Remodel of our new old house

[The_Rural_Juror]

I'm all for removing the trees and replanting a bunch of nicer ones after. Cool project!

[BerserkerCatSplat]

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One of the trees was in the way of the driveway we are planning.

What's the permitting like for adding a new driveway connected to the street? I remember hearing that the City isn't too welcoming to the idea of adding new driveways across existing sidewalks.

[killramos]

My yard is full of garbage ass pine trees so I have similar plans to Benyl. Tear them all down and replace.

[benyl]

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What's the permitting like for adding a new driveway connected to the street? I remember hearing that the City isn't too welcoming to the idea of adding new driveways across existing sidewalks.

We have the only house on the block without a front drive. We’ve already been approved for an apron replacement to lower the sidewalk where the driveway goes. Our neighbor added a front drive a few years ago. We are lucky there is precedent.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

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We have the only house on the block without a front drive. We’ve already been approved for an apron replacement to lower the sidewalk where the driveway goes. Our neighbor added a front drive a few years ago. We are lucky there is precedent.

Nice, glad things are smooth sailing on that front.

[ExtraSlow]

Yard warming party Oct 1, 2021. @Buster will bring the wine. I'll bring the cheap beer.


Note: Yard warming because nobody wants the animals from beyond.ca in thier house.

[killramos]

What kind of savings are you looking at to keep the existing foundation versus just starting completely fresh?

Have had a few discussions on the topic and I can’t figure out why for the money it costs to rebuild you would leave something like the foundation to chance?

[90_Shelby]

One reason for leaving the foundation is that the build would be considered a "major reno" to the bank vs a new build with a new foundation. There is different financing for each option and from what I understand, with a normal mortgage the bank will not let you tear out the foundation for a new build. Someone else likely knows how this works better then myself and no idea if that was the reasoning in this case or not.

On the topic of foundation, is the lower basement just a crawl space? The drawings show 4 levels but you mentioned it was only 3.

[The_Rural_Juror]

The Branch Manager. What a name.

[benyl]

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What kind of savings are you looking at to keep the existing foundation versus just starting completely fresh?

Have had a few discussions on the topic and I can’t figure out why for the money it costs to rebuild you would leave something like the foundation to chance?

$90-$120K and 2 months of construction. We want to be done before school starts. Also, the constraint keeps us from going over budget and ending up with 3400 sqft like that last house. Seriously, we started at 2500 sqft on our last build and ended up 900 sqft bigger and 30% overbudget. We sold our last house because it was too big.

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On the topic of foundation, is the lower basement just a crawl space? The drawings show 4 levels but you mentioned it was only 3.

It’s still a new house and falls under Alberta new home warranty. The reason to do it beside saving the $100K is that the development permit will be contextual rather than discretionary. Discretionary permits get passed around to every department and it can add another 2-3 months to the timeline.

The lower level is a basement (no windows) and it is completely underground. There is a crawl space under the “left” side of the house. The plan is to raise the house 2.5 feet so that the crawl space is 6ft high. There will be an access door from the garage. 1000 sqft for equipment and tires. The garage can then be empty for only cars and a few tools.

[90_Shelby]

Very cool! That’s a ton of storage!

[ExtraSlow]

That storage plan makes me erect.

[Russo]

6', couldn't you park summer cars for storage under there? sounds pretty awesome

[prae]

Wow! Great looking lot with a killer location in a great neighbourhood. What year was the original house built? I was trying to convince my civil-engineer better-half that keeping the foundation of our 1911-era rebuild project might be viable but she basically said there's no way the concrete of that era would compare to a modern pour.

Are you doing a rear detached garage too?

I'm curious (if you're willing to share) if you have a per-sq-ft budget in mind for your rebuild? I'd guess in the $225-260 range?

- - - Updated - - -

Also very curious about your asbestos abatement experience. Just finished testing and am going through that process now.

[suntan]

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Wow! Great looking lot with a killer location in a great neighbourhood. What year was the original house built? I was trying to convince my civil-engineer better-half that keeping the foundation of our 1911-era rebuild project might be viable but she basically said there's no way the concrete of that era would compare to a modern pour.

Are you doing a rear detached garage too?

I'm curious (if you're willing to share) if you have a per-sq-ft budget in mind for your rebuild? I'd guess in the $225-260 range?

- - - Updated - - -

Also very curious about your asbestos abatement experience. Just finished testing and am going through that process now.

I'm stunned you have a concrete foundation. My friend had a house from that era and his basement walls were dirt and big rocks.

[npham]

I was wondering if you were going to make a remodel thread ala Buster. Project looks awesome and I'm excited to see how it unfolds.

Are you going to level out the backyard or leave that little slope so your kids can build up a nice sledding hill, starting at the top of the garage?

[Buster]

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I was wondering if you were going to make a remodel thread ala Buster. Project looks awesome and I'm excited to see how it unfolds.

Are you going to level out the backyard or leave that little slope so your kids can build up a nice sledding hill, starting at the top of the garage?

My Round 2 thread is coming this spring/summer. Stay tuned!

I'm enjoying this one as well.

[benyl]

Keeping the yard the same. Kids already figured it out.

[benyl]

Part way through Asbestos abatement. I feel like it's a scam. 1% in the drywall mud, so all the drywall has to be pulled out.

[killramos]

$ for the Abatement?

If you can’t tell the concept is on my mind haha. You seem to know what you are doing and no your first rodeo.