Renovating on the
North Shore, done right.

North Vancouver homes are different. The way we renovate them should be too.

The North Shore has a character all its own. A large share of the housing stock was built between the 1950s and 1980s — post-and-beam ranchers in Edgemont, split-levels climbing up the hillside in Lynn Valley, modest mid-century bungalows tucked into the older blocks near Lonsdale. These homes were built to a different standard, and renovating them well means understanding what's behind the walls before the demo crew shows up.

The terrain matters too. Lots on the slopes above Upper Lonsdale or out toward Capilano sit at grades that affect drainage, foundation waterproofing and how additions tie into the structure. North Vancouver's heavy annual rainfall — measurably higher than Vancouver proper — means a basement that drains fine today can be a problem the moment you finish it without proper moisture management.

Renohaus runs every North Shore project as a single design-build job: one team designs, prices, permits and builds it. We know the City of North Vancouver and District of North Vancouver building departments well — the permit processes differ, and we handle whichever one applies to your address. You get a fixed quote before we break ground and a dedicated project manager from demo day to final walkthrough.

Permits, drainage and the realities of renovating on the North Shore.

City vs. District of North Vancouver

North Vancouver is actually two separate municipalities that share a name. The City of North Vancouver covers the denser, lower areas — Lonsdale, Lower Lonsdale and the blocks closest to the waterfront. The District of North Vancouver covers the larger, more spread-out areas to the north and east: Lynn Valley, Deep Cove, Edgemont, Blueridge and Capilano. Each has its own building department, its own permit application process and its own inspection schedule. We deal with both regularly and handle the permit on your behalf as part of every project.

Sloped lots and drainage

A significant portion of North Vancouver sits on terrain that slopes down from the mountains toward Burrard Inlet. That's what makes the North Shore so dramatic to look at — and it's what makes basement and exterior projects more involved than the equivalent job in a flat Burnaby or Richmond neighbourhood. Hillside lots need careful attention to how water moves across and under the property. We assess drainage, weeping tile condition and foundation waterproofing before finalizing any basement quote. On exterior projects, deck footings, retaining walls and the relationship between grade and the building envelope all need to be designed with water in mind.

Older homes and the building envelope

Post-and-beam construction was common throughout the District from the 1950s through the 1970s. These homes have a lot going for them — open floor plans, good bones, often spectacular sites — but they were built before modern vapour barriers and insulation standards. A full kitchen or basement renovation in a post-and-beam home frequently involves bringing the insulation and vapour control up to current BC Building Code, which we factor into every quote at the design stage rather than discovering it mid-demo.