Nothing makes you feel like your house could use a bit more space than being cooped up with the kids for 7 months and trying to still get some work done. We get it. If your solution to this (and we think it’s a great one) is a renovation to enlarge your home with an addition, a second story or both, there are a few important things to consider beforehand. Read more…
The most important thing is proper planning for the type of reno you want to do. If you want to start in the spring (March and April are popular start times to give maximum good weather and be done before winter), now is the time to start planning. Getting your design done and getting any permits required for that design will take months, so getting started now is the right thing to do if you’re serious about it.
Once you have your contractor and your architect (and engineer, if structural issues are in play), you need to decide if your design will be inside or outside what is allowed by your local planning bylaws. In every city, there are rules about what is permitted in construction, typically around issues of height, depth, maximum % lot coverage, setbacks, parking and secondary structures like garages. If you stay within these guidelines, permitting is relatively straightforward, although CoVid-19 has slowed many municipal offices’ turnaround times. If you are determined to do more than what is allowed for your lot/street/neighbourhood, then you will have to apply for a variance (exception) to the bylaw, and the city will invite all your neighbours to attend a public meeting and give their opinion on why you should or shouldn’t be able to do this. It’s something to carefully consider.
If you’re thinking about 2021 being a house-expanding year for you, give us a call and we’d be happy to help you scope out the project.
