Front Elevation

Tomorrow, I am meeting with Alison, a potential designer for this project. As part any undertaking, you have to surround yourself with a strong team.  We will discuss the proposed floor plans (attached) as well the idea of a “staged build”.

I hope Alison sees my vision.  We will also require the services of a structural engineer for foundation design, roof, and major structural support details.  These two professionals will help guide the project through the development permit process as well as deal with design/structural issues during construction.

Last fall, I also met with staff at the City of Vancouver to review the general parameters of the renovation (i.e. minimum set backs, square footage, etc.) as well as the idea of a “staged build”.  This is important because my family and I intend to live in the house during construction.  The first stage will involve gutting the basement and supporting the existing 1920′s structure while we excavate down 2 feet and replace the foundation walls and footings.   I still have to confirm whether this depth will still allow for gravity drainage of the basement toilets to the main sewer.  My experience with sump pumps hasn’t been good.  This deeper foundation will increase the head room in the basement from 6’6″ to 8’6″.  Drain tile will then be installed around the new foundation as well as new sewer and water hookups.  A new basement floor will be poured (with radiant heat), interior framing installed, and all exterior walls insulated; this will complete “Stage 1″.  We will discuss these details more fully as we progress.  But for now the priority is to get design drawings completed and permits in place for a potential summer startup.

Front Elevation

Main Floor Plan

Homeowner plans to build a major addition around older home with family living inside

Before renovations on 11th Avenue

Our renovated bungalow on 11th Avenue

As an introduction to this DIY project I’d like to state that I am currently only in the planning stages. Actually, my wife is not thrilled about ever living through another renovation. This is the third property we’ve purchased in Kitsilano (Vancouver, West Side) in the past 20 years.

To give you some context of how we got here, we started as roommates in grad school living in an 3 storey walk-up above Kits Beach. We got married in 1994. In the same year, we decided to purchase a ½ duplex on 8^th Avenue West (near Balaclava). This was done to the dismay of both of our parents who couldn’t understand how anyone could pay more than $100,000 for half a house.

View of our current house before we begin renovations

Over the years, we’ve added to our family (and now have two beautiful daughters, 6 and 8 years). We later purchased a revenue property on 11^th Avenue West (also near Balaclava), and things were going well.

Here’s the fun part. In early 2007 (during the hay days of the real estate bubble) we decided to sell the ½ duplex and renovate the revenue property on 11^th Avenue West into our dream home. Truth be told, it was I who pushed to build. You can see the completed project on workmasters.com (Project #001, Vancouver, BC). Not surprisingly, trades were hard to find and prices for labour were through the roof.

But what really hit home was the incredible difference in quality, customer service, and value for money, from building trades and contractors. With the budget racing out of control and little more than drywall on the studs, we took over the project from our General Contractor and completed the project ourselves. In the end, it was the help from our Interior Designer (and her relationships with seasoned tradesmen) that made the difference.

Unfortunately, after living in our dream home for just a year, we decided to put it on the market. Right down to the wire we almost pulled the offer. However, it was the right decision at the time.

We downsized to a property on 13^th Avenue West (and Balaclava … see the pattern here) and that’s where we are today. Our financial house is in much better shape but it’s still tough to walk by our dream home.

DIY Extreme invites you to follow the renovations of our third home from the initial stages of design and permits through demo/foundation work and framing to our final finishings.

Proposed renovation of current home