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Double Your Office Space with a Second-Floor Expansion

As a business finds success, it will inevitably begin to grow. For those businesses stationed in an office, sometimes growth can become crowded. If your office space is no longer giving you and your employees enough room to breathe, it’s time to double your office space with an expansion.

Adding a Floor

While expanding outward is an option for many people, for others, it’s not the best choice. That’s because expanding outward adds to the total footprint of the building. That can have all kinds of effects on taxes, insurance, and otherwise. Plus, it involves adding more foundation, which is really expensive.

Instead, we’re talking about doubling your space by adding a second floor. Adding an additional floor that’s as large as the first will give you tons of additional room. This will allow you to give your employees more space and to hire more of them in the case that space has been holding you back.

Quality of Life Changes

When adding a second floor, you also increase the quality of life of everyone working in your office. If you’re not planning to double you staff with the additional space, each employee will have more room to themselves. This is great for both morale, comfort, and work productivity.

Plus, with a second floor comes another set of bathrooms, the potential for an employee lounge, and likely an increase in business profits.

Business Growth and Higher Profits

Because more space will allow you to expand how many employees you hire as well as improve work productivity, your business will flourish. If it was already outgrowing the existing building, it will only continue on the path to success.

With higher profit, comes the potential for higher pay. Higher pay means a more prestigious job which leads to more employees, higher quality of work, and so on. As you can see, expanding your office space is not just an investment in space, but in your business as a whole.

Improve What’s There

If your existing office space is out of date, we can also improve it with a remodel. Having both floors in matching quality will make the office feel more cohesive. Plus, a remodel of the main floor will improve quality of life for those who remain working there, even as some of their coworkers move upward.

Plan Ahead

If your business is seeing a lot of success and you foresee its growth continuing at the same rate in the following years, you can even prepare ahead by adding two floors instead of one. This isn’t the right choice for every office space, but it may be right for yours. After all, if it seems like you’re going to run out of space again in the next 5 to 10 years, it might be more cost effective to do one big 2-floor expansion, rather than two separate single-floor expansions. Every time the building is expanded upwards, the roof will have to be rebuilt. This can be pretty pricey. Therefore, the less it has to be done, the better.

A lot of how you can determine what’s right for you may be in how big the existing space is. For example, to double your office space of 5000SqFt may be plenty. However, an office of 1000SqFt being doubled might not add enough space to last the decade.

Our team at Heidan Construction would love to discuss these variables with you in person. Give us a call with your questions or if you’re ready to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

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The Possibility and Potential in an Extensive Home Remodel

It’s actually fairly interesting how uncommon it is for people to do extensive home remodeling. For many people, the idea of spending a lot of money making changes to their home is unappealing. However, these same people may decide to move to a bigger and more expensive home. For a lot of people, it’s actually a cheaper and more functional choice to remodel. Let’s take a look at how an extensive home remodel may actually be the best choice for you.

Avoid Moving

Did you know that moving homes is one of the top ten most stressful events a human can go through? There’s something about moving – the packing, planning, switching services, cost, and so much more – that can bring people to their breaking point. The funny thing is, a lot of people move for reasons that can be completely matched with an extensive home remodel.

If you like the neighborhood you’re in and your complaints are mainly with the house, a remodel is likely a much better option for you. If for no other reason, it keeps you from having to move.

Improve Quality of Life

One of the top reasons why people move houses is because their current house isn’t offering them what they need. It might not have enough bedrooms, the layout may be a pain, or it’s simply outdated. No matter why you dislike your house, an extensive home remodel can fix it.

Rooms can be added. A second floor can be added. Walls can be moved to make a room bigger or smaller. You can also update flooring and make adjustments to the floor plan. Remodeling can cover a lot more changes than many people realize. Remodels aren’t just for changing out kitchen cabinets and putting in new carpet. You can do almost anything.

Add Space

That includes being able to add space. The main floor of your home can be expanded outward or even upward. Therefore, if you want the kitchen, living room, and bathroom on your main floor to be bigger, add a second floor for the bedrooms and use the space from the old ones to expand on the rooms you want bigger. Whether you’re feeling cramped or want to add to the family, there’s a solution in remodeling.

Add to Value

One of the biggest reasons why people are afraid of remodels is the price tag. The fact of the matter is, if you were planning to move somewhere bigger or better, you would have had to spend more than the value of your current house anyway. It may seem less important because the price difference will be on a mortgage. However, you can take out a loan for remodels as well.

When it comes down to it, there’s actually a huge chance that the money you put into remodeling will add more value to your home than what you spent on the remodel. This is why house flipping is such a high-profit business. If you know what you’re doing, like we do at Heidan Construction, a 50 grand remodel can add 100 grand in value to the property.

When you’re ready to improve your home and make it the place you’ve always wanted it to be, give us a call. We can answer any questions and set up a consultation with you to discuss your needs in an extensive home remodel.

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Accessible Home Design in Toronto

Getting a new home designed is a huge deal. It can be hard to find the right crew for the job. This is especially true if you have certain accessibility needs. Finding a team that will understand your personal needs and take them seriously while working with you isn’t easy. Fortunately, if you live in Toronto, Heidan Construction is the perfect solution. We have an expansive range of experiences with home design and construction and we are happy to use that to give you the accessible home design that you need.

Ramps

For wheelchair users, it can be difficult to find a home that meets their personal expectations and is also wheelchair accessible. At Heidan, we believe you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your own home design desires just to access a space.

One of the first obstacles wheelchair users face is that they can’t get into the home because they’re barred by stairs. Even in single-floor homes, there is often a set of steps at the front of the home. Heidan’s team of design build experts can provide you with a design free of stairs. Homes don’t have to be on a raised foundation. By building the foundation further into the ground, we can make exterior entries nearly flush with the ground. Any slight raise can be mended with a built-in ramp. 

Clearance and Height

For those in wheelchairs or who use other mobility aids, there can be additional space and height requirements. 

For instance, in a kitchen, having enough space to navigate between the main counter and an island is incredibly important. Having ample space to move through a hallway is also important. For many who use mobility aids, their current homes have a tight fit in these places and many others. 

Height is also an important factor in home design. Wheelchair users, for instance, may not be able to reach a standard countertop easily. Designing the kitchen to have lower counters – ones that are reachable from a sitting position – can change someone’s quality of life drastically. The same goes for shelving, cabinets, and many other parts of the home.

Our team aims for accessibility in all areas of the home. Regardless of how you move, you should be able to navigate every part of your home with ease.

Consultation

If you’re looking for the best in accessible home design in Toronto, you’ve found them. We look forward to working with you to design and build a home that’s both beautiful and functional. Give us a call if you’d like to schedule a consultation. Bring with you all of your ideas and opinions on what your home should be and we’ll make it a reality.

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Custom Homes for Professionals that Work From Home

Having a custom home built can be a huge undertaking, even if you’re not the one building it. There’s usually a large budget involved and you have to make a lot of decisions that will stick around in the long-term. Our team at Heidan Construction completely understands. We build custom homes for people all the time and we have a deep understanding of how stressful this process can be. The difficulty is even higher when building custom homes for professionals that work from home. Here’s why.

Base of Operations

As someone who works from home, your home becomes more than just a home. It’s your entire base of operations. You wake up there, you eat there, you sleep there, and you make your living there. Because your home is also the source for your income, its design and quality is of huge importance. After all, even one moving part in the function of your home office or studio can put a halt to your entire work process.

Getting What You Need

At Heidan Construction, we find it to be of utmost importance to give our clients exactly what they want and need. That can mean any number of things – even those things that are seen as vanity choices.

Do you want floor to ceiling windows in your studio to get the best lighting? We can make it happen. Do you want skylights to let in the best of the midday sun? We can do that too. Everything about your home work space should be exactly what you need. From flooring to paint colors, windows to light fixtures – even the shape of your door can be customized. Don’t settle for a cookie-cutter office that’s made to accomplish the bare minimum. Create a work space that’s meant to make you excel.

Home Offices

If you’re currently working from a home office you’re unhappy with, you’ve certainly noticed you’re lacking some things. Your new, custom home is the perfect opportunity to start over and get what you need.

Consider built-in shelving. Shelving that’s built into the walls offers a stable and expansive place to store and display anything from books to photos. Built-in shelving also looks phenomenal behind a desk.

Studio Needs

While home offices are usually pretty straightforward, home studios require a lot more. If you’re an artist, your studio has a lot of specific needs. For one thing, having a counter and a large, basin sink for cleaning up paints, dyes, and other messes is a must-have. Being able to wash paintbrushes or rinse off palettes and then have an easy place to set them to dry makes working much easier.

Inspire yourself every day by choosing floor to ceiling windows for one wall of your studio. Being able to see into the great outdoors while working can really get the creative juices flowing. Take it one step further and let us build you a deck outside your studio. Picture a wall of windows with sliding, glass doors that lead onto a cozy deck. This is the perfect place to take an easel and work in the summertime. You can even fill your deck with greenery if you have a passion for plants.

Hire Heidan

When it comes time to have a custom home built in Toronto, come to the best source for custom homes for professionals. Heidan has been in the business of serving professionals for almost 2 decades and we look forward to serving you too. Give us a call if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation.

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3 Architectural Styles to Consider for Your New Home

If you’re planning to have a custom home built, you might think a floor plan is all you need. However, a floor plan can be made to look like a large number of styles. A very important part of designing a home is picking what you want its architectural style to be. There are a lot of styles to choose from, so, without further ado, here are 3 architectural styles you might want to consider.

Tudor

Tudor houses are one of the most unique and recognizable architectural styles. This is because of their exposed frame. Even if you don’t know them by name, you’ve surely seen them before. These houses are identifiable by their flat, white, exterior walls, criss-crossed with dark brown beams. These beams can be horizontal, vertical, or even diagonal, leaving a very distinct pattern across the face of each wall.

This architectural style originally originates from 15th century england. The style has evolved over the centuries, but not by a lot. They still maintain their key features.

  • Exposed framework
  • Tall, narrow windows
  • Steep roofs
  • Jettied second and third floors

These are a fantastic architectural choice and bring a touch of traditional style to many middle and upper-class neighborhoods.

Cottage-Style

Cottage-style homes are a hallmark of early 20th century, American architecture. These fantastical homes have a very grand, yet cozy feel about them. These homes are great for families, as they allow for multiple floors and best accommodate large floorplans. 

Some of their defining features include:

  • Steep roofs
  • Cross-gables
  • Casement windows with small panes
  • Brick or stucco siding
  • Arched doorways, rather than squared ones

These features come together to make a very unique design. The tall, steeply pitched roofs add a lot of angle to these homes. However, their arched doorways make entrances appear soft and inviting. 

Craftsman

Craftsman homes are fantastic choices for small floorplans. These homes originated in the early half of the 20th century. However, the style is so down-to-earth and cozy that it’s become popular once more.

These homes aren’t called craftsman homes for nothing. They feature a lot of crafted elements. For instance, if you chose any craftsman home at random, you would be likely to find in it:

  • Exposed support beams
  • Exposed rafter beams
  • Built-in shelving – often placed on either side of a fireplace
  • Built in seating – for instance, window seats
  • Low-pitched roofs with a lot of overhang on the eaves

These houses also offer the perfect environment for a covered porch. The porches that come with this style usually have steps framed by wide columns. All in all, if you’re looking for a cottage or bungalow style that feels like it belongs on the edge of the woods in a fairy tale, this is a great choice.

Hiring in Toronto

No matter what architectural styles you love, if you’re looking to build your home in Toronto, there’s an obvious choice for who to call. Heidan construction is the best home construction company in the GTA. Check out our portfolio for samples of our work. Then, give us a call and let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to setting up a consultation with you.

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Flooring Updates When Selling Your Home

If you’re planning on selling your home sometime in the near future, you should know how important it is to update old, outdated flooring before putting your home on the market. Flooring updates can make a huge difference in the offers you get on your home. Here are some things to consider about the flooring updates you may do in the near future. 

Importance of Flooring

Flooring is hugely important in how a house functions. Not only does it impact every step you take(literally), it also affects the appearance. When potential buyers come to look at the inside of your home, seeing damaged or dirty flooring is a huge turn-off. Even if they could replace the flooring for the same price they would pay in price increase for the house, should you replace it yourself, it will still make them less likely to buy the house. Seeing dirty, worn out carpet can just make people think the whole house is less quality than it really is. 

Housewide Impression

Because the flooring runs throughout the entire house, the impression it has also impacts the whole house. Even if the flooring is different in some areas, it’s likely to face the same wear and tear throughout. The carpet in the living room might be stained and trampled. The hardwood in the bedrooms, if it’s the same age, is likely to be scratched and worn out.

A Worthwhile Investment

Because flooring has such a big impact on the way your house is perceived by potential buyers, it’s worth the investment of replacement. The money you’ll spend on the new flooring is likely to allow you to raise the overall price of your home more than you spent on the flooring. As it is with most house updates, you get more out of updating than you lose.

What to Do

The question then becomes, what can you do to make your flooring more appealing to buyers? When it comes to old carpet, the answer is almost always, replace it! However, if the carpet was installed only a few years ago and is actually high quality, you may just want to hire cleaners. Taking your high quality carpet from dirty and brown to a stark white again makes a massive difference.

If you have hardwood that’s scratched and looking worse for wear, you actually don’t need to replace it. You’ll still want to invest some money in updating it, but repair is cheaper than replacement, in this case. Hiring someone to sand down the surfaces of your hardwood will give it a smooth, like-new surface again. Putting on a fresh coat of sealant will make your wooden floors look shiny and fresh once more.

The only time you really need to replace hardwood floors is if they’re warped from water damage or are buckling. Boards that bend beneath your feet are not safe to sand and leave. Sanding them will further thin them out and if they’re already bending, they’re dangerous to leave in.

Moving Time

If you’re selling your home, it’s probably moving time, right? Don’t settle for a cookie cutter house that was built to someone else’s tastes. Give us a call at Heidan Construction and we can build the custom home you’ve always dreamed of owning.