Home Renovation in Sunset Vancouver

Most renovations beyond cosmetic updates require City of Vancouver building permits. Kitchen and bathroom renovations involving plumbing or electrical work, structural modifications, additions, basement developments, and all full-home renovations require permits. We manage the entire permit application process including architectural drawings, engineering documentation, and building department coordination. Permit timelines typically add 4-6 weeks to project schedules.

Kitchen renovations typically require 4-6 weeks of active construction following permit approval. Projects involving structural changes like wall removal or beam installation, significant plumbing rerouting, or extensive electrical upgrades may extend to 8 weeks. We provide project-specific timelines during planning that account for your scope, material lead times, and inspection requirements.

Vancouver Specials present unique opportunities and challenges. Most benefit from opening up compartmentalized main floor layouts, updating aging mechanical systems, improving insulation and energy performance, and enhancing curb appeal. Many have solid structural bones but require electrical service upgrades, plumbing replacement, and window updates. We assess your specific home’s condition and develop renovation plans that respect the building’s geometry while creating contemporary livability.

Many Sunset properties qualify for laneway house development given the neighbourhood’s larger lots and lane access. Adding a laneway house requires separate permits and can be coordinated with main house renovations for cost efficiency. We help assess your property’s eligibility, manage the approval process, and coordinate construction sequencing if you choose to pursue both projects.

We guide material selection through structured decision points aligned with your budget and design goals. During the planning phase, you’ll make key selections for items with long lead times like cabinets, countertops, tile, and fixtures. We provide allowance guidance, connect you with suppliers, and coordinate delivery timing with construction schedules. Our process ensures you have adequate time for decisions without delaying your project.

Our fixed-price contracts include all labour, materials, permits, engineering, project management, site protection, waste removal, and post-construction cleaning. We itemize costs by scope area and specify allowances for finish materials where you control selection. Exclusions are clearly stated, and all potential additional costs are discussed during planning before you commit.

Older homes sometimes reveal hidden conditions like rot, outdated wiring, or structural deficiencies once demolition begins. We include reasonable contingencies in budgets, document all findings with photos, provide pricing for necessary remediation, and obtain your approval before proceeding with changes. Our planning process minimizes surprises, but we manage unforeseen issues transparently when they occur.