Vancouver Renovation Guides

Expert guides on renovation costs, permits, design ideas & local contractors across Metro Vancouver.

Burnaby kitchen renovation open concept dining area
Cost Guides31 minMar 2026

Open Concept Renovation in Vancouver: Costs, Structural Reality, and What Contractors Find in Your Walls (2026)

The walls that divide Vancouver kitchens from living rooms were not designed with 2026 in mind. They were framed in an era when cooking was a private activity, when separate dining rooms signalled formality, and when natural light was something that happened to one room at

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Vancouver home renovation consultation with contractor and homeowner

Do You Need a Permit to Renovate in Vancouver? A Room-by-Room Breakdown (2026)

One of the most common questions Vancouver homeowners ask before starting a renovation is simple: do I need a permit to renovate in Vancouver? The answer depends entirely on what you are changing, where you are changing it, and how significant the work is. Get it

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City of Surrey BC renovation guide

Home Addition Cost in Vancouver: Rear, Second Storey, and Suite Additions Priced for 2026

Planning a home addition in Vancouver is one of the most significant financial decisions a homeowner will make. With detached homes in East Vancouver, Burnaby, and North Vancouver commanding $1.5M to $2.5M on the open market, adding livable square footage often delivers a stronger return than

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Laneway house construction Vancouver BC

Laneway House in Vancouver: The Complete 2026 Homeowner Guide (Cost, Permits, ROI)

Vancouver has more laneway houses per capita than almost any city in North America — and that number keeps climbing. Since the City of Vancouver legalized them in 2009, over 7,000 have been built, and our team at Vancouver General Contractors pulls permits for new ones

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City of Vancouver BC renovation services

Vancouver Special Renovation: Costs, Permits, Neighbourhoods, and What to Expect (2026)

The Vancouver Special is one of the most recognizable — and most misunderstood — housing types in Metro Vancouver. Walk through Fraserview, Renfrew-Collingwood, or Killarney and you'll spot them on nearly every block: flat or gently sloped rooflines, stucco exteriors, wide picture windows, and that unmistakable

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Vancouver custom home renovation with modern pool design
Cost Guides31 minMar 2026

Whole Home Renovation Cost in Vancouver: What a Complete Transformation Actually Costs in 2026

A whole home renovation is one of the largest financial decisions a Vancouver homeowner will ever make — and one of the most rewarding. Whether you own a 1920s Craftsman bungalow in Kitsilano, a 1970s Vancouver Special in Fraserview, or a 1990s suburban in Burnaby, a

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Vancouver custom home renovation with modern pool design

Build vs. Renovate in Vancouver: Which Makes More Financial Sense in 2026?

If you own a home in Metro Vancouver, you have almost certainly asked yourself this question at some point: should I renovate what I have, or tear it down and build new? It sounds straightforward. In most North American cities, the answer is nearly always "renovate

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Laneway house construction Vancouver BC

Laneway House Design Ideas for Vancouver: Floor Plans, Styles, and What Builders Actually Recommend (2026)

You've decided to build a laneway house on your Vancouver lot. The zoning question is settled, the financing is lined up, and now comes the part that actually determines whether your investment pays off: design. The layout you choose, the systems you specify, the exterior style

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Finished basement suite renovation Vancouver BC

Basement Waterproofing in Vancouver: Costs, Methods, and What Works in BC’s Climate (2026)

Vancouver's reputation for rain isn't just a cliché — it's a structural reality that every homeowner with a basement eventually confronts. With 1,153mm of annual rainfall and more than 167 rainy days per year, Metro Vancouver's climate creates the perfect conditions for wet basements, hydrostatic pressure,

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City of Surrey BC renovation guide
Planning & Financing28 minMar 2026

CleanBC, BC Hydro, and CMHC Renovation Rebates in Metro Vancouver: The Complete 2026 Stacking Guide

Vancouver homeowners sitting on 1960s and 1970s houses are quietly pulling off something remarkable: they're funding large-scale renovations at below-market interest rates, collecting five-figure cash rebates from three levels of government, and converting underused basements into mortgage-helper suites that cash-flow positive from month one. The secret

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Modern kitchen renovation Vancouver BC
Kitchen Renovations30 minMar 2026

Kitchen Renovation Cost in Vancouver: Real Pricing for Every Budget (2026)

If you've started researching a kitchen renovation in Vancouver, you've probably noticed the numbers are all over the map. One contractor quotes $35,000. Another says $90,000 for the same job. A friend in Toronto spent $40,000 on what sounds like a more elaborate project. What's going

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Vancouver home renovation consultation with contractor and homeowner
Planning & Financing32 minMar 2026

How to Choose a Renovation Contractor in Vancouver: The BC Licensing and Vetting Guide (2026)

Every year, Metro Vancouver homeowners lose tens of thousands of dollars to renovation contractors who were never properly licensed, never had WorkSafeBC coverage, and never intended to finish the job. The sad truth: most of these situations were entirely preventable. Verifying a contractor's credentials in BC

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Vancouver home renovation consultation with contractor and homeowner

Unpermitted Renovations in Vancouver: Real Risks, Costs to Legalize, and How to Fix Them

If you own a home in Metro Vancouver — or you're thinking about buying one — there's a reasonable chance you're dealing with unpermitted renovation work. Maybe you inherited it from a previous owner. Maybe life got in the way and the basement reno that was

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Renovation Contractor Serving Metro Vancouver

VGC completes kitchen, bathroom, basement, and full home renovations across the Lower Mainland. Click your city for local pricing and project information.