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Guides

Renovation guides for Calgary homeowners.

Straight answers on what renovations cost, what needs a permit, how to hire well and how to plan the rooms you love, written by the people who design and build them every day.

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The 2026 Calgary Renovation Cost Guide.

The Calgary Renovation Cost Guide 2026 gives real price ranges for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions and whole-home renovations, and the hidden costs people forget to plan for.

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Essential guides.

What is the difference between a renovation and a remodel?

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

What is the difference between a renovation and a remodel?

People use the two words as if they mean the same thing, and most of the time nobody minds. The difference starts to matter when you are pricing a project, applying for permits or comparing quotes.

October 29, 2026, Read
What is inside your walls?

Hiring and planning, 8 min read

What is inside your walls?

Most of the surprises in a renovation are hiding inside the walls. Knowing what is normally in there makes it easier to understand a quote, a drawing and the conversation on site.

October 29, 2026, Read
Gas, electric or wood fireplace?

Design and trends, 8 min read

Gas, electric or wood fireplace?

All three can look beautiful. They differ in how much heat they give, what they need behind the wall and how much looking after they take.

October 29, 2026, Read
What builders find inside older homes, decade by decade

Hiring and planning, 10 min read

What builders find inside older homes, decade by decade

Every era of house building left its own habits behind the walls. If you know when your house was built, you can make a fair guess at what a renovation will uncover.

October 29, 2026, Read
Which original details are worth keeping in an older home?

Design and trends, 8 min read

Which original details are worth keeping in an older home?

The best renovations of older houses feel new to live in and old in all the right places. Here is what is usually worth saving, what usually is not, and how to tell the difference.

October 29, 2026, Read
How to design a mudroom for a snowy climate

Design and trends, 8 min read

How to design a mudroom for a snowy climate

In a Calgary winter the mudroom is the hardest working room in the house. It has to swallow wet boots, salty slush and five people's coats every day, and still look tidy when guests come in.

October 29, 2026, Read
How to make an open-concept home quieter

Design and trends, 8 min read

How to make an open-concept home quieter

Open plans are bright and sociable, and they can also be loud. The dishwasher, the TV and the homework all end up in one big room. Most of the fixes are simple once you know what kind of noise you are fighting.

October 29, 2026, Read
A free renovation planning workbook

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

A free renovation planning workbook

Good renovations start long before anyone picks up a hammer. This free printable workbook walks you through the planning we do with every client, one page at a time.

October 29, 2026, Read
Which flooring is best for each room?

Design and trends, 11 min read

Which flooring is best for each room?

The right floor depends on the room, the subfloor, the climate and how you live. Here is how the main options compare, and which ones belong where.

October 25, 2026, Read
How to plan a kitchen layout that works

Kitchens, 10 min read

How to plan a kitchen layout that works

A good kitchen layout is felt every day. Here are the main kitchen shapes, how to plan work zones instead of a single triangle, and the clearances that make it all work.

October 25, 2026, Read
Stock, semi-custom or custom kitchen cabinets?

Kitchens, 10 min read

Stock, semi-custom or custom kitchen cabinets?

Cabinets take a large share of a kitchen budget and decide how it works every day. Here is how cabinets are built, what you pay for at each level and what to check before you buy.

October 25, 2026, Read
Where to save and where to splurge in a renovation

Costs, 8 min read

Where to save and where to splurge in a renovation

Every renovation budget has limits. The trick is spending where it lasts and saving where it does not show. Here is how builders think about it.

October 25, 2026, Read
How to make a small bathroom feel bigger

Bathrooms, 8 min read

How to make a small bathroom feel bigger

A small bathroom can feel open and generous without moving a single wall. These are the design and building decisions that make the difference.

October 25, 2026, Read
Double or triple pane windows for a cold climate?

Outdoor and exterior, 10 min read

Double or triple pane windows for a cold climate?

Windows affect comfort, energy bills, condensation and noise for decades. Here is how to choose them for a cold climate, and why installation matters as much as the glass.

October 25, 2026, Read
How to research the history of your house in Calgary

Hiring and planning, 9 min read

How to research the history of your house in Calgary

Every older house has a story, and Calgary keeps more records than most people realize. Here is where to look to find when your home was built and who lived there.

October 25, 2026, Read
What chinooks do to Calgary homes

Outdoor and exterior, 8 min read

What chinooks do to Calgary homes

Chinooks are one of the best parts of a Calgary winter, and one of the hardest on houses. Here is what the swings do, and how to build so your home handles them.

October 25, 2026, Read
Renovation terms explained in plain English

Hiring and planning, 14 min read

Renovation terms explained in plain English

Contractors, designers and inspectors speak their own language. This dictionary explains the words you will hear during a renovation, grouped by part of the house so you can find them fast.

October 18, 2026, Read
Standard kitchen, bathroom and stair dimensions

Hiring and planning, 10 min read

Standard kitchen, bathroom and stair dimensions

Counter heights, island clearances, toilet spacing, stair sizes and more, in imperial and metric. The numbers designers and builders use every day, in one place.

October 18, 2026, Read
Quartz, granite, marble or quartzite? Countertops compared

Kitchens, 12 min read

Quartz, granite, marble or quartzite? Countertops compared

Every countertop is a trade-off between looks, durability and upkeep. Here is how the main materials behave in a real kitchen, so you can choose one you will still like in ten years.

October 18, 2026, Read
How the kitchen changed over 100 years

Design and trends, 12 min read

How the kitchen changed over 100 years

From the Hoosier cabinet to the hidden scullery, the kitchen has been reinvented every few decades. Here is how it changed, and what each era left inside the walls of the homes we renovate today.

October 18, 2026, Read
Calgary house styles by decade

Hiring and planning, 11 min read

Calgary house styles by decade

From the Craftsman bungalows of the 1910s to today's infills, every era of Calgary housing has its own layout, materials and surprises. Here is how to recognize yours and plan its renovation.

October 18, 2026, Read
How Calgary's hard water and dry air affect your home

Hiring and planning, 9 min read

How Calgary's hard water and dry air affect your home

Calgary's water is hard and its winter air is very dry. Both quietly shape how fixtures, counters, floors and cabinets age. Here is what to expect and how to plan for it.

October 18, 2026, Read
How much light does each room need?

Design and trends, 11 min read

How much light does each room need?

Good lighting is planned, not guessed. Here is a simple formula for how much light each room needs, how to layer it and where to place every fixture.

October 18, 2026, Read
What to check before you renovate

Hiring and planning, 10 min read

What to check before you renovate

The surprises that blow renovation budgets usually show up before you start, if you know where to look. Walk through your house with this checklist first.

October 18, 2026, Read
Adding a primary suite to your Calgary home

Additions and custom homes, 6 min read

Adding a primary suite to your Calgary home

A primary suite is one of the most common reasons Calgary families add on. Here is where one can go, what it costs and how to design it so it feels like a retreat.

October 17, 2026, Read
When your kitchen needs an addition

Kitchens, 6 min read

When your kitchen needs an addition

Sometimes no layout can fix a kitchen that is simply too small. Here is how a kitchen addition works in Calgary, what it costs and how to plan it.

October 17, 2026, Read
Adding a garage to your Calgary home

Additions and custom homes, 6 min read

Adding a garage to your Calgary home

An attached garage changes Calgary winters, and the space above it can become an office or a suite. Here is how to plan a garage addition.

October 17, 2026, Read
How to lower a basement floor in Calgary

Basements, 7 min read

How to lower a basement floor in Calgary

Many older Calgary basements are too low to finish well. Lowering the floor fixes that. Here is how underpinning and bench footings work, and what they cost.

October 17, 2026, Read
What is a bump-out addition?

Additions and custom homes, 6 min read

What is a bump-out addition?

Sometimes a kitchen, an ensuite or an entry only needs a few more feet. Here is how a bump-out works in Calgary, from foundations and permits to cost and design.

October 17, 2026, Read
Adding a four-season sunroom in Calgary

Additions and custom homes, 6 min read

Adding a four-season sunroom in Calgary

A sunroom can become the favourite room in the house, or one you only use in July. Here is how to plan a Calgary sunroom that works through the winter.

October 17, 2026, Read
Can you add a third storey in Calgary?

Additions and custom homes, 6 min read

Can you add a third storey in Calgary?

On a tight inner-city lot, the only space left may be above the roof. Here is what decides whether a Calgary two-storey home can take a third floor.

October 17, 2026, Read
Can I add a second storey to my house in Calgary?

Additions and custom homes, 7 min read

Can I add a second storey to my house in Calgary?

Many Calgary bungalows can take a second storey, but not all of them. Here is what decides it, from zoning and the foundation to the roofline and the trees out front.

October 17, 2026, Read
Should you add on or move? The Calgary math

Additions and custom homes, 6 min read

Should you add on or move? The Calgary math

When a house no longer fits, there are two ways out. Here is how the money and the trade-offs compare for Calgary families deciding whether to add on or move.

October 17, 2026, Read
Mudroom and laundry additions for Calgary homes

Additions and custom homes, 5 min read

Mudroom and laundry additions for Calgary homes

A proper mudroom and a main-floor laundry change how a busy Calgary home works every day. Here is how to fit them in, by building out or by reworking the space you have.

October 17, 2026, Read
Can you renovate in winter in Calgary?

Hiring and planning, 5 min read

Can you renovate in winter in Calgary?

Winter is a good time for many indoor renovations in Calgary and a poor time for some outdoor ones. Here is how to tell the difference and plan around the cold.

October 17, 2026, Read
Does finishing a basement add value to a Calgary home?

Basements, 6 min read

Does finishing a basement add value to a Calgary home?

A finished basement usually adds both living space and resale value, and a legal suite can add rental income on top. Here is what tends to pay back and what is mostly for your own enjoyment.

October 17, 2026, Read
How long does a renovation take in Calgary?

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

How long does a renovation take in Calgary?

Realistic timelines for the most common Calgary renovations, how long permits take, and the things that most often stretch a schedule.

October 14, 2026, Read
What to check before renovating an older Calgary home

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

What to check before renovating an older Calgary home

Homes built from the 1950s to the 1990s make up much of Calgary's established neighbourhoods. Here is what tends to hide inside them, and how to plan and budget for it before you renovate.

October 14, 2026, Read
In what order should you renovate a house?

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

In what order should you renovate a house?

The order of work on a renovation, which rooms to tackle first when you cannot do everything at once, and a few sequencing rules that save money.

October 14, 2026, Read
Removing a load-bearing wall in Calgary

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

Removing a load-bearing wall in Calgary

Opening a closed kitchen to the living room is one of the most requested changes we make. Here is how load-bearing wall removal works in a Calgary home, from the engineer to the permit to the cost.

October 14, 2026, Read
What is a design-build renovation, and is it right for you?

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

What is a design-build renovation, and is it right for you?

Design-build means one company designs and builds your renovation under one contract. How it works, how it compares with hiring a designer and a builder separately, and when it makes the most sense.

October 14, 2026, Read
How much does it cost to develop a basement in Calgary in 2026?

Costs, 7 min read

How much does it cost to develop a basement in Calgary in 2026?

Real 2026 price ranges for developing a Calgary basement, from an open rec room to a legal secondary suite, with the cost per square foot and the extras most people forget.

October 14, 2026, Read
How much does a home addition cost in Calgary in 2026?

Costs, 7 min read

How much does a home addition cost in Calgary in 2026?

Real 2026 price ranges for main-floor extensions, second storeys and garage suites in Calgary, what pushes a budget up, and how to plan yours before you call anyone.

October 13, 2026, Read
Renovate or rebuild? What Alberta's zoning order means for Calgary homeowners

Additions and custom homes, 6 min read

Renovate or rebuild? What Alberta's zoning order means for Calgary homeowners

The province has told Calgary to keep its restored low-density zoning until at least 2027. If you were thinking about selling to a builder or rebuilding as a duplex, here is how the decision looks now.

October 12, 2026, Read
Aging-in-place and multigenerational renovations in Calgary

Hiring and planning, 7 min read

Aging-in-place and multigenerational renovations in Calgary

More Calgary families are planning homes that work for three generations, or for their own later years. What to build, what the City requires, and the federal tax credits that can cover part of the cost.

October 12, 2026, Read
How to choose the right renovation contractor

Hiring and planning, 10 min read

How to choose the right renovation contractor

The checks, questions and quote comparisons that separate a good renovation from a stressful one. Use them with every contractor you meet, including us.

October 12, 2026, Read
How to build a legal basement suite in Calgary in 2026

Basements, 7 min read

How to build a legal basement suite in Calgary in 2026

The permits, safety requirements and deadlines that turn a basement into a legal, registered secondary suite, and how the 2026 zoning changes affect your plans.

October 12, 2026, Read
What Calgary's rezoning repeal means for your renovation or addition

Additions and custom homes, 5 min read

What Calgary's rezoning repeal means for your renovation or addition

Council reversed the 2024 citywide rezoning, effective August 4, 2026. Here is what changed for additions, suites and R-CG properties, and what to check before you design.

October 12, 2026, Read
The rules, codes and incentives that changed for Calgary homeowners in 2026

Hiring and planning, 8 min read

The rules, codes and incentives that changed for Calgary homeowners in 2026

One place for the 2026 changes that affect renovations, additions, suites and new homes in Calgary and Alberta, with links to the official sources.

October 12, 2026, Read
Tax credits, rebates and financing for Calgary renovations in 2026

Costs, 6 min read

Tax credits, rebates and financing for Calgary renovations in 2026

Most renovations aren't tax-deductible, but several federal programs help with suites, accessibility and new homes. What is available in 2026, and what has ended.

October 12, 2026, Read
What changed in Alberta's building codes in 2026 for renovations and new homes

Additions and custom homes, 5 min read

What changed in Alberta's building codes in 2026 for renovations and new homes

The codes behind every permit have changed in the last two years. What applies to your Calgary renovation, addition or custom home now, and what is still being debated.

October 12, 2026, Read
A builder's guide to climate-controlled wine cellars in Calgary

Specialty builds, 9 min read

A builder's guide to climate-controlled wine cellars in Calgary

A wine cellar is a small, sealed refrigerated room inside a heated house. How it is insulated, vapour-sealed, cooled and humidified so a collection keeps for decades in Calgary's dry climate.

October 9, 2026, Read
A builder's guide to custom steam showers and home saunas in Calgary

Specialty builds, 9 min read

A builder's guide to custom steam showers and home saunas in Calgary

A steam shower or sauna is a sealed room full of heat and moisture, wired to a large dedicated circuit. How they are waterproofed, powered, permitted and finished so they last for decades.

October 9, 2026, Read
Building a hail-resistant exterior in Calgary

Outdoor and exterior, 6 min read

Building a hail-resistant exterior in Calgary

Class 4 roofing, tougher siding and smarter details: how to rebuild an exterior that stands up to Calgary hail, and what has happened to the City's roofing rebate.

October 5, 2026, Read
Protecting your Calgary basement from water before you finish it

Basements, 5 min read

Protecting your Calgary basement from water before you finish it

Heavy summer rain is getting heavier. The steps that keep water out of a Calgary basement, and why they belong at the start of any basement development.

October 5, 2026, Read
Why to test for radon before you finish a Calgary basement

Basements, 4 min read

Why to test for radon before you finish a Calgary basement

One in eight Calgary-area homes tested above Canada's radon guideline. How to test, what the result means, and why the time to fix it is before the basement is finished.

October 5, 2026, Read
Paying for energy upgrades during a Calgary renovation (2026)

Costs, 5 min read

Paying for energy upgrades during a Calgary renovation (2026)

What is open and what has closed in 2026: Calgary's property-tax financing program, the federal loan that ended, and how to fold efficiency upgrades into a larger renovation.

October 5, 2026, Read
Renovating an older Calgary home safely around asbestos and vermiculite

Hiring and planning, 4 min read

Renovating an older Calgary home safely around asbestos and vermiculite

If your home was built before 1990, asbestos is part of the renovation plan. Where it hides, what the City requires before a permit, and how to keep it from derailing your schedule.

October 5, 2026, Read
The 2026 rules for backyard suites in Calgary and the City incentive

Additions and custom homes, 6 min read

The 2026 rules for backyard suites in Calgary and the City incentive

A garden or laneway suite can house family, add rental income or become a studio. Here is what changed in 2026, what the City will contribute, and how to plan one.

October 5, 2026, Read
How to pay a renovation contractor in Alberta

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

How to pay a renovation contractor in Alberta

Alberta law protects homeowners who pay deposits and progress payments, but only if you know the rules. What to check before you pay anyone.

October 5, 2026, Read
Signing a renovation contract and paying for the work

Hiring and planning, 4 min read

Signing a renovation contract and paying for the work

What belongs in the contract, how to handle blanks and changes, and how a fair payment schedule works.

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Planning a luxury renovation from first idea to final walkthrough

Hiring and planning, 6 min read

Planning a luxury renovation from first idea to final walkthrough

How a design-build project runs at Kay2, and what you will decide at each step.

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Planning an indoor pool or spa at home

Specialty builds, 6 min read

Planning an indoor pool or spa at home

Structure, humidity and mechanical systems: what an award-winning indoor pool project has to get right.

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Planning specialty rooms like golf simulators, theatres, courts and cellars

Specialty builds, 5 min read

Planning specialty rooms like golf simulators, theatres, courts and cellars

The room dimensions, systems and early decisions that make specialty spaces work.

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