Laneway House Construction Vancouver BC
Laneway house construction is the most distinctive and financially compelling general contracting investment available to eligible Vancouver homeowners — and one of the most complex to navigate correctly. A laneway house (also referred to as a coach house or accessory dwelling unit) is a permitted secondary dwelling built in the rear yard of an RS-zoned Vancouver property, typically ranging from 500 to 750 square feet and accessed from the rear lane. Construction requires a City of Vancouver Development Permit — a separate approval from the Building Permit — that must comply with Vancouver's Laneway House Guidelines covering maximum floor area relative to lot size, height and setback requirements, design compatibility with the neighbourhood, and parking considerations. Total Renovations manages the complete laneway house scope as a licensed Vancouver general contractor: architectural design coordination with a registered architect, City of Vancouver Development Permit application and follow-up, Building Permit application, full construction including foundation, framing, mechanical systems, and all interior finishing, and all required City of Vancouver inspections through to final occupancy. A completed Vancouver laneway house consistently generates $2,500–$4,000+ per month in rental income, providing one of the strongest rental yields available through any residential investment in Canada. Our fixed-price contracts include all professional coordination, permits, and construction — so Vancouver homeowners know the complete cost and timeline before a single application is filed.
Secondary Suite Conversion Vancouver BC
Vancouver's housing market creates a secondary suite investment case unlike any other Canadian city — where chronic rental housing shortage, world-class rental yields, and property values that make every dollar of added value meaningful combine to make basement and ground-floor suite conversion one of the most financially compelling renovation investments available to Vancouver homeowners. Total Renovations builds secondary suites in Vancouver that comply fully with the City of Vancouver's Secondary Suite Bylaw and BC Building Code Part 9 requirements: separate entrance construction or modification, minimum ceiling height compliance, one-hour fire separation between the main dwelling and the suite, STC-50 sound separation between floors, egress windows in all bedrooms, dedicated electrical circuits for the suite's kitchen and major appliances, and all required plumbing rough-in for the suite's bathroom and kitchen. We manage the complete City of Vancouver Building Permit process, coordinate all required inspections, and where applicable manage the suite registration process with the City. A permitted Vancouver secondary suite consistently generates $2,000–$3,500+ per month in rental income — providing a financial return that makes the construction cost recoverable in two to three years in most Vancouver neighbourhoods.
Kitchen Renovation Vancouver BC
Kitchen renovation in Vancouver is one of the most consistently in-demand general contracting services across the city — and the scope, character, and investment level of kitchen renovations vary significantly between Vancouver's diverse neighbourhoods and housing eras. On Vancouver's Westside — in Kitsilano, Point Grey, Dunbar, Kerrisdale, and Shaughnessy — kitchen renovation often involves significant structural work to open the compartmentalised floor plans of pre-war and post-war character homes that were not designed for contemporary open-concept living. These structural modifications require engineer coordination and, in some cases, City of Vancouver Development Permit review where the scope affects the character house exterior. In East Vancouver and Mount Pleasant, kitchen renovation on craftsman and Vancouver Special homes typically involves comprehensive updates — new custom cabinetry, stone countertops, improved lighting, and modern plumbing fixtures — at investment levels that reflect the East Side's more accessible market positioning. In all cases, Total Renovations delivers Vancouver kitchen renovations as a full general contracting scope under one fixed price with one project manager coordinating every trade and all City of Vancouver permits throughout.
Bathroom Renovation Vancouver BC
Bathroom renovation is one of Vancouver's most popular general contracting scopes — and in a city where primary homes routinely sell for $2,000,000 or more, the investment in a luxury primary bathroom remodel that matches the property's value is both financially justified and practically rewarding. Westside character homes in Kitsilano, Point Grey, and Kerrisdale that have not had bathroom updates since their original construction often conceal original cast iron plumbing and inadequate waterproofing beneath dated tile that dramatically undersells the property's potential. Total Renovations delivers bathroom renovations in Vancouver across the full quality range: luxury spa ensuites on Westside properties with freestanding soaker tubs, frameless glass tile showers, heated floor systems, custom double vanities, and premium fixture selections; practical but high-quality secondary bathroom and ensuite updates on East Vancouver craftsman and character houses; and ground-floor accessible bathroom conversions for Vancouver's older residents who plan to remain in their homes long-term. Every Vancouver bathroom renovation is completed under a fixed price with all City of Vancouver plumbing and electrical permits managed and a written workmanship warranty on every trade scope.
Home Additions Vancouver BC
Home additions in Vancouver are among the most complex general contracting projects in Metro Vancouver — shaped by the City of Vancouver's FSR (Floor Space Ratio) regulations, character house design guidelines, development permit requirements, and the engineering demands of adding to buildings that may be 80–100 years old. For Vancouver homeowners on the Westside whose families have outgrown their existing footprint but who have no desire to sell into today's replacement market, a well-executed home addition managed by an experienced Vancouver general contractor is frequently the most cost-effective path to the space they need. Total Renovations manages home additions in Vancouver as a complete general contracting scope: City of Vancouver Development Permit application and management, architectural design coordination, structural engineering and stamp, foundation assessment and modification where required, framing, roofline integration, exterior cladding consistent with the City of Vancouver's character house guidelines, windows and doors, and full interior finishing — under one fixed price with all permits and professional coordination included. Ground-floor main floor additions, second-storey additions, and rear additions on Vancouver RS-zoned properties are all within our general contracting scope, managed through the City of Vancouver's complete development and building permit process.
Heritage & Character Home Renovation Vancouver
Vancouver's inventory of heritage and character houses — concentrated particularly in Shaughnessy, Kerrisdale, Dunbar, Kitsilano, Strathcona, and Mount Pleasant — represents some of the most architecturally significant residential buildings in Western Canada. Renovating these homes requires a general contractor with specific heritage sensitivity: understanding which architectural features are protected under the City of Vancouver's Heritage Register or Character House policies, how to modernise building performance (insulation, moisture management, electrical, plumbing) without compromising the exterior character that gives these homes their exceptional identity, and how to navigate the City of Vancouver's development permit review process for properties in character retention areas. Total Renovations delivers heritage and character home renovations in Vancouver that respect the architectural integrity of exceptional houses while delivering the performance, comfort, and livability that contemporary families require. We assess each heritage property's specific overlay status during the free consultation, identify any City of Vancouver development permit or heritage alteration permit requirements, and manage the complete regulatory process so Vancouver homeowners can renovate with confidence that their home's heritage value is protected throughout.
Full Home Renovation Vancouver BC
A full home renovation — coordinating kitchen, bathroom, basement, and exterior improvements under a single general contracting contract — delivers the most comprehensive transformation available to Vancouver homeowners, and is particularly compelling for the city's large inventory of character houses and Vancouver Specials that have never received comprehensive updating. For Vancouver homeowners who purchase an older Eastside or Westside property with renovation potential, a single general contractor contract for the complete renovation scope is the most efficient path to a transformed home: all trades coordinated, all City of Vancouver permits managed under one application where possible, all renovation scopes integrated correctly, one fixed price, one completion date. Total Renovations has delivered full home renovations across Vancouver's most distinctive addresses — managing City of Vancouver development and building permits, coordinating architects, structural engineers, and all subtrades, and delivering every scope under fixed-price contracts with written workmanship warranties throughout. When Vancouver homeowners want one trusted general contractor responsible for everything, Total Renovations delivers.
Exterior Renovation Vancouver BC
Exterior renovation on Vancouver's character and heritage houses is a general contracting scope that requires sensitivity to the City of Vancouver's character retention policies alongside the building science expertise that Metro Vancouver's wet climate demands. Total Renovations delivers exterior renovation in Vancouver under City of Vancouver building and where required development permits — siding replacement that respects character house design guidelines, roofing replacement, window and door replacement with profiles that complement the home's architectural period, deck construction, and exterior painting. For character houses in Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, and East Vancouver, we work within the City of Vancouver's character house exterior alteration guidelines when applicable, selecting siding profiles and window proportions that maintain the architectural integrity of these exceptional homes. For Vancouver's newer housing stock throughout the city, exterior renovation follows contemporary Metro Vancouver best practice — fibre cement cladding, rainscreen assemblies, and materials selected for the city's persistent wet climate. Every Vancouver exterior renovation is delivered under a fixed price with all City of Vancouver permits managed throughout.
Custom Home Renovation Vancouver BC
Vancouver homeowners — living in one of the world's most design-forward residential cities — bring renovation visions that reflect the city's sophisticated design culture and specific lifestyle requirements. Custom built-in cabinetry and library systems in Kitsilano craftsman homes, home office conversions with acoustic treatment and technology infrastructure in Mount Pleasant creative industry households, custom wine room and wet bar installations in Shaughnessy estates, accessible renovation modifications for Vancouver's significant older homeowner population, and custom storage and organisation solutions throughout the city are among the custom general contracting scopes Total Renovations delivers across Vancouver's diverse residential portfolio. Every custom renovation project in Vancouver is scoped during a thorough consultation, priced under a written fixed-price contract, permitted through the City of Vancouver where required, and delivered with a written workmanship warranty — at the quality level appropriate for the world-class city in which it is located.
