This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
For more than twenty years, entrepreneur and communicator Stéphanie Lévesque has demystified the world of manual work and encouraged homeowners to do their own renovations. His most recent work, Reno-tonome. Tool box for repairing, renovating, renovating, etc. dissects a number of tasks within everyone’s reach for a comfortable, sustainable living space that suits their taste.
Why did you write this book and why do you do it now?
My intentions have been the same for several years. Enable people to become more manually independent in order to save some money and take care of their real estate investment. But also, to take ownership of your environment, know how to settle into your new home, personalize it and make it in your image.
When do the concepts of independence and protection intersect in a renovation or maintenance project?
In my opinion, the more relevant information we have about what we are about to do, the better we prepare ourselves and, at the same time, we must think about security. However, when working at height, the use of tools or the types of products we use require us to ask ourselves the right questions. Am I safe? Do I have the skills? Is it a harmful product? And how should I dispose of it?
Throughout the workshops you give, what is one of the questions that comes up most frequently?
“How can I be sure I’m not being fooled?” » People want more and more for their money […]. They want to be able to read a quote, understand it and possibly find places to save money. In my conference Renovating without breaking the bank, I tell the truth: you have homework to do.
What are the limitations of renovation broadcasts in the messages they send regarding repair and restoration projects?
It’s not true that everything is as easy as on TV. Let’s not forget that there is editing done before going on air. Imagining that you can do everything yourself is the complete opposite of what I want to tell my readers. We must know our limits. They are professionals, whom you see on the small screen. Also, you must be aware of your environment and your safety, especially during demolition work. Yes, it seems to be easy and it lets off steam, but let’s not forget asbestos, mold [et la structure].
What are the most common mistakes in self-renovation projects for living spaces?
We don’t plan enough, we lack tools, we don’t have enough materials or we don’t use the right ones. Then comes the lack of knowledge of all the stages of carrying out a task, which creates complications. There is a domino effect with crafts. Building something, then realizing that you hadn’t “thought about”, is disappointing and counterproductive […]. The main thing is to carry out work that is safe, compliant with standards, durable and aesthetic. Understanding how our home works and how it is built is, in my opinion, an advantage for better living and maintaining it.
What place should sustainable choices occupy in the renovation plan for a living space?
This should be the case all the time! And it is with a clear and complete budget that we can achieve this. Yes, materials are expensive. So why not install them once, but do it well? We always end up paying for a choice of low-end materials. The more we understand a project as a whole, the better our decisions become and it is possible to favor economical options without compromising sustainability.
What has changed between the time of “Steph Bricole”, your first book, and “Réno-tonome”? How has the world of renovation evolved in just over 10 years?
10 years ago, manual work was entrusted to professionals. Now with all the shows and social media it’s trendy to know how to do them yourself. It’s so exhilarating, a good day at work, being in action, building something. This is undoubtedly what the public discovered. I encourage people to take on small jobs that bring pleasure or to try to restore what they have rather than always throwing everything away.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.