In Law Suites and Secondary Dwellings

Are you thinking about a new in law suite, or renting out your basement and bringing in a tenant? To many people, space within their own home seems like an attractive option for either making some extra income or making a living suite with an asset already at their disposal. However, it is more complicated […]

Your Home’s Smoke Alarm

The smoke alarm has come a long way since its inception as simple heat sensing devices over a 100 years ago. Today, there are a wide variety of manufacturers and types of smoke alarms and an equal variety of building codes for their placement depending on where you live. Here in Ontario, new regulations have recently […]

Home Insulation: Effective Insulation Options for Your Home

When it comes to home insulation, we all know that that the question isn’t “should I insulate?” but rather “what type of insulation should I use?” Properly installed home insulation provides an effective barrier between indoor and outdoor air and is key for home comfort, energy conservation and cost-savings on your utility bills. There are […]

Ottawa Home Renovation Concerns: Asbestos

One word that no homeowner in Ottawa wants to hear when considering a potential home renovation or room addition is asbestos. In Canada, if you own a home that was constructed in 1990 or earlier, there is a chance that there is asbestos in some of your home building materials. The presence of asbestos alone is […]

Ottawa Renovation Zoning By-Laws Series

Zoning by-laws may seem complicated, but here is a quick discussion for how to understand which type of zoning your home is classified under and how this affects your proposed home addition or Ottawa renovation. In Ottawa, there are 5 main residential density zones (R1 to R5) and each contains its own characteristics, set by […]

Ottawa Home Zoning By-Laws

Often we hear from customers that see renovations or home additions on television, or in a magazine, and want to duplicate that process with their home here in Ottawa. However, since every city is different in regards to zoning by-laws, below are some key points to keep in mind before falling in love with a […]