Basement Finishing

How to build a legal Secondary suite

  Let’s start with a definition of exactly what a secondary suite is. A Secondary suite is a form of rental housing that is typically affordable, ground-oriented and market-based.

 

  To build a Legal Secondary suite the first step would be a visit to your local municipal building department. Or call ahead and arrange an appointment with a planner.  They can provide information on your property and its zoning and tell you if a L.S.S. is allowed in your area. They can provide guidance if your basement is already partially finished as to what can be retained and what areas need to be remediated to meet fire code.

 

  There is a Standard set by the British Columbia Building Code however each municipality is free to enforce the code to its own needs. Some municipalities may feel in some situations extra measures must be taken on a residence or that certain rules in the code need not be followed because of site situations. It Is always best to request a site inspection in the case of finished basements that are being converted or Illegal suites that are being brought up to legal standards.

  In my region when undertaking a Kelowna secondary suite, or Kelowna home renovation, like basement finishing.I recommend the same steps. If you are aware of the regulations, today’s basement finish can easily be converted into a secondary suite tomorrow.

 

The main focus of the British Columbia Building Code and its regulations has always been life safety. The regulations regarding secondary suites are no exception.  The floor system needs a certain fire rating. The walls and doors separating the suites also have requirements. The bedroom windows must be sized for egress in case of fire. The smoke alarms must be of the new photo electric type. These are examples of some of the requirements. There are also parking regulations and access requirements to allow the tenants safe and ease of use. The regulations are available as handout from your municipality or at   thttp://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/pub/secondary_suites.pdf from BC housing. I would strongly suggest you check with your own municipality. You own building department will have simplified the information for you, to just what you require.

 

 

 

 

 Once you have the rules and regulations I strongly suggest the hiring of a licenced contractor with experience building these suites and following these guidelines. You will be getting inspected by electrical, plumbing, and building inspectors and what you are building now is seen as a public space. So be prepared for them to be picky.

 

I get calls every day from home owners who have been caught with illegal suites. Don’t let it be you. To rebuild a suite is much more expensive than doing it right the first time.

 If you are in the Kelowna area give me us a call. Greenwave Construction specializes in the construction of Kelowna legal secondary suites and basement finishing. The building code is there to keep our families safe lets follow it.

 

 

 

How to Find a Kelowna Home Renovation Contractor

Aug. 11 2014

 

How to Find a Kelowna Home Renovation Contractor

 

An addition using attic trusses, great pre planning.

The fall is just around the corner here in the beautiful Okanagan Valley and as we all begin to recover from this heat wave. Thoughts begin to turn to  home renovation projects. Summer is over holidays are done. So now 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?

  

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?

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 trade’s person, or supplier?   

Now let’s discuss hiring a contractor.

 

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.

·        General Liability Insurance

·        Pictures of completed work

·        A trade certification.

·        Homeowners Protection Office Registration 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.

 
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.

  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.  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.

At Greenwave we make dreams a reality

 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  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

 

 

 

 

dave@greenwaveconstruction.cahttp://youtu.be/mtPrrA89aMo