Kelowna Carriage House Construction

Although the days of the horse and carriage have long ago slipped into history, in the past, the term “carriage house” described a building for the housing of carriages, coaches and the like. These structures commonly had servants’ quarters located above them. As the years went by the carriages evolved into automobiles and the servant quarters in many cases have become secondary suites used for a variety of purposes.

This Carriage Home Shows the design possibilities

Today the term carriage house is commonly used to describe a small home located in the rear yard of an existing home. This home can be used as a mortgage helper, for extended family or for visiting guests. These days carriage houses have made a big comeback. Many municipalities are now allowing carriage homes in their zoning. Cities have seen this zoning as an opportunity to increase density, and their tax base without installing additional services for these residences. Carriage homes can also serve to reduce urban sprawl.                               



Kelowna carriage homes offer a wonderful opportunity to get that mortgage helper or keep a family together as it grows or allow a family to move back closer together. If you are curious as to whether or not you can erect a carriage home just check with your municipal building department. They will sit down with you, answer your questions and make suggestions. There are certain setback and parking requirements that must be met. It is also prudent to enquire about your water, sewer, gas and hydro services; they may be required to be upgraded to allow for the proposed development.




before

Recently, Greenwave Construction actually built a carriage house on top of a home as a penthouse suite (see our video series )   http://youtu.be/bRd0QS0r5rE  because the lot did not allow for the carriage home to be built in the rear yard. The home had a flat roof and the end result is a real head turner. With the home receiving a new cladding it now looks like a new home. Another option could be to attach the carriage home to the existing in the form of an addition; this can save space as well.



after

If you are considering a carriage home or another construction project for your home or business please give Greenwave Construction a call; we want to help. Our 30 years of experience in construction management can save you time and money. We will produce a high quality project at a down to earth price. Today’s mortgage money has never been cheaper and financial institutions usually look favorably upon revenue properties. Carriage homes rent well and are favoured by many as an alternative to suites and condos.

How To Find A Kelowna Renovation Contractor

 

 Finding Your Own Contracting Super Hero.

The spring is about to begin here in the beautiful Okanagan Valley and as we all awaken from our winter hibernation thoughts turn to the home renovation project. Maybe it was a resolution or a long term plan, in any case where do you start?

The first thing to establish is a budget. The second is who is going to run this project. Both of these important facets of your project go hand-in-hand.

Who is a good candidate for the owner/contractor job?

If you decide to go it alone and be your own contractor, you must establish your own budget. Let’s talk about this step first.

 

Ask yourselves, these questions:

Am I available during the day when all the work takes place?

Am I highly organized and have good people skills?
How much do I know about home renovations? (Watching renovation shows on TV does not count!)
Am I a good negotiator?
Can I run a project?
How much time do I have to devote to this endeavour?
Can I get the same pricing as a builder?
Can I find good trades people?
Do I know how to recognize a good trades person, or supplier?  

Now let’s discuss hiring a contractor.

If you hire the right contractor ?

David Federici at work supervising a Large project

Here is what you should expect to get. All the above items are no longer your problem. You now have an expert to do all of these tasks for you! What a relief. Sounds a little too easy doesn't it? If that's how you feel, you're right, it’s not quite that simple. How do you find this superhero of construction? I'm going to describe the right contractor to you, to help you identify the ideal candidate.

 

The qualified contractor will have

 A business licence

 A proven track record with references (that are not family relations)

 WCB coverage.

 A Tax number.

 Pictures of completed work

 A trade certification

 An Homeowners Protection Office certification

 Will have been in business for at least three years in the Okanagan
 A suppliers and trades-person team that they work with regularly.

 He should be in the Infotel Yellow pages directory. If the contactor has been a around a while, he will be listed.

 

To find your contractor I would used your computer and search for Kelowna home renovation contactors.

The contractor should have a website. You can do some research now anonymously and will be able to weed out bad eggs quickly. Look for the 2-5-10 year warranty being offered, testimonials and who the actual builder is. Nothing is worse that a fancy website that does not tell you anything about the person running the show.

Here is something I feel I should mention.

The Better Business Bureau directory does not have the expertise to evaluate the skill level or qualifications of a contractor. Truth is most new companies can start a business and join the BBB. The BBB is a good idea but the problem is primarily this: Most people will never call them and complain about a business; therefore you get a false sense of security.

 What you want to see is that the contractor is a licensed builder in the province of British Columbia and can offer the Home Owners Protection Warranty.

A well crafted job is a beauty to behold

 

These contactors are your "A" list builders. They have taken the time to prove experience, financial viability, stability, and that they have a clean record as far as any claims ever made against them of company's they’ve managed. Your project may not require the home warranty if it is a small renovation, however your builder is fully qualified and chances are they will stand behind their work to protect their reputation. A licensed builder will also be able to obtain better pricing on materials than a homeowner and have a team of qualified trades and suppliers to help you produce a fine quality project. So your costs may not be that much more than if you do the job yourselves.

 I hope this article will help consumers make the right choice when picking a contractor. My company, Greenwave Construction, has as its’ core value the protection of the consumer.

We feel we owe our clients a duty of care and attention if we are selected as their contractor. Greenwave is a solid licensed builder and we support all legislation that helps protect consumers from substandard workmanship or business practises. I hope you find this information helpful.

Good luck with your project!

David Federici

Owner, Greenwave Construction

250-575-2690

www.greenwaveconstruction.ca