential construction world have increased anywhere from 20 to 30 percent (including drywall, insulation, and concrete), but none of these increases even compare to what has been seen year-over-year with the lumber costs. The combination of COVID-19, mill closures, and the increase in demand in the DIY/new housing starts markets has swung the once-stable supply and demand curve way out of wack. This is not the first time that lumber has seen high prices, but it is certainly a shock to the consumer market that lumber is seeing record highs for the first time in a long time.

This article aims to educate home owners about the state of the lumber market and how it affects the residential construction market and affordability.
1. A COMPARISON OF YEAR OVER YEAR LUMBER PRICING
2. HOW LUMBER PRICING AFFECTS RESIDENTIAL INFILL CONSTRUCTION
3. HOW LUMBER PRICING AFFECTS HOME ADDITION AND RENOVATION PROJECTS
4. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROPERLY PREPARE FOR RECORD-HIGH MATERIAL COSTS
Jumping right into the numbers, you can see in the graph where the 2021 lumber pricing is at currently, based on 2×4 #2&BTR SPF lumber. How they are calculating the monetary value in the y-axis is arbitrary due to the number of years shown on the graph.

As you can see, the different between March 2021 and March 2020 is 2.3 times the price. This means that the cost of your lumber package between now and this time last year is over twice the cost, which represents over a 100 % increase in lumber material costs.

To put this into perspective of square footage, for doing a 2500 square foot new home you would have been able to get the lumber package between $40 000 to $50 000. Now that same package will cost you around $100 000 or more. That is a difference of over $50 000!!!

Year over year comparison of lumber pricing to Toronto
The short answer to this question is that the increase in lumber prices affect new construction the most of any other type of residential construction project. When you think of the anatomy of lumber a home building project you can break it down into:
- Main floor package
- Main floor walls
- Second floor package
- Second floor walls
- Roof package (trusses or joists for flat roof)
- Exterior sheathing/plywood
With a new home build the entire home is completely new, all the way down to the foundation. This means that everything from the main floor lumber package and up is new as well, which adds a lot to the lumber material cost.

As stated in the previous section, it is the difference between $40-50 K and $100 K + for a 2500 square foot new home right now, in just the material alone!
A home addition (or renovation as defined by the City of Toronto) is classified as leaving 51% of the existing above-grade walls. This means that you are utilizing more of the existing floors/joists/walls and leads to a lower price tag for the overall lumber package. For a 2500 above-grade home addition (assuming the existing main floor package is being used) you can expect to pay around $60 000 to $70 000 for the lumber package (depending on how much lumber is needed for the main floor)

There is a simple answer to this, do your due diligence! You have already completed the first step in reading this blog but now it is time to put some real numbers in place.

BVM Contracting offers no-obligation consultations of construction costs using our database of previously-quoted projects. We are able to account for the material changes by referencing when the project was quoted to current pricing of all commodities. This will give you the most transparency when you are determining if you will be able to afford your renovation or new home construction project.

Reach out to use here or you can email contact@bvmcontracting.com to start the conversation!

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
March 24, 2021
Everything You Need To Know About Residential Hydronic Heating
Before You Decide To Invest In A Radiant/Hydronic System, Read This Article!

Over the last 10 years radiant in-floor heating and hydronic heating has exploded as a must-have heating source for any new home build, home addition, or luxury home renovation project. BVM Contracting has seen first-hand how these systems operate and what the best practices are for installing a radiant in-floor heating system.

This article aims to enlighten home owners about what radiant in-floor (otherwise known as hydronic) heating is, the different options of radiant/hydronic heating, where it can be installed, and how to install it properly.
1. What is Radiant in-floor heating? (including components)
2. Where can I install radiant in-floor heating In my home?
  
  3. How is radiant in-floor heating installed?
  
  4. How is a radiant floor heated?
  
  5. What Are the different products that I can use to create a radiant in-floor heating system?
Radiant in-floor heating is best described as a heating solution that uses a heat transfer medium (such as water or a water glycol mixture) to transfer heat from its enclosed tubing (PEX) to various areas and surfaces of your home and property.

The process of heating involves the use of a boiler to provide the heating input to the system, and the heat transfer fluid is controlled by a system of pumps, actuators, and thermostats to make sure that the various areas of the house are being maintained at the desired temperature.

The picture shown outlines what components are needed in the process of creating a Hydronic/Radiant Heating system.

Hydronic Heating Components (not including boiler)
There are a wide range of applications for hydronic heating, which includes (but is not limited to:
- Basement floors
- Above grade floors (main/second floors)
- Baseboard heaters (i.e. Stelrad hydronic heaters)
- Towel warmers (pretty slick!)
- Exterior snow melt systems (driveways, walk-outs, porches, etc.)
- Indirect storage tanks (heated by boiler heat instead of gas or electricity, very efficient)
- Forced air heating (a radiant heat exchanger built into air handler to provide heating for forced air systems)
Basically, if you install a boiler you can run the entirety of your heating applications through it. If the boiler is efficient/condensing and uses natural gas you have yourself a very efficient heating system!

For the sake of keeping this article short we will dive deeper into the in-floor heating portion of hydronic heating, which will encompass the basement/above-grade/snowmelt systems. These are some of the more popular (and luxury) hydronic solutions so they are worth discussing further!

If you would like to learn more about the other options mentioned feel free to contact us to discuss further!
Radiant or Hydronic heating is installed very similarly in each of these areas, with only minor differences:
- Basements require an R10 (minimum) insulation layer for underslab application. A Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation layer with PEX attachments is usually installed to create this layer so the heat travels up instead of sinking into the ground.
  
  Note that radiant in-floor heating is possible for overslab applications in homes where the basement slab is not being removed. There are low-profile panels that can be used to help maintain the height of the basement, but allow you to install the system properly and get some insulation value below the hydronic system.
- For the snowmelt system, this is installed with larger PEX piping and is a mixture of glycol and water to prevent freezing in the system. A snowmelt system requires a higher heating output from the boiler so the boiler will have to be designed properly by your HVAC designer in order to keep up with demand inside AND outside of the house. You will also want to install insulation for this system.
- For above grade floors, you do not require any insulation beneath (but is still recommended for maximum efficiency). You also usually need to complete what we call an overpour to allow the radiant pex piping to sit underneath a layer of concrete. This is done to prevent the PEX piping from being punctured or compressed so that a flooring layer can be installed properly. There is actually a way around doing the costly overpour with a new technology by a company called Warmboard (which is explained below).
In all three systems, you will require a layer of a medium with compressible strength (i.e. concrete) to protect the PEX. Each of these systems will also require a specific type of PEX with an oxygen barrier to prevent the accumulation of oxygen in the circulating loop (water = corrosion).
As eluded to above the best way to heat a hydronic or radiant system is through the use of a boiler system. There are three main options in this department depending on where the hydronic systems are installed:
- Combination (combi) boiler with multiple outputs (to use for hydronic and domestic hot water)
- Traditional boiler (usually used with indirect hot water tank)
The combination boiler route is usually a little less expensive, but will not be able to meet the demand when you are using hydronics for higher BTU output loops like snow melt or whole home hydronic heating. It is best to consult an HVAC design before setting budget numbers for this set-up.
There are a myriad of different products for different applications for in-floor and snow melt systems. To keep things simple I will outline the products by component to better outline the options:

Insulated PEX panels
- Hot Rocks Panels
- Isorad V2 Insulating Panels
- Ampex (by Amvic)
Above-grade panel solutions
- Warmboard-S
- Ecowarm Radiant Board
These solutions will reduce the need for costly concrete overpours.

Boiler Brands
- Worcester Bosch
- Veissmann
- Rheem
- Navien
No matter what brand and system (combi versus traditional) you end up with, make sure that it is a condensing, high-efficiency boiler system. Depending on the fuel input you might also want to consider a wall-mounted unit!
About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
March 3, 2021
BVM Contracting + Willful Estate Planning and Power of Attorney Partnership
Take the Stress Out of Dying! Get Your Will Through Willful

With Ryan Meagher Mortgages, BVM Contracting has partnered with Willful to help our past, present, and future clients create one of the most undervalued documents you will ever make – a Will!

In this article we explain:
Together with Willful, BVM Contracting and Ryan Meagher Mortgages is now able to offer 15% off on Willful wills. Use MEAGHERMORTGAGES to save 15% on your order through Willful.

Plans for creating a will through Willful start at $99, and you can edit and change the will as you progress through your adventure you call life!

Some great benefits of using Willful are:
- The process of creating your will is secure
- You only pay once you are ready to print and sign your documents
- All plans through Willful come with unlimited changes to you will at no additional cost!
- You can save your application at any time and come back to it when you are ready to sign all of the documents!
Creating a will has never been easier!
You need a will because you are smart and understand that everyone dies at some point. The best way to leave a legacy is to make sure it is written down for your loved ones to understand in black and white. A will spells out how you would like to divide your assets so you can both protect and provide for your family and/or friends after you pass on.

Your will also helps the people closest to you make decisions on your behalf when you are medically unable to do so, and helps make sure that the right people make the right decisions on your behalf when you pass away.

The process of dying is already stressful enough, so why burden your loved ones with an estate that has no clear direction or division?

To keep things simple, Willful uses powerful, secure technology with built-in logic to create legally binding and error-proof documents that are lawyer approved for each province. It is a very elegant solution for a notoriously clunky estate-planning industry!

This partnership is very exciting for both Ryan Meagher Mortgages and BVM Contracting because we exclusively work with home owners (or soon to be home owners). The last thing we want is for our clients to miss out on creating such a simple document that can save themselves and their loved ones a lot of time, stress, and heart ache.

This is why both BVM Contracting and Ryan Meagher Mortgages are offering our clients a free will from Willful when they build with us or use us to get a mortgage for their property!

With the help of Willful, BVM Contracting and Ryan Meagher Mortgages have created a helpful checklist for people looking to understand the estate planning process.

Estate Planning Checklist (PDF)

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
February 18, 2021
Must Have Plumbing Upgrades For Luxury Home Builds
Make Sure You Include These Plumbing Upgrades For Your New Home Construction Project in Toronto

BVM Contracting has built custom home additions, new homes, and luxury homes in Toronto over the last decade, and have found that some of our clients didn’t understand how much they needed certain plumbing upgrades until it was too late. This article aims to educate home owners looking to complete a custom home project about all of the different options they have for their plumbing in their custom home. See the below list of upgrades and ideas to help make the water flow beautifully in your amazing new home!
1. Installing a Plumbing Manifold
2. Hot Water recirculation system
3. Radiant In-floor heating
  
  4. Pot-Fillers
  
  5. Frost-free Hydrants/Hose Bibs
  
  6. Bidets
Plumbing manifolds allow for isolation of domestic cold/hot/recirculated hot water in different zones of the house in the event of service/emergencies etc. without interrupting the entire system. This allows you to be able to shower while your laundry is being serviced for example!

This feature gives you rapid hot water at all fixtures (within 5-8 seconds) at all times at any fixture in your home. The way this is completed is by use of a recirculating pump that constantly circulates the hot water from the furthest points back to the hot water source. It is a highly recommended and excellent feature to have in any large custom home build.

Usually installed in basements, radiant in-floor heating provides a warm surface for normally cold surfaces like basement floors and tiled areas by use of recirculating hot water. This system is different from the hot water recirculation system because it is a closed, temperature-controlled system.

Once you feel the heat from a radiant floor you will be sold! Come visit one of our project sites to find out how a radiant floor feels!

Pot-fillers are an absolute must in any home, and they can look amazing! We recommend pot-fillers to all of our clients for the ease of use and aesthetics alike.

Frost-free hydrants/hose bibs are exterior water line terminations that prevent your water lines from freezing. These hydrants/hose bibs come as a cold water connection or can also come with a hot/cold connection.

The epitome of luxury, the bidet is the final recommendation for any luxury home plumbing fixture list. The functionality, comfort, and ease of using bidets makes it a front runner for any bathroom!

Are you looking for other ways to heat up your plumbing system in your custom home addition or new home build in Toronto? Reach out to us for a consultation to learn about more options for your home!

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
February 3, 2021
Evaluating a “Fixer-Upper” Home in Toronto
Evaluating a Fixer-upper Home in Toronto
A Guide for First-Time Home Buyers and Real Estate Investors Alike to Evaluating a Property Before You Buy it

BVM Contracting is a general contractor that specializes in new home construction, custom home building, Home Additions, full interior renovations, and creating legal multi-unit properties in Toronto.

This article is meant to give anyone trying to buy a home that is in need of renovation the tools to evaluate the property (or properties) of interest. This method should be used anytime you are looking to avoid overspending and being put into a position where the cost of the home renovations were way higher than what you expected.

A large portion of this article will center around how BVM Contracting can help add value to Real Estate Agents and the buyers they work with to create a win-win for the transaction of buying a fixer-upper. We will go over the following topics in this blog:
Although this guide can be used by many different parties, we have seen a lot of traction from the following groups of people:
- Real Estate Agents (Buyer’s Agents specifically)
- First-time Home Buyers in Toronto
- Real Estate Investors in Toronto and the surrounding regions
- Buyers who would like to utilize the purchase plus improvement mortgage for financing their home
The fact of the matter is that if you want to live or invest in Toronto, you have to understand that the value of the homes is mostly based off land value now-in-days, so when you are paying $700 K, $800 K, $900 K, or even over a million dollars and the house is still in need of renovations this guide will help you in properly evaluating the investment.
Another realization that people need to make about the real estate market in Toronto is that it is competitive and the likelihood of a multiple offer scenario on less expensive homes (i.e. fixer-uppers) is very high. This means that as a Real Estate Agent or Buyer you have to waive certain “key” conditions if you want your offer to be competitive, one of which being a home inspection. Many times with the more run down houses in Toronto the seller will not have a home inspection at the risk that it comes back with a huge list of issues that detract people from putting in their best offers.

Just because you usually can’t get access home inspection doesn’t mean that you cannot inspect the house yourself and ask the right questions! Here are the list of some key considerations when completing your site visit:
- Determine when the house was built, your real estate agent should have access to that info.
- Determine if any HVAC equipment is rented or outright owned. This is usually included in the description of the listing but should be checked in the mechanical room if it is not obvious.
- What type of electrical is currently in place? Take a picture of the electrical panel and reference after your site visit to determine. If it is knob and tube it will need to be upgraded with any renovations
- What is the size of the water meter? To avoid water pressure issues you can usually find the water meter at the front foundation wall of the home in the basement (usually concealed in the wall)
- How old is the furnace/AC units? Try to find a model number on the units themselves and reference after the site visit. If the units are getting closer to 10 years old you will want to budget in the cost of new equipment.
- Take advantage of asking the seller questions if possible. If there is no indication of when the roof was replaced see if you can get your agent to ask about it. Same with any other questions about the property.
- See if the current seller has a survey of the property
- Determine if the walls/ceilings have insulation if possible (sometimes this isn’t possible and should be accounted as a cost until proven otherwise)
- If there is exposed foundation, determine if it is block or poured concrete and the thickness of the wall (try to get the measurement through a window opening)
- Run the taps to see how the water pressure is
- Check the furance/air handler to see if there is a duct cleaning sticker and see how long it has been since the last one
- Check to see if there is a back flow preventer and/or sump pump installed in the basement
- Determine if the basement is waterproofed, if there is a sump pump you can assume that it is but you can also check the exterior walls for a black plastic covering against the walls to confirm. The black covering is usually dimpled.
- Are there smoke/fire detectors installed? Are they hardwired?
- Check for exterior hose bib shut offs in the basement if the hose bibs are not frost-free hose bibs.
- See if you can determine the age of the windows in the house. Depending on the age they may need to be upgraded.
These are just some examples of questions, and the list can go on for a very long time. It also takes a lot of experience to look for all of these items so depending on your home/renovation acumen you may want to get outside help and complete a renovation consultation
With the amount of experience we have gathered over the years walking through fixer-upper homes, we have created a great procedure and value-added service for real estate agents and property buyers that allows you to gather a representative idea of the cost of renovations before making one of the largest investments of your life.

With our renovation consultation service, you can book us in to walk-through the site during your scheduled site visit, which allows you to not waste time in your decision-making on a home. We are able to turn-around estimates within 24 hours and will be able to work with you and your ideas to effectively build your wish-list for any property and give you a budget for the renovation work that is accurate and based on real numbers.

Please note that this consultation service is not meant to replace a home inspection, we take the perspective of a general contractor/project manager who would be bidding on the project and put pricing together that way so you know the actual renovation costs.

With the gap in the marketplace with this service, and with the speed/flexibility we have in doing these visits we are able to charge for this service. Although, since we are also able to offer home financing services through Ryan Meagher Mortgages, if you or your client works with us on the financing side we will be able to complete up to two visits at no charge to add value to the process of buying a home. The regular cost of this consultation service varies depending on the size of the home, but the range is between $250-$400 + HST.

We believe that the cost of doing these consultations is well worth it for buyers because it allows them to feel confident in making purchases on homes. Would you rather force your client to spend the maximum amount of money on a worn out home and be house poor, or would you like to give them to opportunity to do their due diligence and feel good about every submitting every offer? If you have built your real estate business based on value and referrals your answer is the latter every time!

Further than doing this consultation service for fixer-uppers and worn down homes, sometimes there are houses that are in decent shape but the client still wants to complete some renovations. This is where a purchase plus improvements mortgage comes in. You can add up to $45 000 to your mortgage to help with the cost of renovations to your home. BVM Contracting’s renovation consultation service can help people with getting the necessary estimate required by the lender to complete this work, which allows you to qualify for the purchase plus improvements mortgage. We still charge for this service (whether it is the real estate agent or buyer paying) but with the speed we are able to estimate you will find no better option in estimating cost for your home purchase!

To get access to our thorough guide to completing a property evaluation of a fixer-upper please enter your information below and we will send you our site-walk through checklist so you can better evaluate your properties of interest. Further, if you are interested in our renovation consultation service please enter your property address and additional info (i.e. MLS listings, etc.) for the property below and we will contact you about pricing for your property.

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
December 18, 2020
Use 50 % Less Water with Nebia Shower Fixtures
Use Less Water and Modernize Your Shower Experience with Nebia by Moen

When we see technology that we our customers will value and consider in their home building journey we HAVE to do a write up about it. In this article we discuss a very interesting piece of technology that Moen has created called Nebia. Nebia is an ultra-modern shower fixture that uses less water, is very customizable to suit your taste, and we think should be in your master bedroom ensuite as your next spa shower fixture!

Read below to learn more about the Nebia shower system!
Features of the Nebia Shower System
- The technology surrounding Nebia is the fixture’s unique spray technology which allows it to turn the supply water into millions of small water droplets. These smaller droplets being sprayed allow for more coverage than standard fixtures. This fixture uses about 65% less water compared to a 2.5 Gallon per Minute fixture
- Adjustable vertical sliding system for differing height and body coverage. The main shower head also tilts and swivels for optimum orientation!
- Included hand showering system (as seen above), connected with a kink-free hose
- Four different styles/colours to choose from, Black and Chrome, Brished Nickel, Chrome, and Matte Black!
- This system is very easy to install
Things to Consider Before Buying

While doing some research about this shower fixture I pulled some interesting thoughts that you will want to consider before investing in this system:
- Note that when you atomize water droplets the tendancy for these droplets will be to cool the surfaces that it touches, including you! That doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to feel warm in a Nebia shower, but if you are expecting a steaming hot shower this might not be the best option for you. After all it is marketed as a
- The main head of the shower does not turn off when you use the hand showering system. If you are planning on washing your dog in this shower while being fully clothed then think again!
- These systems work the best with a full shower enclosure so that the atomized water droplets stay in the shower as much as possible and keep the warmth in. Again, it won’t feel as warm as a normal shower but the full enclosure should help give you that nice warmth that people like when showering!
- Since the water is being atomized the water hitting your skin will not feel the same as it would with a normal shower. Make sure you want more of the spa experience versus the standard shower experience before committing to this system
Where Can I Buy the Nebia Shower Fixture?

This fixture is widely accessible in the Canadian Marketplace. See the below list of notable companies that carry/sell this product:
- Home Depot
- Wayfair
About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations and custom home builds (full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, new home construction, and laneway suites). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of building their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
November 13, 2020
Welcome to BVM Contracting

Learn More About BVM Contracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service home builder located in Toronto. We are a family company with humble roots, and we aim to provide the Greater Toronto Area with honest and transparent advice about the process of building your home. Whether you are looking to do a completely new home, or if you want to use your existing home to serve as the foundation for a home addition or home extension, we are the ones to call!

Learn more about BVM Contracting below and how we have become one of the premier home builders to Toronto.

Welcome to BVM Contracting!

Meet the Meaghers!

BVM Contracting is a family-run General Contracting and Home Building Company located in Eastern Toronto. We service Scarborough, East York, The Beaches, Old Toronto, and Eastern areas of North York.

From left to right you have Ryan Meagher (the eldest Son), B. Vince Meagher (Owner, Father of two), Tyler Meagher (the younger Son), and Gizmo Meagher (the family dog, Toy Manchester Terrier). Not pictured is Colleen Meagher (Vince’s Wife, Mother of two) who just so happened to be taking the photo!

From Humble Beginnings

BVM Contracting was started in 1997, after B. Vince Meagher (BVM) got his start in the renovation industry in East York by completing tedious termite remediation work for Aetna Pest Control. This experience in renovating homes that had been destroyed by termites was where he honed his craft of Project Management, Home Renovations, and ultimately building homes in Toronto.

With More Experience Came Larger Projects

By the turn of the century, B. Vince Meagher gained a rapport among past clients for his strong project management and renovation experience. Completing smaller renovation jobs such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basement renovations, Vince quickly created a strong referral business that sustained him for the first 10 years of the company’s existence. Not to forget, and very important for BVM Contracting being alive today, Colleen Meagher was brought on after a successful career in Printing Sales in 2000 to help with accounting, administration, and marketing/sales.

By 2008 Vince was presented with an opportunity to work on his first second storey home addition project located in Scarborough. With his tool-belt of skilled employees and strong relationships with sub-contractors/specialty trades he was able to complete the home addition on time and on budget for the project. This project jump-started our journey into substantial renovation projects, which is the foundation of our business today. Jumping to 2020, BVM Contracting has carved out a niche for being one of the best General Contractors in Toronto, and carries a massive amount home building expertise through over 60 successfully completed home addition and residential infill construction projects.

The Next Generation of BVM

In 2015, BVM Contracting brought on Ryan and Tyler Meagher, the two children of Vince and Colleen Meagher. Ryan is now working as a Business Development Manager and Tyler is a Lead Hand and Project Manager for our renovation, home addition, and new home construction projects. BVM Contracting also has a young and energetic crew of employees that help to deliver on every project and make them go as smoothly as possible.

With the second generation of the company starting to take on more responsibility within the company, BVM Contracting is excited for the next 25 years of quality home building and the best-in-class value-added home building services that will help us remain one of the best residential builders in Toronto!

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations and custom home builds (full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, new home construction, and laneway suites). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of building their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

October 26, 2020
Scarborough New Home Build – Finished Home Tour

BVM Contracting’s Custom New Home Build in the Beautiful Cliffcrest neighbourhood of Scarborough

As a local home builder in Scarborough, BVM Contracting was very excited to work so close to home and build such a beautiful home for one of our real estate investors in Toronto.

Check out our Matterport 3D tour to look at the space without leaving your home!

Scarborough Residential Construction Project – 151 Phyllis Avenue

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations and custom home builds (full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, new home construction, and laneway suites). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of building their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

October 20, 2020