For as long as there have been houses to build or renovate this question has always come up. Why hire a designer when you can get pre-made house plans? Like any trained professional, a designer brings to a project a set of skills that have been acquired over years of education and practice.
So you are looking to hire a designer and contractor for your new home project, but aren't sure where to start? Are you grappling with the challenges of whether to choose a design-build or design-bid-build construction process? Here we will break down the two systems and give some pros and cons for each to help you decide which project system is right for you.
With rampant inflation in cost of living and astronomical home prices many people are looking at adding a suite for adult children or in-laws. Here are our top tips for building a suite for adult children or in-laws.
It’s November 2025 and the past six months have been relatively flat when it comes to construction costs in our experience. Trades are hungry, lumber is steady, and quotes from earlier this year are holding. It’s a good time to build. If you’re considering building a new home, laneway, or small multi-unit/multiplex in Metro Vancouver, there are several current market advantages that are worth taking seriously:
As part of the Vancouver Plan, the city has identified 25 future Villages across the city of Vancouver. These villages are small neighbourhood centres made up of local shops, services, and housing. They are located using a 400-metre (5-minute) walking/rolling radius around existing small commercial nodes.
Knurled finishes are characterized by their texture which is a crosshatch or intricate line pattern. These are increasingly being used in home renovations and house building for both functional and aesthetic purposes.
In Vancouver, hardscape surfaces (driveways, patios, walkways, parking pads, etc.) are regulated by how much of your home's lot may be covered by impermeable materials. For most properties, the maximum impermeable materials site coverage is capped, typically at 60% or 70%, depending on zoning.
As urban density increases and housing affordability tightens in Vancouver, laneway homes have become a popular way to add functional, beautiful living space as a mortgage helper or for generational living. But while the idea of building a stylish backyard home is exciting, designing one within Vancouver’s constraints is far from simple.
When considering hiring a design-build home builder, you want to find a good fit in terms of experience, communication, transparency, and process. Here are 6 questions we recommend you ask your potential home builder.
Behind every beautifully crafted home is a combination of vision, creativity, and the right software tools to bring ideas to life.
There are many great reasons to go tankless, with a few considerations to keep in mind. Perhaps you are about to build a new home or complete a renovation, or maybe just thinking about replacing your hot water tank, so join us as we explore the pros and cons of tankless water heaters.
Vancouver City Council are currently exploring creative ways to tackle our city’s ongoing housing affordability challenges.
