“Making It Right” in the Laundry Room with Mike Holmes

As Canada’s most trusted contractor and handyman, Mike Holmes has seen it all - from faulty venting to amateur plumbing to flooring-gone-wrong. And that’s just in the laundry room. How can you avoid “laundry room letdown” in your next reno? Take a few tips from the man himself:

1. Make a plan and make it right. As with any home renovation, planning is the key to success. Lay out timing and budget for your project, but be flexible - leave time and money for unexpected delays and surprise discoveries once you get underway.

2. Think multifunction. As you prepare your design and layout, consider all the steps involved in doing laundry, and how you might want to incorporate them into the space. Do you hang a lot of your clothes to dry? Want to fold clothes right in the space? Need shelving for storage? Mapping out your needs before work begins will ensure the final product is a multifunctional room that meets all of your needs.  

3. Bring in the professionals. Wiring and plumbing are not DIY projects. Enlist the help of licensed tradespeople who have all the necessary permits and qualifications to do the job right. Getting the job done right the first time means avoiding unnecessary repair costs down the road, not to mention safety issues.

4. Select the right appliances. What would a laundry room be without a great laundry pair? You should spend as much time choosing your appliances as you do your paint colour - and look beyond style to find functionality that will make your life easier. “Top load laundry pairs, like GE Appliances’ Designer Line Evolution, are making a big comeback,” says Holmes. “What I love about top loads is their ergonomic design, reliable performance and the fact that they don’t retain moisture - which can often lead to issues with mold and mildew.”

5. Finish with flooring. Flooring matters - you want to choose a material that’s going to give you the biggest bang for your buck. His personal pick for a laundry space? Tile - it’s durable, relatively low maintenance and very easy to clean.