Planning Resources
Thinking about a renovation? Start here.
Practical tools for homeowners in the planning stage. Use them on their own, or bring your answers to your first conversation with FLEX and we will be several steps ahead.
Resource 01
Pre-renovation planning checklist
Work through these before you talk to anyone about pricing. Every answer makes your budget more accurate and your project smoother.
Goals and priorities
- What is not working in the space today?
- What would make the biggest difference day to day?
- Rank: function, appearance, storage, resale value
- Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves, written down
- How long do you plan to stay in the home?
- Who uses the space, and how will that change?
Scope
- Which rooms are included?
- Does the layout change, or stay the same?
- Any walls coming out or windows added?
- Plumbing fixtures staying in place or moving?
- Electrical: new circuits, lighting, panel capacity?
- Adjacent areas affected (flooring, paint, trim)?
Budget
- A comfortable total, and an absolute ceiling
- How the project will be funded
- A contingency of 10 to 15 percent set aside
- Finish level: standard, mid-range or premium
- Items you already own or have purchased
- Ask FLEX for a Rough Order of Magnitude
Timing and logistics
- Ideal start date and any hard deadlines
- Events, travel or holidays to plan around
- Will you live in the home during construction?
- Where will a temporary kitchen or bathroom go?
- Pets, kids and work-from-home considerations
- Parking, access and material storage on site
Paperwork
- Original house plans, if you have them
- Photos of the existing space
- Inspiration images with notes on why you like them
- Condo or HOA rules, if applicable
- Any previous permits or renovations on record
- Home insurance provider details
Resource 02
Room-by-room planning guide
The questions and decisions that matter most for each type of project.
Kitchen
Decide early: whether the layout changes. Moving the sink, range or fridge means plumbing, gas and electrical work that drives cost more than any finish decision.
- Layout and workflow. Where do you prep, cook, clean and store? Is an island realistic (aim for 42 inches of clearance around it)?
- Cabinetry. Stock, semi-custom or custom. Door style, finish, drawer vs. door bases, pantry, trash pull-out, corner solutions.
- Countertops. Quartz, granite, laminate or butcher block. Edge profile, thickness, overhang for seating.
- Appliances. Sizes and locations must be confirmed before cabinets are ordered. Check gas vs. electric and venting for the range hood.
- Lighting. General (pot lights), task (under-cabinet) and accent (pendants). Switch locations.
- Backsplash and flooring. Tile format and layout. Flooring transitions to adjacent rooms.
- Plumbing and electrical. Sink and faucet style, dishwasher location, dedicated circuits, USB outlets, island power.
Bathroom
Decide early: tub, shower or both, and whether any fixture moves. Also decide whether this is a full gut or a fixture-and-finish update.
- Fixtures. Tub vs. shower (see the comparison below), toilet style, single or double vanity, freestanding vs. built-in tub.
- Shower details. Curb or curbless, glass type (framed, semi-frameless, frameless), niche or shelf, bench, rain head, hand shower, valve type.
- Tile. Wall and floor tile, format and pattern, grout colour, waterproofing system, heated floor.
- Vanity and storage. Vanity width and height, drawers vs. doors, medicine cabinet, linen storage, towel bars and hooks.
- Ventilation and lighting. Properly sized exhaust fan (on a timer), vanity lighting, shower light, night light circuit.
- Accessibility. Grab bar blocking (cheap now, expensive later), curbless entry, comfort-height toilet, wider door.
Basement
Decide early: the list of rooms and whether the basement needs a bathroom, kitchenette or bedroom. Each one adds mechanical and code requirements.
- Existing conditions. Moisture, foundation cracks, ceiling height, location of the furnace, water heater, sump, main drain and ductwork.
- Permits and code. Development and building permits, egress windows for bedrooms, smoke and CO detectors, insulation values, secondary suite rules if applicable.
- Layout. Rec room, bedrooms, bathroom, office, gym, storage, laundry, mechanical room access.
- Mechanical. Bathroom rough-in location (or a lift pump), HVAC supply and return, electrical panel capacity, sound insulation.
- Finishes. Flooring suited to below grade (vinyl plank, carpet), ceiling type (drywall vs. drop), pot lighting, built-ins.
- Additions. Wet bar or kitchenette, media wiring, fireplace, under-stair storage.
Garage
Decide early: what the garage is for. A workshop, a gym and a place to park two cars and the camping gear each need different heat, power and storage.
- Insulation and heat. Wall and ceiling insulation with vapour barrier, then an overhead unit heater or in-floor heat. Confirm gas line and electrical capacity.
- Electrical. Dedicated circuits for tools, a compressor or welder, an EV charger, and enough lighting to actually work by.
- Walls and floor. Drywall and paint, or slatwall on the working walls. Epoxy or polyaspartic floor coatings resist salt and road grime.
- Organization. Cabinets, workbench, overhead racks, bike and tire storage. Plan the layout around the vehicles first.
- Code notes. Fire separation between garage and house must stay intact; heaters need proper clearances and venting.
Whole-home and multi-room
Decide early: whether the work will be phased and whether you will live in the home during construction. This shapes the schedule more than anything else.
- Sequence. Structural, mechanical and rough-ins first, then drywall, then finishes. Flooring and paint are usually last.
- Consistency. Flooring, trim profiles, door styles, hardware and paint colours carried through every room.
- Living arrangements. Which rooms stay usable in each phase. Temporary kitchen setup. Dust containment.
- Budget allocation. Kitchen and bathrooms typically take the largest share; decide priorities before pricing.
- Management. One schedule and one point of contact matters most on multi-room projects. This is where FLEX earns its keep.
Resource 03
Rough renovation cost estimator
Pick a project, a size and a finish level, tick any additions, and get a ballpark range. Each finish level is described under the menu. It is a starting point for conversation, not a quote. A free preliminary budget from FLEX replaces it with numbers for your actual home.
Ranges are ballpark figures for planning only, based on typical Cochrane-area projects and a mid-band contingency. Existing conditions, structural changes and selections can move the number in either direction. Request a free preliminary budget for your actual project.
Get a Free Preliminary BudgetResource 04
Renovation budget planner
Enter a total budget and see how it typically breaks down by category, with a contingency reserved for surprises. Use it to sanity-check priorities, not as a quote.
Allocations are typical proportions for a mid-range project and will shift with your selections. This is also how FLEX itemizes real project pricing: every scope on its own line, so you can see where every dollar goes. A preliminary budget from FLEX replaces these estimates with numbers for your actual project.
Resource 05
What to expect during your renovation
A managed renovation is still a construction site in your home. Here is what a typical FLEX project looks like from your side.
Before work starts
Scope, selections and pricing are finalized. You receive a schedule, a site-prep list (clearing rooms, protecting belongings, pet arrangements) and contact details for your FLEX point of contact. Permits are in place where required.
Demolition and protection
Floors, stairs and adjacent rooms are protected and dust containment goes up. Demolition is the loudest, dustiest phase and usually the shortest. Existing conditions get confirmed once things are open.
Rough-ins and inspections
Framing, plumbing, electrical and HVAC happen behind the scenes. Progress can look slow from the outside because most of it is hidden. Inspections happen before anything is closed in.
Drywall, tile and finishes
The space transforms quickly now: drywall, paint, tile, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, fixtures and trim, in sequence. Countertop templating happens after cabinets are set, so there is a short pause before counters arrive.
Communication throughout
Every Friday you receive a weekly lookahead: next week's work broken down by day, which trades are coming, and any decisions or deliveries on the horizon. Decisions come to you with enough lead time to make them properly. Any change to scope is priced and approved before it happens.
Completion
A deficiency walk-through with FLEX, final touch-ups, cleaning, documentation and warranty information. Then you get your home back.
Things that are normal: noise and dust during demolition, a few days where nothing visible seems to happen (rough-ins and inspections), short gaps waiting on templated countertops or glass, and small on-site decisions. Things that are not normal on a FLEX project: trades showing up unannounced, surprise invoices, or not knowing who to call.
Resource 06
Feature comparisons
Straight answers on the decisions homeowners ask about most.
Tub vs. shower
| Bathtub (or tub-shower combo) | Walk-in shower | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Families with young kids, soaking, homes with only one bathroom | Daily use, accessibility, small bathrooms, modern look |
| Space | Standard alcove tub is 60 x 30 inches | Works in as little as 36 x 36 inches; more is better |
| Cost drivers | Tub type (alcove, drop-in, freestanding), surround tile | Tile area, glass type, curbless pan, niche, bench, multiple heads |
| Accessibility | Higher step-over; harder as you age | Curbless entry and grab bars make it the most accessible option |
| Resale | Keep at least one tub in the home if possible | Preferred in ensuites; fine in secondary baths if a tub exists elsewhere |
| Our take | Ensuite: shower. Main bathroom: tub-shower combo if it is the only tub in the house. Both if space allows and the budget supports it. | |
Quartz vs. granite vs. laminate countertops
| Quartz | Granite | Laminate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Consistent, wide range of colours and marble looks | Natural, every slab unique | Improving; printed patterns, visible seams |
| Durability | Non-porous, stain resistant, avoid high heat | Very hard, heat resistant, needs periodic sealing | Scratches and chips; cannot be repaired |
| Maintenance | Minimal | Seal every 1 to 3 years | Minimal |
| Relative cost | Mid to high | Mid to high | Low |
| Our take | Quartz is the default for most kitchens and bathrooms today. Granite for a natural look. Laminate for budget-driven secondary spaces and rentals. | ||
Vinyl plank vs. hardwood vs. tile flooring
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) | Hardwood / engineered | Tile | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Basements, kitchens, busy households, pets | Main living areas, resale value | Bathrooms, entries, heated floors |
| Water | Waterproof | Avoid in wet areas | Waterproof with proper install |
| Feel | Warmer and softer underfoot than tile | Warm, natural | Hard and cold unless heated |
| Relative cost (installed) | Low to mid | Mid to high | Mid to high (labour heavy) |
| Our take | LVP below grade almost every time. Hardwood or engineered on the main floor when the budget allows. Tile where there is water. | ||
Wood vs. laminate cabinets
| Solid wood / wood veneer | Laminate (melamine, thermofoil, HPL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Real grain, painted or stained; the traditional premium choice | Modern laminates convincingly mimic wood, stone and matte solids, with a nearly limitless range of colours and textures |
| Durability | Can be sanded, refinished and repainted; paint can chip at edges; wood moves with humidity | Very resistant to scratches, moisture and fading; damage cannot be refinished, the door gets replaced |
| Maintenance | Occasional touch-ups; keep away from standing water | Wipe clean; no touch-ups |
| Relative cost | Higher, especially custom and painted | Lower to mid |
| Best for | Feature kitchens, traditional and shaker styles, homes where resale value matters most | Contemporary flat-panel kitchens, basements, secondary suites, laundry and garage cabinetry, busy households |
| Our take | Wood is the premium option and it shows, but laminates have come a long way. For a modern kitchen on a defined budget, a quality laminate often delivers more durability and more design options for less money. Many of our projects mix the two. | |
Framed vs. frameless shower glass
| Framed / semi-frameless | Frameless | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Visible metal frame; black frames are a current favourite | Minimal, lets the tile show |
| Glass | Thinner glass supported by the frame | Thicker glass (3/8 inch), heavier hardware |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Our take | Frameless in a feature ensuite. Black-framed sliders look great and cost less in family and basement bathrooms. | |
Ready to plan your renovation?
Tell us about your project. We will follow up to talk through your goals, timeline and budget, and recommend the right next step, whether that is a preliminary budget or a full consultation.