Pre-Renovation Diagnostic in Scarborough

$395 standalone, fully credited toward the renovation contract if RenoHouse does the renovation. Includes 60–90 minutes on-site, FLIR thermal scan, moisture-meter readings, pencil-sketch of in-wall services where detectable, written recommendations memo, and scope-adjustment notes for the renovation quote.

Routinely 10–40x. A $395 scan that catches a hidden plumbing leak, knob-and-tube circuit, missing insulation, or rotted subfloor BEFORE demolition typically saves $4,000–$15,000 in mid-project budget surprises and schedule overruns. Most customers tell us it was the smartest $395 they spent on the entire project.

Strongly recommended. Kitchens have plumbing supply lines, drains, electrical (especially 240V range and dishwasher circuits), and exterior-wall components — all of which can hide problems that surface during demo. Pre-renovation scan is even more critical for older Scarborough kitchens (pre-1980) where aluminum wiring and undersized supply lines are common.

Where detectable. Active plumbing (hot or cold water flowing) shows up clearly; static water lines need short hot-water or thermal-loading runs to detect. Active electrical circuits under load show up; cold circuits don't. We sketch what we can see during the scan and clearly note what we cannot detect — this is a useful pre-demo planning tool but NOT a substitute for as-built drawings or invasive opening.

Almost always. The savings come from three places: (1) avoiding mid-project surprise discoveries that trigger change orders and schedule overruns, (2) better-scoped initial quote (we know what's behind the walls before we quote), (3) better material orders (we order the right replacement insulation/wiring/plumbing for what's there, not what we guessed). Customers report 5–15% lower total project cost with a pre-scan.

We document the finding, scope the additional work, and update the renovation quote BEFORE demolition begins. This is exactly the value of pre-renovation diagnostics — pricing certainty before the saw comes out. Many findings (hidden leak, electrical hot spot, asbestos-suspect material) actually IMPROVE the customer's negotiation position with their insurance company or original contractor.

A traditional contractor walkthrough quotes based on what's visible — finishes, fixtures, layout. A pre-renovation thermal scan adds non-destructive visibility into what's BEHIND those finishes — hidden moisture, electrical, insulation, HVAC. Together they produce a much more accurate scope and quote than walkthrough alone.

Yes — we'll happily do the diagnostic for a project you've contracted to another renovator. The $395 fee is not credited in that case (we don't get the renovation contract), but the value to you is the same. Many Scarborough homeowners use our scan to validate or stress-test a competing contractor's quote.