In an ever-evolving world of housing solutions, garden suites, laneway homes, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADUs) and tiny homes have risen to the forefront as innovative alternatives that offer so many advantages for homeowners and property investors. These compact and stylish living spaces provide a fresh perspective on efficient and sustainable living, and they’re gaining popularity across various communities.

Garden Suites: Garden suites, often referred to as ADUs, offer a flexible living arrangement by utilizing the space in your garden or backyard. They are a fantastic way to maximize the use of your property, providing extra living space for family members, guests, or even as a rental unit. Garden suites are known for their adaptability, environmentally friendly design, and energy efficiency.

Laneway Homes: Laneway homes, as the name suggests, are typically constructed along the rear of a property in the existing laneway. These charming and compact residences have gained popularity in urban areas, offering a sustainable solution to housing shortages. Laneway homes are a creative way to transform underutilized spaces into functional and stylish living quarters. They’re perfect for homeowners who want to maintain their primary residence while generating rental income or accommodating extended family members.

Tiny Homes: Tiny homes have captured the hearts of many homeowners seeking a simplified and minimalist lifestyle. These pint-sized residences are often built with a strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainable living. Tiny homes are versatile and can be tailored to meet your unique needs, whether it’s for downsizing, travel, or creating a guest house.

The common thread that binds these alternative living solutions is the potential to unlock unused spaces and revitalize underutilized property areas. At Newfore, we’re experts in the design and construction of garden suites, laneway homes, and tiny homes. Our team of experts can help you realize your vision, produce your design, maximize your property’s value, and embrace a sustainable, space-efficient lifestyle. Explore the possibilities these innovative housing options offer, and let us be your partner in transforming your property into a more functional and valuable space.

CASE STUDY

HAMILTON EXISTING GARAGE CONVERSION – 510sqft
TOTAL COST – $125,160
TOTAL RENT – $2,100+hydro

First step of a garden suite conversion project is to get a building permit. You’ll need a water service upgrade permit as well as a building permit for the renovation including Architectural and Mechanical drawings (in some cases you might need structural). The cost for these drawings are $5,000-$8,000. You can choose to do this yourself or you can start discussing this with a Hamilton Contractor. At this stage, hiring a Contractor to work on this for you ensures your drawings go through a constructability review while the drawings are being produced. This is a major advantage as you can avoid costly construction by having a Hamilton Contractor already engaged. Drawings will take 3-4 weeks to be produced and once they’re produced, they’re ready to submit to the City of Hamilton. The City of Hamilton review time ranges from 1-3 months. There are cases where review takes longer than 3 months but those are specific cases and less common.
After a building permit is issued, your licensed Hamilton Contractor can start construction. The first step is getting utilities to the garage which is done between April and October when the ground isn’t frozen. The Hamilton Contractor starts with digging a utility trench and running electrical, water lines and drains into the home and tying into the home’s utilities. You want to avoid tying directly to the city lines as costs to do this drastically increase.
Once utilities are run to the garden suite, you can start framing, plumbing, electrical and mechanical. At this stage your Hamilton Contractor has to call the city to inspect the utilities. The building inspector needs to approve this before moving to the next stage. Once passed, your Hamilton Contractor will begin insulating. If your permit calls for Batt insulation, the Hamilton Contractor installs poly as well then calls the city inspector back to review. Once approved, drywalling begins.
Now, bathrooms, painting, flooring, trim, doors and cabinets can begin. This is where the garden suite finally starts to come together. We always recommend starting with the bathroom and covering floor tiles with protective paper so there isn’t unnecessary cleaning when the rest of the finishes progress.
When renovating, avoid finishes that are too common. You don’t want to hop on trends that are widely used. Give your renovation a unique touch so your listing can be remembered. Your garden suite should trigger feelings of warmth and comfort. This will attract quality long term tenants and creates demand for your unit. Even small features like this recessed black polished stone area will give the garden suite a unique touch.

BUILD YOUR GARDEN SUITE TODAY

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