Process
Your Project
Step by Step From First Conversation to Final Delivery
01
Meet and Greet
We start by getting to know you: what you want, what you actually need, and how you use your home day-to-day. Then we measure that against the site itself. Every lot has limits, and the useful question early on is how much of what you want the lot will genuinely allow. We usually leave this meeting with two or three different strategies worth exploring.
02
Concept and Requirements
Once we know what you are trying to achieve, we translate it into sketches, drawings, and 3D models so you can see the spaces before anyone commits to them. We make suggestions as we go while staying mindful of your budget, though the exact numbers come later.
This is also where we identify the municipal zoning bylaws and any site restrictions. Doing it now rather than later is what tells us whether the design fits as of right or needs relief from the Committee of Adjustment. Finding that out at the sketch stage costs nothing. Finding it out after permit drawings are complete costs months.
This is also where we identify the municipal zoning bylaws and any site restrictions. Doing it now rather than later is what tells us whether the design fits as of right or needs relief from the Committee of Adjustment. Finding that out at the sketch stage costs nothing. Finding it out after permit drawings are complete costs months.
03
Design Development and Costing
We take the agreed layouts and turn them into working drawings, developing the 3D model further so it starts to look like the finished house. We bring in the other consultants at this point, so preliminary HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and structural drawings all get established together rather than in sequence.
04
Building Permit
With the design and construction documents complete, we submit to the City for permit.
We also submit applications on your behalf to the other City departments, so construction does not get interrupted later. That includes tree protection permits, gas and hydro disconnection, and temporary power. Missing one of these is one of the most common reasons a job stalls for weeks after the permit itself is already approved.
We handle the paperwork and liaise with City planners to bring the drawing set up to current code and zoning standards. While we wait for permit, we draft a preliminary construction schedule and finalise the last design details and costing.
This is also when we recommend you start preparing: emptying out the areas under construction, or vacating the property entirely. On a new build, we suggest walking over with the project manager to give your neighbours a friendly heads-up about what is planned for the site. It costs nothing and it prevents a lot of friction later.
We also submit applications on your behalf to the other City departments, so construction does not get interrupted later. That includes tree protection permits, gas and hydro disconnection, and temporary power. Missing one of these is one of the most common reasons a job stalls for weeks after the permit itself is already approved.
We handle the paperwork and liaise with City planners to bring the drawing set up to current code and zoning standards. While we wait for permit, we draft a preliminary construction schedule and finalise the last design details and costing.
This is also when we recommend you start preparing: emptying out the areas under construction, or vacating the property entirely. On a new build, we suggest walking over with the project manager to give your neighbours a friendly heads-up about what is planned for the site. It costs nothing and it prevents a lot of friction later.
05
Construction
Once the permit is issued we finalise the schedule while the site team prepares: site hoarding, locating existing services, temporary power if needed, and applications for new water and sewage connections.
Through construction we coordinate with the City and the consultants for municipal inspections, third party inspections and surveys, warranties, and final close-out documents. If you want to make changes along the way, we will work them in wherever the progress allows.
Through construction we coordinate with the City and the consultants for municipal inspections, third party inspections and surveys, warranties, and final close-out documents. If you want to make changes along the way, we will work them in wherever the progress allows.
