Forget Googling your query and trying to sort through all the armchair experts on the internet – tell us any and all of your renovation questions and we\u2019ll respond with over 80 years of trusted knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From European light fixtures to wet rooms and horizontal railings, we\u2019ve had some really interesting AMAs come through in 2024. Here\u2019s a look back:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AMA: Would you recommend a wet room?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/HGTV-Wetrooms.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPhoto credit: HGTV.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWet rooms are certainly growing in popularity in North America and have been a staple in European households for decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A wet room is a style of bathroom where all the surfaces can get wet – floors, mirrors, vanities, and toilets included. There are many reasons why this is appealing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- In place of a shower tray or tub, slip-resistant tiles run throughout the entire wet room which improve accessibility for children, the elderly, or those with mobility challenges;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- No shower trays or sliding door runners make for easier cleaning;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The continuation of tiles throughout the room make it feel more spacious;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You can fit a shower, sink, and toilet into a much smaller footprint.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
There are also a few important considerations to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Every surface in a wet room has to be impervious to moisture to avoid water damage; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Specialized fixtures to fit a smaller space may cost more than traditional bathroom items;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- All surfaces need to be cleaned and dried after every shower. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
We recommend a hybrid approach that brings the best of both worlds: combining the shower and tub area to create a wet room within your bathroom, eliminating the need to moisture-proof the entire room. HGTV has some beautiful examples<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAMA: Are these custom canning drawers more work than they\u2019re worth?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/canning-Drawer-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur custom canning drawer feature sparked this question: \u201cHow do you clean inside the squares? Does the separator come out for vacuuming? Looks great, but the practicality I question.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese custom-made dividers can be permanent or removable. Removable dividers would definitely make cleaning simpler. However, a quick vacuum followed by cleaning with a dampened soft cloth and drying with a microfiber cloth to prevent warping is all you need to do to keep the permanent dividers spotless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like your canning is preserved to last, so should the drawers that hold it. That’s why these drawers are constructed with a dovetail joint, so they can hold the weight of your jars and stand up to regular cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAMA: Is a living roof a good idea?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A living roof is a very cool feature that can provide many benefits – but they require careful planning and complex structural considerations. Some living roof benefits include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- They can significantly off-set the effects of urban heat islands (when a metropolitan area is much hotter than the rural areas surrounding it from the heat created by buildings, concrete, vehicles, and people);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They can help regulate indoor temperatures as heat is absorbed by plant and soil layers before it enters the building;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They improve air quality thanks to vegetation converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Some important factors you\u2019ll want to closely consider include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- The roof needs to be engineered with very specific weight and drainage requirements, as well as irrigation systems, proper waterproofing, and a root barrier;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The feature needs to be considered and designed from the start of a project rather than trying to retrofit an existing roof structure;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It may be costly to maintain; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Successful vegetation cultivation requires a lot of effort in our climate zone with our extreme weather fluctuations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Although living roofs aren’t something we provide at Menno S. Martin, we are all for incorporating sustainable, environmentally-friendly solutions whenever possible! If you find that the positive benefits of a living roof outweigh the cost and effort involved, we’d direct you to a company that specializes in building them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAMA: Triple-glazed vs. double-glazed windows – are they worth it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/windows.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you live in a busy or loud area with extreme seasonal weather fluctuations, then triple-glazed windows may make the world of difference in your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since triple-glazed windows have three panes of glass with insulating gaps in between (rather than the standard double-glazed that only have two), they offer better performance in terms of noise reduction and energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should consider triple-glazed windows if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- You are planning on staying in your home for the long term. While triple-glazed windows are more expensive initially, their improved insulation will save you money on energy costs throughout the year and you will recoup your investment over time;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You live near an airport, highway, or train tracks, as you may find that the extra noise reduction provides worthwhile peace in your home;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Your home has north- and east-facing rooms as they receive less direct sunlight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, if you have a sunroom, triple glazed windows will make a significant increase in your comfort year round, and on any window the triple glazing can cut down on condensation on the glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All that said, double-glazed windows are absolutely an excellent option that will provide sufficient insulation in Southwestern Ontario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAMA: Can we install horizontal railings in our next renovation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/modern-farmhouse-black-stair-railing.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: BHG.com\/Kim Cornelison<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn Ontario, it is actually illegal to install horizontal railings as deck, ramp, or stair guards under the provincial Building Code. Although they look beautiful, they are a safety risk:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- they are basically a ladder alongside your stairs (and while you may know better than to climb them, children may not); <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Children may also try to stick their head between the railings, so there are measurement requirements to ensure entrapment does not happen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Even if it wasn’t a requirement, we still wouldn’t do it because they’re just too high risk, and we always put safety first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good news is that we can help you find an alternative that will be just as stylish and attractive for your renovation – and completely safe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAMA: Can we install a Dutch light fixture in our next renovation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We can – but we need to follow a number of safety checks first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
European light fixtures can cause some issues here in Canada, so unfortunately you can\u2019t just plug it in and turn it on. First, a licensed professional will need to check the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- ensure safety and compliance with local regulations;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- voltage compatibility (European fixtures often operate on a different voltage than North American);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- plug type (you may need to replace the plug, or get an adapter to fit our outlets);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- wiring compatibility (a licensed electrician should ensure that the wiring meets local electrical codes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- rough-in box compatibility (many require a rectangular box, not the typical North American octagonal box) and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- fixture certification (it must have a CSA or other recognized Canadian certification to be installed here).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you order that European light fixture you love – just make sure it has a CSA or recognized Canadian certification, and you\u2019ve reviewed your lighting plan including the fixture\u2019s specs with a licensed electrician to make sure everything will work the way you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAsk Menno Anything!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What renovation or design questions do you have? We want to know! Give us a call<\/a> or send us your queries via direct message on Instagram<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, or Facebook<\/a>, and we\u2019ll share the answer as part of our Ask Menno Anything series on our social media.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Have you ever wished you had an expert in your circle who you could call…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3211,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,8],"tags":[75,76,83,65,27],"class_list":["post-3189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-renovation-tips","category-sustainable-renovation","tag-home-renovation","tag-kitchener","tag-professional-contractors","tag-waterloo-contractors","tag-waterloo-region"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions - Menno S Martin Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions - Menno S Martin Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Have you ever wished you had an expert in your circle who you could call...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Menno S Martin Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-13T14:46:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-15T19:34:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1240\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1240\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"gillian@reesstager.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"gillian@reesstager.com\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"gillian@reesstager.com\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3da6fd110b8ff9fdb71ccbbfac5ba567\"},\"headline\":\"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-13T14:46:28+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-15T19:34:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1294,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Home renovation\",\"Kitchener\",\"Professional Contractors\",\"Waterloo contractors\",\"Waterloo Region\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Renovation Tips\",\"Sustainable Renovation\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/\",\"name\":\"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions - Menno S Martin Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-13T14:46:28+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-15T19:34:26+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3da6fd110b8ff9fdb71ccbbfac5ba567\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp\",\"width\":1240,\"height\":1240},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Menno S Martin Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mennosmartin.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3da6fd110b8ff9fdb71ccbbfac5ba567\",\"name\":\"gillian@reesstager.com\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/312aaf85d3f43190878f3eccf4ce764792227c7b563bff80ab759e468e422acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/312aaf85d3f43190878f3eccf4ce764792227c7b563bff80ab759e468e422acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/312aaf85d3f43190878f3eccf4ce764792227c7b563bff80ab759e468e422acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"gillian@reesstager.com\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions - Menno S Martin Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions - Menno S Martin Blog","og_description":"Have you ever wished you had an expert in your circle who you could call...","og_url":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/","og_site_name":"Menno S Martin Blog","article_published_time":"2024-12-13T14:46:28+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-15T19:34:26+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1240,"height":1240,"url":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"gillian@reesstager.com","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"gillian@reesstager.com","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/"},"author":{"name":"gillian@reesstager.com","@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3da6fd110b8ff9fdb71ccbbfac5ba567"},"headline":"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions","datePublished":"2024-12-13T14:46:28+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-15T19:34:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/"},"wordCount":1294,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp","keywords":["Home renovation","Kitchener","Professional Contractors","Waterloo contractors","Waterloo Region"],"articleSection":["Renovation Tips","Sustainable Renovation"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/","url":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/","name":"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions - Menno S Martin Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp","datePublished":"2024-12-13T14:46:28+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-15T19:34:26+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3da6fd110b8ff9fdb71ccbbfac5ba567"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AMA-Blog-post-Header.webp","width":1240,"height":1240},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/ask-menno-anything-series-1-a-round-up-of-your-top-renovation-questions\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Ask Menno Anything Series #1:\u00a0 A Round-Up of Your Top Renovation Questions"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/","name":"Menno S Martin Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3da6fd110b8ff9fdb71ccbbfac5ba567","name":"gillian@reesstager.com","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/312aaf85d3f43190878f3eccf4ce764792227c7b563bff80ab759e468e422acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/312aaf85d3f43190878f3eccf4ce764792227c7b563bff80ab759e468e422acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/312aaf85d3f43190878f3eccf4ce764792227c7b563bff80ab759e468e422acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"gillian@reesstager.com"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3189"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3217,"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3189\/revisions\/3217"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPhoto credit: HGTV.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wet rooms are certainly growing in popularity in North America and have been a staple in European households for decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A wet room is a style of bathroom where all the surfaces can get wet – floors, mirrors, vanities, and toilets included. There are many reasons why this is appealing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also a few important considerations to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recommend a hybrid approach that brings the best of both worlds: combining the shower and tub area to create a wet room within your bathroom, eliminating the need to moisture-proof the entire room. HGTV has some beautiful examples<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our custom canning drawer feature sparked this question: \u201cHow do you clean inside the squares? Does the separator come out for vacuuming? Looks great, but the practicality I question.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n These custom-made dividers can be permanent or removable. Removable dividers would definitely make cleaning simpler. However, a quick vacuum followed by cleaning with a dampened soft cloth and drying with a microfiber cloth to prevent warping is all you need to do to keep the permanent dividers spotless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like your canning is preserved to last, so should the drawers that hold it. That’s why these drawers are constructed with a dovetail joint, so they can hold the weight of your jars and stand up to regular cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A living roof is a very cool feature that can provide many benefits – but they require careful planning and complex structural considerations. Some living roof benefits include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some important factors you\u2019ll want to closely consider include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although living roofs aren’t something we provide at Menno S. Martin, we are all for incorporating sustainable, environmentally-friendly solutions whenever possible! If you find that the positive benefits of a living roof outweigh the cost and effort involved, we’d direct you to a company that specializes in building them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you live in a busy or loud area with extreme seasonal weather fluctuations, then triple-glazed windows may make the world of difference in your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since triple-glazed windows have three panes of glass with insulating gaps in between (rather than the standard double-glazed that only have two), they offer better performance in terms of noise reduction and energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should consider triple-glazed windows if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, if you have a sunroom, triple glazed windows will make a significant increase in your comfort year round, and on any window the triple glazing can cut down on condensation on the glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All that said, double-glazed windows are absolutely an excellent option that will provide sufficient insulation in Southwestern Ontario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit: BHG.com\/Kim Cornelison<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Ontario, it is actually illegal to install horizontal railings as deck, ramp, or stair guards under the provincial Building Code. Although they look beautiful, they are a safety risk:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if it wasn’t a requirement, we still wouldn’t do it because they’re just too high risk, and we always put safety first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that we can help you find an alternative that will be just as stylish and attractive for your renovation – and completely safe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can – but we need to follow a number of safety checks first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n European light fixtures can cause some issues here in Canada, so unfortunately you can\u2019t just plug it in and turn it on. First, a licensed professional will need to check the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you order that European light fixture you love – just make sure it has a CSA or recognized Canadian certification, and you\u2019ve reviewed your lighting plan including the fixture\u2019s specs with a licensed electrician to make sure everything will work the way you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What renovation or design questions do you have? We want to know! Give us a call<\/a> or send us your queries via direct message on Instagram<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, or Facebook<\/a>, and we\u2019ll share the answer as part of our Ask Menno Anything series on our social media.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you ever wished you had an expert in your circle who you could call…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3211,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,8],"tags":[75,76,83,65,27],"class_list":["post-3189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-renovation-tips","category-sustainable-renovation","tag-home-renovation","tag-kitchener","tag-professional-contractors","tag-waterloo-contractors","tag-waterloo-region"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\n
AMA: Are these custom canning drawers more work than they\u2019re worth?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAMA: Is a living roof a good idea?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
AMA: Triple-glazed vs. double-glazed windows – are they worth it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
AMA: Can we install horizontal railings in our next renovation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
AMA: Can we install a Dutch light fixture in our next renovation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Ask Menno Anything!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n