Matt & Nat’s microRenos:
Your small-jobs specialists!
Serving Barrie and region, including Orillia and Wasaga Beach
What are microRenovation services?
A microRenovation is a smaller-scale renovation project. For us, this includes bathrooms, kitchens and basements - we don’t take on massive additions or new-builds because it’s just the two of us and we want to make sure we are delivering high quality results, on-time and on-budget. We believe there are many ways to achieve a beautiful living space without spending huge dollars on large-scale renovation projects. Sometimes a coat of paint or application of wallpaper, new light fixtures or cabinet hardware, or updated trim can modernise your home quickly and dramatically at a fraction of the cost of a major renovation. On a slightly larger scale, for example, replacing dated vanities or taps and installing new tiles in a bathroom or kitchen is a quick project for us.
What other services do Matt and Nat provide?
“show-me-how” Services:
Not sure how to get started? Need some help figuring out exactly what to do for your DIY project? We offer a unique in-home “show-me-how” service for people who want to do the work themselves. This can include practical tool usage tutorials on your new or existing tools, or a day with us working with you to show you the ropes and answer your questions. Want to tackle your own kitchen backsplash or basement framing and drywall? Instead of watching videos online, bring us in to show you how to do it - this will help you avoid costly mistakes and save you time (and money) in the long-run. We can even rent you some of the tools you’ll need to get the job done right so you don’t end up spending money on tools you’ll likely only use once, while still having the correct tool for the best results.
“honey-do” and pre-sale/rental turnover Services:
We can tackle your to-do list of minor repairs like drywall repair, painting, wallpapering, window and door trim, and backsplashes. We have experience with time-sensitive rental turnovers, century home renovations that incorporate the original character of the house, and custom solutions (closet organisers, specialty cabinets/storage). Selling your house or buying a new one? Bring us in for relatively inexpensive microRenovations that can maximise your buying and selling objectives.
Deconstruction and Upcycling:
We believe in up cycling and re-purposing, and we adhere to the principles of de-construction in all of our work. This means that we salvage as much as we can from your project and we re-purpose wherever possible. From framing materials to light fixtures to original siding/flooring, we divert everything we possibly can from landfill (did you know that 30% of landfills, globally, are filled with construction material - primarily wood?). We will use it, re-purpose it, donate it or dispose of it appropriately (ideally through recycling) to minimise waste.
Handyperson Services
$75/hour + materials (minimum half-day charge $300)
Have a “honey-do” list that isn’t getting done? Need some minor items completed in order to sell your home? Have a rental property that needs some turnover services to get it back on the market as quickly as possible?
We have the right tools for every job so you can hand over your list and we will take care of it quickly and efficiently!
We charge a minimum of $300 plus materials for this service, which is the equivalent of 4 hours.
Our in-house consultation will help you establish a budget for your list completion, and will help us determine what materials are needed for the job(s), if any. We will provide an estimate before work begins.
Contact us today for a free in-house consultation and estimate!
Fixed-Cost Micro-Renovation Projects
Cost determined based on a fully scoped project
We can take on your kitchen, bathroom or basement project - and we do decks too!
When you contract with us, you receive a detailed Scope of Work outlining all aspects of the project and a fixed-cost associated with the project. Fixed cost means that as long as the scope of work doesn’t change, the price doesn’t change.
Note that unexpected complications sometimes happen during a renovation and this means a scope change. This can include unexpected structural issues that require remediation, or realising that you want something extra done while the project is underway (upgrading to a different trim or door style, or opting for a different tile, as examples). But you will never see a surprise charge on our final invoice because you are kept up to date throughout the entire project, with any scope changes (and associated cost changes) documented and agreed-to through a change-order process. We recommend keeping 5-10% in your budget for unexpected events.
While we do most of the work ourselves, we do bring in qualified (and licensed) trades as needed. This includes plumbers, electricians and sometimes drywall specialists (depending on the size of the job).
Get in touch with us today for a free consultation and estimate for your micro-Renovation project.
General Contractor and “show-me-how”
$75/hour (minimum half-day charge $300)
Are you looking for help managing your renovation project?Want to tackle your renovation yourself but aren’t sure where to start? Or are you in the middle of a project and at an impasse because you don’t have the right tools or the right know-how? If you are looking for someone who has done it many times before to help with project management and general contracting, we can help — and we love teaching others how to do good renovation work!
We are more than happy to be your professional coaches as you learn to do it yourself. We can provide general project management services in addition to our “show-me-how” services.
What can we help with?
Proper framing techniques and layout (critical for being able to hang drywall correctly)
Proper drywalling, mudding, taping and sanding techniques (including patching holes of all sizes)
Tiling 101 (including proper material selection and recommended tools)
Design consultations for kitchens, bathrooms, basements — bounce your ideas off a pro before you start, and get all of our know-how on your side to avoid costly delays and unforeseen complications
DIY kitchen (like IKEA) planning: pro-tips, site planning, demolition and installation must-knows
Painting and wallpapering techniques from wall-prep to application for top-quality results
DIY Flooring that doesn’t look like you did it yourself…
Proper order-of-operations for a successful project (ie - what comes first? plumbing? electrical? HVAC?)
Contact us today to set up a free in-house review of your needs!
About Us
We are Matt & Nat, and we’ve been doing renovations for over 20 years. We pay attention to detail, and we treat your home as if it is our own when we are working for you.
We’ve re-located to the Barrie area and are eager to take on new clients!
