The Benefits of Basement Suites – Fort Sask Reno Interview with Tom Beaulieu
Trevor: Hey, welcome back to Fort Sask Reno’s YouTube channel! I’m Trevor, and today I’m interviewing the man with the plan. Introduce yourself, sir.
Tom: I’m Tom, the Director of Operations at Fort Sask Reno.
Trevor: Awesome! Today, we’re going to talk about what you’ve been up to this week, some projects on the go, and your history with Fort Sask Reno. Let’s rewind to the beginning. Tell us how you got started at Fort Sask Reno.
Tom’s Start with Fort Sask Reno
Tom: I started at Fort Sask Reno like any of my siblings—picking nails when I was a kid, probably around 15 years old. I helped Dad out to earn some money to buy bikes.
Trevor: What kind of bikes?
Tom: Pedal bikes. I did a lot of cycling as a kid. Those bikes cost a couple of grand each, so I had to pick up a lot of nails to pay for them.
Trevor: I bet Dad was generous with how much he paid you per pound of nails!
Tom: Yeah, for sure.
From Nails to Operations
Trevor: So, you started with nails. Where did it go from there?
Tom: That was 15 years ago. Since then, I’ve learned a few things along the way. For most of that time, it was just Jim and me doing siding. Over the last few years, we’ve grown the company into something where we’re working on the business instead of just in it.
Trevor: And when did you officially start working full-time?
Tom: Right out of high school in 2012. So, I’ve been with Fort Sask Reno full-time for about a dozen years now.
Trevor: That’s a lot of experience in exterior and interior renovations.
Transition to Interior Renovations
Trevor: The last few years have been more focused on interior renovations, right? Tell me about how that started and where it’s taken you.
Tom: Funny enough, our interior work started with an exterior project. The client asked if we could do their custom shower. We jumped on the opportunity and ended up doing three showers for them. Since then, we’ve expanded into kitchens, basements, and full home renovations.
Trevor: That’s awesome. Sometimes contractors hesitate to take on unfamiliar work, but if you can handle exteriors, interiors aren’t a huge leap.
Tom: Absolutely. In some ways, interior work is easier. You’re working in smaller spaces like a 5×10 bathroom instead of 2,200 square feet of siding. Plus, you don’t have to deal with weather delays.
Current Projects at Fort Sask Reno
Trevor: Let’s talk about what you’re working on this week. Any notable projects?
Tom: Our biggest project so far is for a client, Mr. Dow. We’ve completed four bathrooms and are wrapping up the basement mudding, taping, and painting. This week, we’re climatizing the flooring so we can install it next week and finish the project. We’ve been there since January, so he’ll be happy to see us go—but not for long. We’re back in the spring to do the kitchen and exterior.
Trevor: Wow, so you’re practically renovating the whole house.
Tom: Pretty much.
Trevor: What about the exterior?
Tom: That’s planned for the spring.
Trevor: This house is going to look incredible when you’re done.
Basement Suite Project in Fort Saskatchewan
Trevor: I hear you’re working on a complete gut renovation of a house in Fort Saskatchewan, adding a basement suite. Tell me about that.
Tom: We just started this week, right after the long weekend. It’s been mostly demo work—pulling carpets, baseboards, and walls. Older homes in Pine View have walls separating the living room and kitchen, which people don’t want anymore. We’ve removed that wall and are redesigning the kitchen to make better use of the space.
We’re meeting with HVAC for the secondary furnace and planning window replacements. Thankfully, the house already has upgraded 100-amp service, a newer hot water tank, and a furnace, so it has good bones.
Trevor: How long will this project take?
Tom: We’re aiming for 12 weeks from start to finish.
Why Basement Suites Are Important
Trevor: Let’s talk about why basement suites are so valuable in Fort Saskatchewan.
Tom: Fort Saskatchewan has a less than 1% vacancy rate, and with the Dow chemical plant expansion, more people are moving here. Basement suites help address the housing shortage and also allow homeowners to qualify for higher mortgages because of the additional rental income.
Why Choose Fort Sask Reno
Trevor: That’s a great point. If someone in Fort Saskatchewan wants to increase their income with a basement suite or needs a renovation, Fort Sask Reno is the team to call.
Tom: Definitely. We have the experience, expertise, and manpower to get it done right.
Trevor: Visit fortsaskreno.com to fill out the form and schedule a consultation. Thanks for joining us, Tom.
Tom: Thank you, sir.
Trevor: Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video with anyone considering a renovation!