Renovations and Additions in Greater Vancouver
High-impact upgrades, done with the same care as our full builds.
We take on renovations and additions that change how a house works, not just how it looks: adding storeys or floor area, opening up structure, reworking layouts, and bringing older houses up to current standards. The same contract, in-house design and daily updates apply as on a ground-up build.
What kinds of renovation do you take on?
Work with structure and permits behind it. Additions that extend a house out or up, layout changes that involve removing or relocating structural walls, basement excavation and underpinning, full envelope replacement, and conversions that add a self-contained suite to an existing home.
These are the projects where the design and permit work matters as much as the trades, which is why they suit a builder with architectural design in-house rather than a contractor working from someone else’s drawings.
Should I renovate or rebuild?
It is a real question and the answer is not always the flattering one. Renovation wins when the existing structure is sound, the layout has good bones, and you are attached to the house. Rebuilding wins when the structure needs substantial work regardless, when the layout fights you at every turn, or when the lot now permits considerably more than what is standing on it.
That last point has changed the maths for a lot of owners. If your lot now permits three to six units, the value of what you could build may exceed what any renovation adds. We assess both honestly during feasibility rather than steering you toward whichever is the bigger contract.
Can I add a suite to my existing house?
Usually yes. Converting existing space into a self-contained secondary suite means adding a kitchen, bathroom, separate entrance, fire separation, acoustic separation and often egress windows. It is the cheapest way to add a dwelling unit to a property because the shell already exists.
It also counts toward the number of units your lot is permitted, so it is worth understanding how it fits with anything else you might want to build later.
How do you price renovation work?
We price after design, the same as a new build. Renovations carry more unknowns than new construction because you are working with an existing building, so we do the investigation before quoting rather than pricing optimistically and issuing change orders later.
Where genuinely unknowable conditions exist — what is inside a wall, what the foundation looks like below grade — we say so up front and deal with it explicitly rather than burying it.
- Structural scope: what is being removed, added or reinforced
- Foundation work, underpinning or excavation
- Envelope: roof, windows, cladding and insulation
- Mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades to current standards
- Whether you remain in the house during the work
- Finish level and how much of the existing home is being touched
What warranty applies to renovation work?
Two years on labour and materials, five years on the building envelope against water penetration, and ten years of structural coverage on foundation and framing, applied to the work we carry out.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay in the house during a renovation?
Sometimes, depending on scope. Additions and single-area remodels often allow it; full envelope work, excavation or whole-house remodels usually do not. We confirm this before work starts.
Do renovations need a permit?
Structural work, additions, new suites and envelope work generally do. We prepare and submit the application and act as your representative with the city.
Is it cheaper to renovate than rebuild?
Often, but not always. If the existing structure needs substantial work anyway, or the lot now permits significantly more density, rebuilding can produce more value for similar money.
Can you add a second storey?
Where the existing foundation and structure can carry it, or can be reinforced to. That assessment happens before design, not during construction.
Do you take on smaller cosmetic projects?
Our work is focused on projects involving structure, permits or design. For purely cosmetic refreshes a specialist finishing contractor is usually a better fit.
Next Step
Find out what your lot allows
Every project starts with a feasibility study. No obligation, no pressure, and a reply within one business day.