Renovating in Orleans? 3 Hidden Challenges from our aging homes
If you live in Queenswood Heights, Fallingbrook or Chapil Hill you know the charm of these neighborhoods. Big trees, established parks, and spacious lots that you just don’t find in brand-new builds.
Most of these homes were built during the Orleans "boom" of the 1980s and 1990s. They have what we in the industry call "good bones"—solid framing and great layouts.
However, as these homes hit the 30-to-40-year mark, they start showing their age in specific ways. At LaBader Construction, we have peeled back the drywall in hundreds of Orleans homes, and we see the same three issues pop up again and again.
Before you start your renovation, here is what you need to know about your 1990s home.
80’s & 90’s Orleans Kitchen
1. The "Leda Clay" Factor
Ottawa, and specifically parts of Orleans, is built on Leda clay. This soil is unique because it is sensitive to moisture changes—it swells when wet and shrinks when dry.
What this means for your reno: If you have noticed hairline cracks in your foundation or doors that stick only in the summer, your house is likely shifting slightly with the seasons. This is common, but it impacts your flooring choices.
LaBader Tip: In Orleans basements, we often recommend Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring instead of large-format ceramic tile. LVP is flexible and floats, meaning if your concrete slab shifts a millimeter, your floor won't crack. Rigid tile doesn't have that forgiveness.
2. The "Cold Room" Above the Garage
Does your home have that one bedroom above the garage that is always freezing in January and boiling in July?
This is a classic trait of 1980s/90s builds (especially split-levels). Back then, building codes for insulation in "cantilevered" floors (floors that hang over an unheated space) weren't as strict as they are in 2026. The fiberglass batts often settle over time, leaving gaps that let the Canadian winter right into your bedroom.
The Fix: If you are planning to renovate a bedroom or replace flooring above a garage, that is the perfect time to address this. We often suggest injecting spray foam insulation into the joist cavities. It acts as a vapor barrier and an insulator, solving the comfort issue permanently.
3. "Builder-Grade" Fatigue (The Golden Oak Era)
If you walk into ten homes in Fallingbrook built in 1992, five of them will likely still have the original honey-oak kitchen cabinets and the standard pink-beige bathroom tiles.
These materials were durable, which is why they lasted this long! But visually, they date the home instantly. The challenge for homeowners is deciding: Do we gut it, or do we work with it?
The Opportunity: Because 90s kitchens in Orleans are often quite large, you don't always need a full demolition.
The Refresh: Sometimes, professional cabinet refacing, new quartz countertops, and modern hardware are enough to transform the space for half the cost of a new kitchen.
The Layout Tweak: Many 90s homes have a desk built into the kitchen (which nobody uses anymore). We frequently remove that desk section to install a beverage center or a pantry, adding modern function to an older layout.
Conclusion: Trust the Local Experts
Your 1990s home has incredible potential. It just needs a little help to meet modern standards of style and efficiency.
Because we are a local, family-owned business, we understand the specific quirks of Orleans construction. We know what to look for before we quote a price, so there are fewer surprises once the work begins.
Ready to bring your 80s or 90s home into 2026? Contact Jacob and Lina today. Let’s talk about your vision.