Reno prep talk

How to beat product shortages, unstable pricing and supply chain problems in your 2022 home remodelling

- JEN JONES

If you're thinking about renovating your home, you may be wondering how you're going to navigate the long lead times and constant price increases you keep reading about. Ultimately, it all comes down to planning which is the 101 of any home renovation, global pandemic or not. Some of the choices you make in relation to materials and design can have a flow-on effect to construction, never mind the supply chain problems we're already navigating. Here are 10 important decisions to think about if you're planning to renovate this year.

1. Flooring

Floor finishes can have an impact on your project in several ways. Depending on how specialised they are and where they're coming from, the lead time for your finishes can be longer than your construction period. Ordering early helps to ensure they arrive on time.

All floor finishes come in different thicknesses, so if they're sitting adjacent to one another, such as from a carpeted bedroom to a tiled ensuite, you'll need to make allowances for floor levelling, or accept the step.

Allowances could mean levelling compound to bring it up, or it could mean cutting down the sub-floor. Both of these strategies cost money, and the former requires pre-planning for construction.

Have you ever tried to open a door and have it drag on the carpet? By knowing your floor finishes upfront, your door frames can be installed at the right height to avoid this, otherwise you'll need to skim the door later.

2. Lighting layouts