Renovation

Below are a few typical questions asked about renovation. If your question isn't answered here please write to us at chic@cmhc-schl.gc.ca and we'll respond promptly.

1. How do I ensure the construction or renovation work being done on my home is according to code?
2. How can I find out what building materials are CMHC-approved?
3. I'm looking for information about the R-2000 program. Where can I find an R-2000 builder?
4. I want to know more about alternate building methods. Do you have any information about building with structural insulated panels, straw, rammed earth or insulated concrete forms?
5. How can I find a list of contractors in my area. Does CMHC keep a list of reliable ones?
6. Does CMHC supply house plans?
7. What are the average square foot costs of building a home?
8. I want to find out more about a specific building product e.g. Tyvek house wrap, BlueMaxx, windows or carpets approved by CMHC etc. Where can I find the evaluation report as well as other guidelines associated with the product and how do I contact the manufacturer of the product?
9. My house is drafty and cold in the winter, and my heating bills are really high. I was thinking about improving the insulation, but I don't know how. Is there anything from CMHC that can help me?
10. I'm just about to have my kitchen renovated, but I'm not sure where to find a good contractor to do the work. How do I choose a contractor, and make sure they do what I want after I hire them?
11. Our family is getting bigger, so I'm thinking about finishing the basement so that there's more living space in the house. How do I finish a basement?
12. There seems to be a lot of noise in my house from the downstairs rooms. How can I soundproof my house so that it's not so noisy?
13. I need to replace the roof on my house. What's the right way to put shingles on?
14. My basement is always damp, and there are even pools of water standing on the floor sometimes. What information do you have that could help me fix the problem?
15. I have an older home, and would like to put in new windows, because the old ones are so drafty. I was hoping you could tell me which are the best windows to buy. Can you help me?

1. How do I ensure the construction or renovation work being done on my home is according to code?

Please speak to the building department of your municipality for any code-related questions. Each province is regulated by a provincial building code, based either in full or in part, on the model National Building Code, developed by the Canadian Codes Centre of the Institute for Research in Construction (part of the National Research Council). It is then the responsibility of the municipalities to ensure all new construction and major renovations such as additions and changes to structure adhere to the provincial code that applies. For an explanation of what code applies to each of the provinces and territories, please see this article from the Institute for Research in Construction.

A good starting point for basic building information is CMHC's Canadian Woodframe House Construction. Based on the National Building Code, it gives you the basics of building a home. See our Order Desk for how to order.

For more information about construction methods and materials, please visit our Other Links page.

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2. How can I find out what building materials are CMHC-approved?

CMHC does not approve building materials. There are 3 main organizations in Canada that set the standards for building materials: Canadian Standards Association, Canadian General Standards Board, and the Underwriters Laboratory of Canada. Products are considered approved if they meet the standards set out for them. New products for which no standards yet exist are evaluated by the Canadian Construction Materials Centre of the National Research Council. The evaluations are produced by the Canadian Construction Materials Centre are supported and recognized by provincial and territorial officials involved in building regulation.For more information about construction and building materials, please visit our Other Links page.

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3. I'm looking for information about the R2000 program. Where can I find an R-2000 builder?

The R2000 program is administered by Natural Resources Canada in cooperation with Canada's homebuilding industry. Consumers should contact the Canadian Home Builders Association or their local home builders association for more information.

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4. I want to know more about alternate building methods. Do you have any information about building with structural insulated panels, straw, rammed earth or insulated concrete forms?

CMHC has released a report giving an overview of several different types of construction methods. The pros and cons of each are examined. A summary of the report can be found here, while the full report can be found here.

Other sources of information on alternate building methods can be found on our Other Links page.

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5. How can I find a list of contractors in my area. Does CMHC keep a list of reliable ones?

CMHC does not maintain lists of contractors. The best source for finding a good contractor is often referrals from family, friends and neighbours who have done similar renovations. You can also get names from local homebuilder and renovator associations, and you can check with building supply stores, municipal building departments, Yellow Pages and the Internet. For more information, see our fact sheet: Hiring a Contractor

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6. Does CMHC supply house plans?

CMHC no longer supplies house plans. There are many books and magazines available that that carry house plans. You can consult your local library or bookstore to see what is available.

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7. What are the average square foot costs of building a home?

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation does not publish building cost / square foot data. The average cost of building a home can vary greatly depending on the style of house, materials used, level of finish and other factors. However, there are publications available on the topic which could be helpful to you. Information on costs (in square feet) for residential construction can be found in reference manuals such as the following:

1. "Means square foot costs: residential, commercial, industrial, institutional", Kingston, Mass.: R.S. Means Co.
2. "Means residential cost data", Kingston, Mass.: R.S. Means Co.
3. "Residential cost handbook", Los Angeles: Marshall & Swift

These are manuals you may be able to consult through your local public library. Although most of the above publications are published in the United States, they contain location conversion factors which allow you to convert the square foot cost in the manuals to local square foot costs, in the correct currency.

Your local home builders association may also be able to guide you in the matter of square foot costs for your region. You can find a link to local home builders associations across Canada on the web page of the Canadian Home Builders Association.

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8. I want to find out more about a specific building product e.g. Tyvek house wrap, BlueMaxx, windows or carpets approved by CMHC etc. Where can I find the evaluation report as well as other guidelines associated with the product and how do I contact the manufacturer of the product?

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation used to do product testing and approvals up until 1988. Materials evaluated by CMHC carried CMHC numbers. This function and the evaluation staff were transferred to the National Research Council at that time, to their Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC).

The Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) maintains a Registry of Product Evaluations. You can do searches on this database by product type, product name, manufacturer's name and CCMC number. You can then download an evaluation report on the product you are looking for that includes the manufacturer's address, a description of the product, when it was evaluated, to which standards it conforms and what the appropriate usage of the product is.

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9. My house is drafty and cold in the winter, and my heating bills are really high. I was thinking about improving the insulation, but I don't know how. Is there anything from CMHC that can help me?

CMHC has published a fact sheet on insulation that should be very helpful to you. The fact sheet "Insulating your house" gives you information on when you should insulate, the different types of insulation and their R-values, and the best ways to insulate your home. Print versions can be downloaded from the web site or ordered by calling CMHC at 1-800-668-2642.

"Keeping the Heat In" is another good resource available from Natural Resources Canada on insulating, that shows you the best way to insulate each room in your house, and gives information on caulking, weather-stripping and air and vapour barriers. Print versions can be ordered by calling 1-800-387-2000.

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10. I'm just about to have my kitchen renovated, but I'm not sure where to find a good contractor to do the work. How do I choose a contractor, and make sure they do what I want after I hire them?

CMHC has several free publications you should read before you start your renovation. "Before You Renovate" has a wealth of information to help you plan your renovation, including suggestions on where to get recommendations for a contractor, advice on working with the contractor so you get what you want, and suggestions for what to do if you run into problems.

Our "About Your House" fact sheets include one called "Hiring a Contractor" which includes a section of sample contracts. We also have a series called The Renovation Series which includes fact sheets about specific types of renovations, including kitchen renovations.

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11. Our family is getting bigger, so I'm thinking about finishing the basement so that there's more living space in the house. How do I finish a basement?

CMHC has published a guide to renovations that would be very useful to you when finishing a basement. The "Healthy Housing Renovation Planner" provides information on how to plan a renovation that will be healthy and energy-efficient, along with technical recommendations on how to renovate each part of the home. The chapter on renovating basements is very thorough, and includes information on how to make your basement comfortable and livable. You'll find advice on how to fix moisture problems, and on how to insulate, heat and light the space, as well as information on framing walls, and installing flooring and ceiling components. This priced publication can be ordered from our Order Desk, or by calling 1-800-668-2642.

As well, our free "About Your House" series, in the section called The Renovation Series offers several fact sheets that deal with renovating or finishing a basement.

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12. There seems to be a lot of noise in my house from the downstairs rooms. How can I soundproof my house so that it's not so noisy?

CMHC has sponsored a lot of research into acoustics, and the problems of noise control in residences. The reports we offer on acoustics tend to be strictly research-oriented, giving information on the causes of noise problems, exploring the methods of sound transmission, and evaluating some means of controlling noise. Builders, architects and other housing industry professionals may find these of interest; they are available through our Canadian Housing Information Centre.

However, these reports don't give specific technical instructions on how to fix noise control problems yourself. Consumer-type information can be found at the following sites:
http://www.todayshomeowner.com/managing/19991109_feature4.html (English only)
http://www.askbuild.com/cgi-bin/bulletin?071:00066 (English only)

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13. I need to replace the roof on my house. What's the right way to put shingles on?

You'll find valuable information in the CMHC manual on home building, "Canadian Wood-frame House Construction". The chapter on roof sheathing and coverings gives detailed information on how shingles should be placed to avoid roof leaks and damage, and to protect the rest of the house. You can order this priced publication through the CMHC Order Desk, or you can call 1-800-668-2642 to place an order.

Before you start, you might also want to read the free publication Repairing or Replacing Roof Finishes, a fact sheet in "The Renovation Project" series. It offers information to help you assess the overall condition of your roof and address related problems such as ice damming and moisture in the attic.

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14. My basement is always damp, and there are even pools of water standing on the floor sometimes. What information do you have that could help me fix the problem?

CMHC has published an excellent guide on moisture problems in basements. The guide "Investigating, diagnosing and treating your damp basement" takes you through all the steps you need to solve problems with water in your basement. The first part of the book helps you to figure out exactly what kind of moisture problem you have in your basement. The next part gives you all of the possible causes for each kind of problem, and helps you to diagnose which is the most likely cause. The last part of the book provides several solutions for each cause, ranging from inexpensive fixes to more complete repairs. You can order this publication through the CMHC Order Desk, or you can call CMHC to order it at 1-800-668-2642

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15. I have an older home, and would like to put in new windows, because the old ones are so drafty. I was hoping you could tell me which are the best windows to buy. Can you help me?

Although we don't have brand-specific information on windows, we do have some good information on how to choose the best new windows for your home. CMHC has published a Window and Door Renovations fact sheet that tells you about the different types of windows available on the market, the features you should look for in a window, and the standards that windows in Canada should meet.

Natural Resources Canada has published a more detailed guide to choosing windows that you might be interested in. The "Consumer's guide to buying energy-efficient windows and doors" tells you what is available to choose from. Print copies can be ordered by calling 1-800-387-2000.

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