Published in Cottage, Home & Property Showcase - 2007
Since spring is known as a time of change, it may be time for cottage owners to update the look of their homes or cottages. When looking to renovate an existing structure, it may be difficult to determine where to begin. According to the experts, the best way to plan to plan a major renovation is to learn from past projects.
Quite often, projects can take longer than originally planned. For example, a renovation done by Teka Homes on the McBride family cottage in Haliburton began as a simple boathouse renovation. However, it turned into a three-year ongoing project transforming three existing buildings.
The McBrides inherited a cottage and boathouse on family property and purchased another cottage on the same site. Since they were interested in utilizing all three buildings during the summer, John McBride hired Teka Homes to complete a small renovation on their aging boathouse, first. Once plans started to form and they discovered it would take longer than expected to be granted approval for the boathouse renovation, McBride focused on other areas that needed updating.
“The original intent was to embrace the property they had, and enhance it,” says Sundridge-based builder Tom Tekavcic, owner of Teka Homes. “They were almost organic in their decision-making process. One thing would lead to another.”
To a large extent, Tekavcic tried to reuse and recycle existing materials as much as possible during the McBride renovation, while incorporating new aspects into the cottages. In the main building, known as Granddad’s cottage, what resulted was an addition to the deck, a brand new entryway and an expansion of the screened-in Muskoka room.
With the second cottage, known to the McBrides as GrandJoan’s cottage, which once belonged to John’s Aunt Joan, Tekavcic salvaged wood from the exterior. He incorporated it into the exterior of Granddad’s cottage, giving it a more rustic, woodsy look.
“We actually took the siding off GrandJoan’s and reapplied it on some of Granddad’s cottage,” explains Tekavcic. “Half-log siding was reapplied and stained so we gave it a wainscot look. The deck was also recycled from Granddad’s building and put in front of GrandJoan’s building.”
Tekavcic chose to reuse the existing deck boards because they were original cedar, and were still in good shape.
“Because they were purchased 20 or 30 years ago, they have a longer shelf life and live for a lot longer,” explains Tekavcic. “If you cut into it, you will see the heart is still rich. Rather than just tear off the deck as a whole, we took the shell apart and moved it and utilized it in this building.”
Once approval was granted for the boathouse, almost two years later, things became a little more complicated. The boathouse had to be rebuilt in the existing footprint, and for sentimental reasons, McBride wanted to salvage as much of the old boathouse as possible.
“John’s attachment to the building was quite high and he wanted to do whatever he could to try and save it, but it became evident that it wasn’t worthwhile,” says Tekavcic. “It had a lot of insect damage. We were taking some critical walls down, and it became apparent that we would have to take more down. That was a project that expanded even as we were building it.”
This is a problem builders frequently encounter when renovating old cottages. Fortunately, the project was able to continue as the McBrides didn’t have a strict budget, and were relatively flexible when it came to plan changes.
“It’s wise to include in your budget two things: money for the unexpected and changes,” recommends Tekavcic. “It’s rare for somebody to start a project and not change something. There are few people that can conceptualize what a 2-D floor plan looks like, really, when you’re standing in the 3-D space.”
Another issue arose when Tekavcic discovered the kitchen plans, designed by a kitchen specialist in the city, didn’t fit with the design of the cottage. Lise McBride, John’s wife, ended up redesigning the kitchen alongside Tekavcic and his cabinetmaker, resulting in a much more aesthetically pleasing and functional space.
“I think when you’re working with a budget, it’s important to know what you’re getting into. If I were to do it again, I would have torn the building down and started from scratch,” says Lise. “The reality is, you have to decide if you really love the building. What is the reason you’re keeping it? Then go from there.”
In the end, the McBrides were pleased with the results. Though the overall project took some time, they were in no rush to finish and appreciated Tekavcic’s attention to detail.
Though there were some changes they would have made to the building process, they now have three meticulously built structures that they will enjoy for years to come.Edenlane Homes was hired to complete a similar type of renovation on a Lake Joseph cottage. The owners were living in what used to be an old resort, and were looking to give the exterior a makeover while keeping certain elements in the interior.
“While it was very comfortable, the building was tired and under-utilized the premium lot that it was situated on,” says the owner, who doesn’t want his name used for privacy issues. “Because of its history and our family attachment, the decision was to renovate rather than tear down and start over.”
The family wanted to change the main entrance into the focal point of the house, as well as replace the screened-in veranda with an all-season Muskoka room that was large enough to entertain guests.
“We also wanted to utilize the flat roof of the garage and expand our decking to take advantage of the western exposure in the afternoons,” says the owner.
In this case, the owners prepared a detailed outline for Edenlane to follow. They also had an engineer and a kitchen design company prepare plans, as well as an interior designer. This way, they knew how much they would have to budget and attempt to stay within those limits.
“They wanted to substantially update the cottage,” says Scott Clark, operations manager at Edenlane. “(The owner) grew up here, so he wanted to incorporate the old with the new because some of the features on the inside are really pretty. He’s got mahogany walls and that type of thing that he wanted to stay with the cottage.”
To achieve the desired outcome, Edenlane tore down the exterior and rebuilt it using their signature look and detail reminiscent of the old Muskoka era. They also installed all new low-maintenance vinyl windows to give spectacular views of the landscape and lake.
“We ended up using a lot of trim, Muskoka stone work, a lot of gables, exposed gabled trusses and pillars at the front entrance. It’s also board and batten siding, so it’s typical old Muskoka look and feel,” says Clark.
Gravenhurst-based Window Works (Muskoka) supplied the windows for the project, installing camber-tops and simulated divided light style windows. The owners were looking for a low-maintenance style window but also one that had the charm they desired.
“It’s more of a modern cottage look, but that’s how all of the cottages are being built nowadays,” says Eleda Ward of of Window Works (Muskoka). “The old cottages used to have true divided light and the new ones have simulated divided light. It’s more of a traditional, old Muskoka look.”
The owners went with a maintenance-free vinyl window, so they didn’t have to concern themselves with painting or staining. They also installed French doors from Window Works as a walkout to the deck.
The only challenge the builders ran into when renovating this Lake Joseph cottage was during excavation. But the situation was something that could not have been predicted at the onset.
“We ran into a lot of rock in the excavation which slowed the process, and one wall near the excavation needed to be reinforced as the footings were not suitable when exposed,” says the owner. “These problems are things you just cannot identify in advance.”
What resulted was a beautiful, updated cottage overlooking Lake Joseph that boasted a true Muskoka exterior while keeping important sentimental aspects on the interior. The project was completed in nine months, and most typical challenges faced during the building process were avoided due to careful planning.
“Solicit opinions from friends and relatives who are familiar with the existing building, and your lifestyle, to get the detail right at the planning stages,” says the owner of the Lake Joseph cottage, reflecting on his project.
Foundations and related excavations can be very expensive due to Muskoka’s rough terrain and unforeseen conditions, so try to provide the builder with as much information as you can in advance to obtain a meaningful price and avoid surprises or costly changes.
“The most important thing you can do in any major renovation,” he says, “is to plan the project carefully.”
