Working with Home Installs & Our Big, Final Reveal

Erin is a born journalist whose passion for storytelling has led her to create a successful digital content marketing company and Canada's fastest growing podcast network. For more on Erin’s story, follow along on her Blog, Instagram and Facebook pages.

Wow! Our deck renovation is fully complete, and I can’t wait to show you the final result! Below you’ll see some before & after pics, along with a few closing shots that really capture the beauty of our new deck. But first I want to talk a bit about Home Installs. I’ve had a lot of inquiries from friends and neighbours about the process and our experiences. First off, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said to my husband (or just to myself under my breath) how happy I am to have great contractors. We’ve worked with the same fantastic Home Installs team at our local Home Hardware for our last two major renos: this deck project and our full blown kitchen remodel. Here are my answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

How Do You Start Working with Home Installs?

This one is easy. We were at our local Home Hardware picking out fixtures for our backsplash, and we simply booked an appointment with their team right there. The Home Installs Project Manager came to our house a week later to take some early measurements and get a sense of the space. From there, we kept in touch via phone and email and to get the plans drafted and designed.

Can Home Installs Help with Design Decisions?

Yes! I love renovating and home improvements, but I’m not a professional designer. Our project manager helped us envision what the stairs would look like, and how the railing design and wraparound step would tie everything together. It was also great to get advice on things like finishes, measurements, windowsills and door frames.

What Does Home Installs Take Care Of?

The short answer is ‘basically everything’. In addition to helping with the design, Home Installs handled all the logistics associated with our large construction project. That included all the paperwork and scheduling, the deliveries and working with the subcontractors. They also submitted all the necessary permits and building plans to the city and liaised with city inspectors to make sure we stayed on our timeline.

What Was the Personal Interaction Like with Home Installs?

The last, and likely most important, thing I’ll say about working with Home Installs is that it’s clear they took an interest in us as people. From the contractor crews to the project management, they knew our names, they knew we had two little kids and a silly dog to work around, and they knew that I worked from home. They also took extra care to show us that the new deck was safe and done properly and were as excited as we were when it was all complete!

Lower Deck Before & After

You can see where the old deck had a weird half step that wasn’t really attached to anything. I can’t tell you how many times I worried about the kids (or me!) tripping on it. Now, the under deck aligns with the door and the bottom of the house. The old deck also left a huge gap under the bottom of the house that accumulated debris (and animals!). The new deck was built higher to eliminate that problem. The extra height allowed us to add this gorgeous wraparound step to the yard. It looks so good and it makes stepping off the deck onto the grass feel so natural.

Upper Deck & Stairs Before & After

It’s incredible what a difference it makes going from a balcony with actual HOLES in it to one that is smooth as butter! Trex decking has no visible screws or nails. Adding stairs was also a game changer. Now the kids can come home through the back gate and straight into the kitchen. The top-of-stairs landing was a stroke of brilliance, as it ensured we didn’t lose valuable seating or living space on the deck. The whole area feels spacious and the flow is greatly improved.

Final Reveal (and Revelation)

Once we added our own lifestyle touches (furniture, pillows, plants, flowers etc.) and started using the deck I gained a whole new appreciation for the design. I realized that although our deck is a single entity, it has actually created four distinct zones or living spaces.

The Picnic Area

This is where we have our outdoor picnic table. We opted for a picnic style dining set because it fits more people in a pinch. And it’s casual and simple to style. Originally, we thought we’d put the table on the balcony, but chose to keep it on the ground level instead. A huge benefit is that the table is right off my office now, so on beautiful days, I can set up outside with my laptop!

The Chill Zone

This is where we have our outdoor couch and comfy chairs, and where we tend to gather as a family on Saturday afternoons. The kids can run between the deck and the back of the yard, and I have a clear view of them no matter what. It’s also the perfect perch to read a magazine or a book.

The Lounge

This area is probably my favorite because I think I will be using it more than anyone. I’m calling it the lounge zone because it’s big enough for a long lounger with a cushion and my yoga mats. I love sitting out there on my lunch break or taking a minute between meetings to refresh and center myself. And the twinkle lighting makes it a magical place in the evenings.

The Upper Deck

This space is pure fun and it gets so much use now! We dressed it up with two cozy chairs and an umbrella. I tend to sit out here first thing in the morning with my coffee and then right after supper with dessert or a cocktail. The sun exposure is high, so I put a few potted tropical plants and a wall hanger with some drought tolerant greenery. I’ve had the wall hanger for a while and was so happy to finally get to install it!

Final Thoughts

It’s hard to put into words how I feel about this project because it’s been so transformative, both for our home and our family. Our outdoor space is so important for mental health and enjoyment, and I’m so happy ours is finally complete. Our entire family has so much gratitude for all the hard work that went into this project, and I hope we have inspired you too!