Extension
- Install eco-energetic light fixtures
- Install electronic thermostats
- Choose high energy-efficiency heating units
- Choose high energy-efficiency doors and windows.
- Install durable, low emissions floor coverings
- Use high-quality, low emissions or VOC-free paints and primers
- Choose exterior cladding that meets the construction standards and municipal bylaws in your area.
- Choose the most durable, eco-energetic cladding
- Consider installing solar panels
- For a sloped roof, choose durable cladding
- For flat roofs, choose light coloured cladding to reduce thermal islands
- At equal performance levels, choose the insulation with the highest recycled materials content.
- Insulate and waterproof the foundations.
- Select the most appropriate high-performance insulation.
- If anyone sensitive to their living environment is in the house, choose healthy insulation.
Needs change over a lifetime, and a family may find itself needing more space without necessarily wanting to move. Building an extension can be a good solution to this problem, but remember, extensions can cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.+Having a bigger house means having a smaller yard, and it also increases energy consumption. The loss of green space can make thermal islands worse and reduce your quality of life, so it’s important to make some carefully considered eco-responsible choices. Adding an extension demands thorough planning based on real needs and a budget. Certain environmental objectives should also be considered, such as reducing resource use and waste production.
For a well-planned extension project, please see the “Before you get started” section. Here are the four steps to follow before you begin your renovations:
1. Determine the type of extension that meets your needs
A cantilevered extension can add a few feet to a room on the ground floor without changing the foundation. A lateral extension, often built behind the house, involves extending the foundation and allows rooms to be added on one or more floors. A vertical extension does not change the physical footprint of the house, but requires structural work to add a floor or drop the floor of a basement crawl space.
2. Consult with a professional and evaluate the costs
In addition to determining the effect of the extension on the structure and architectural style of the home, professionals can evaluate the cost of the work and ensure it meets standards and construction codes.
3. Check compliance with municipal regulations
The maximum area of a house within the property is often regulated by municipal laws. Front extensions may be prohibited, and some exterior cladding materials may not be allowed. If you live in a heritage home or one with protected architectural features, your renovations may be subject to strict controls. A detailed plan of the addition is required to obtain a work permit from the municipality, which may insist that the blueprints be made by an architect, an engineer or an architectural or engineering technologist.
4. Make sure you understand the issues related to self-construction
You may find it both appealing and economical to build the extension yourself, but like any entrepreneur, you will be required to comply with the standards and construction codes in effect. Also, if you hire workers to do certain tasks, rather than dealing with a general contractor, you will have to register yourself as a worksite employer (self-builder). You will be obliged to comply with all the standards related to work safety, worker pay, and specialized work that requires competency cards. All these details make it very important to thoroughly understand the applicable provincial laws and bylaws.