Home Renovation in Victoria – Get More Living Space Without Changing Your Address

How Does MAC Renovations Lift a House in Victoria?

Like everything else we do, we start with a plan. We’ll look at everything that’s connected to the house, such as your services, like electrical, water, storm, and sanitary, as well as landscaping, siding, and windows. Once we gather this information, we’ll take a look at what can stay and what needs to be replaced or upgraded. For many of the homes serviced by water from the CRD, an upgrade of the main line into the home is required, especially if we’re adding more living space. As well, a house lift is a great time to do a seismic upgrade, extending the service life of your home.

Some of the homes in the Fairfield area of Victoria are great candidates for a house lift, as these homes are architecturally sound, have significant cultural value, and have a solid bedrock for us to build on.

Once we know what needs to be done, we can apply for the required permits, jack up the house to the planned height, pour the new foundation and supports, and upgrade the necessary services. Our crews then turn the new ground floor into the space you’ve planned.

Among the different home addition ideas, lifting a house can also reduce the amount of existing material sent to the landfill. Instead of demolishing the home, we can build underneath it, adding significant square footage without taking space away from the yard. This makes it one of the most practical home expansion ideas for suitable properties.

Home Addition Ideas for Expanding Your Space in Victoria

If your property has the room, an addition can be a great way to add square footage to your home. We’ll look at the property to see what’s possible, then create a plan that adds space while preserving the original character of the house.

Many of the additions we’ve completed throughout Victoria blend seamlessly with the existing structure, making the new space look like it has always been there.

While additions work well on larger lots, modest properties may also benefit from creative house addition ideas. Extending the footprint by 15 feet along the back or side of the home could provide 300 or more square feet, depending on the property and design. A multi-level addition may create even more room.

These home extension ideas could provide the extra space you need for a kitchen, bedroom, family room, home office, or private suite.

Garden Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units in Victoria

A garden suite, also called an accessory dwelling unit, can add a self-contained home to your property without changing the main house. Depending on the municipality, it may also be called a backyard suite, carriage house, or laneway house.

B.C. has expanded housing options across the province, but local zoning, servicing, site conditions, and permit requirements still affect what can be built on a specific property. In the City of Victoria, garden suites require a building permit and are intended as long-term housing. Review Victoria’s residential infill and suite requirements.

There are many considerations beyond the available yard space. We look at zoning, parking, utilities, access, privacy, and how the property will work for people living in both homes.

For example, someone returning to the garden suite at night needs a safe, well-lit route that does not shine security lighting into the main home’s bedrooms. These small details can make a big difference.