TORONTO HOME BUILDING AND RENOVATION BLOG — BVM Contracting

Toronto Housing Roadmap Creates Unprecedented Property Opportunities

Toronto Housing Roadmap Creates Unprecedented Property Opportunities

Toronto is changing the rules of property development forever. The city's ambitious plan to create 285,000 new homes by 2031 isn't just another policy announcement. It's a complete reimagining of what's possible for property owners across the city.

The True Cost of Hiring the Wrong Renovation Contractor

The True Cost of Hiring the Wrong Renovation Contractor

We received an email from a past connection that received a budget from us for their substantial renovation project, but ended up going with a “cheaper” contractor. Towards the end of the projects, things went so bad (and they regretted the decision so much) that they were compelled to email us about it. Learn more about their story, and how you can avoid “renovation regret” with your own project.

Benefits of Adding a Second HVAC System to a Home Addition

Benefits of Adding a Second HVAC System to a Home Addition

Expanding your home with an addition is a costly, yet necessary endeavor for a lot of Toronto home owners who have growing families or space needs. However, one crucial consideration often overlooked is how a home addition will affect your home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. While it may seem convenient to extend your existing HVAC ductwork to cover heating and cooling needs for the new space, adding a second and dedicated HVAC system for the addition can offer numerous benefits. In this article, we'll outline why adding a second HVAC system to your home addition project might become a huge benefit to your newly-constructed home in Toronto (and beyond).

Garden Suite Cost Calculator

Garden Suite Cost Calculator

Looking to understand how much your garden suite or laneway suite will cost you? Try out our cost calculator today to get more clarity into what to expect for your garden suite construction project in Toronto.

Legal Duplex Requirements in Ontario

Legal Duplex Requirements in Ontario

Looking to convert your home into two separate apartments? Learn about the key considerations involved in getting the conversion completed properly.

Garden Suites: Building Solutions for Toronto’s Multigenerational Families

Garden Suites: Building Solutions for Toronto’s Multigenerational Families

Toronto – like many cities around the world - is seeing a growing trend in housing that caters to the needs of multi-generational families. One such innovative solution is the construction of garden suites, providing families with the space and flexibility to live together while maintaining their independence. At BVM Contracting, we are proud to showcase a recent garden suite construction project that beautifully exemplifies this trend and how we worked with our client to find the right solution to support the dynamics of their multigenerational household.

Your Guide to Obtaining Building Permits in Toronto

Your Guide to Obtaining Building Permits in Toronto

Learn more about the process of obtaining building permits in Toronto and how a General Contractor should get involved during the process.

Forget Underpinning: Use the Floor Replacement Method

Forget Underpinning: Use the Floor Replacement Method

We've spent years helping Toronto families transform their cramped basement spaces. Through this experience, we've refined an alternative approach that typically saves our clients between $30,000-$40,000 while achieving the same ceiling height goals. Learn more here!

How to increase your basement ceiling height without Underpinning

How to increase your basement ceiling height without Underpinning

With our fair share of home addition, home extension, and full interior renovation projects we have seen and devised many alternative strategies to avoid having to underpin a basement to increase the ceiling height. Sometimes it is unavoidable to underpin but at least you will know your other options to make an informed decision for your next renovation project!

How to Prevent Home Addition Cost Overruns

How to Prevent Home Addition Cost Overruns

Learn more about the four critical assessments that all property owners looking to complete a home addition should know about to prevent any unnecessary cost overruns during their home addition project in Toronto and beyond.

Understanding Ontario Regulation 462/24: Additional Residential Units in Toronto

Understanding Ontario Regulation 462/24: Additional Residential Units in Toronto

Discover how Ontario Regulation 462/24 simplifies building Garden Suites and Laneway Suites in Toronto. Learn about reduced setbacks, removed angular planes, and how BVM Contracting can help with your project.

Overcoming Fire Hydrant Constraints for ADU's in Toronto

Overcoming Fire Hydrant Constraints for ADU's in Toronto

Toronto's urban landscape is evolving. Garden suites and laneway suites offer a promising solution to housing challenges, but a hidden obstacle often stands in the way: fire hydrants! In this article we discuss the solutions to overcome your property’s proximity to a fire hydrant, including one that one of our pre-construction client used!

Unexpected Home Building Costs in Toronto

Unexpected Home Building Costs in Toronto

There are so many variables and costs when it comes to building or renovating a home in Toronto, but here is a list of a few that are commonly unaccounted for that...

How to Navigate Toronto's Interactive Zoning Map

How to Navigate Toronto's Interactive Zoning Map

Learn how to use the Toronto Zoning By-law Map and discover how BVM Contracting’s free zoning analysis can help you unlock your property’s development potential.

Attached Secondary Suites Versus a Garden or Laneway Suite

Attached Secondary Suites Versus a Garden or Laneway Suite

Discover when a secondary suite via rear extension or addition is better than building a garden or laneway suite in Toronto. Learn about zoning, fire code, and cost considerations.

Custom Homes vs New Builds: Insights for Toronto Homeowners

Custom Homes vs New Builds: Insights for Toronto Homeowners

Discover the key differences between custom homes and new builds in Toronto. Learn about customization options, the design process, and expert tips for creating your dream home.

Discover Canada's New Housing Design Catalog

Discover Canada's New Housing Design Catalog

Explore and learn more about the Government of Canada's new catalogue which includes 50 pre-approved designs for garden suites, laneway suites, new homes, and multi-unit buildings. Save time, cut costs, and streamline your building project. Learn more with BVM Contracting!

Understanding the Stratification Process For Residential Properties in Toronto

Understanding the Stratification Process For Residential Properties in Toronto

Learn more about the process of stratification in Toronto and why it is usually reserved for large multi-unit development projects. We go over a case study of a project that completed a stratification of a residentially-zoned low-rise project in East York.

All About The Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program

All About The Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program

Learn about the Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program offering up to $80,000 in low-interest loans to homeowners to build secondary suites and increase density. Discover how to affordably build a garden suite or laneway suite and expand affordable housing in Canada.