Cadboro Bay
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Municipality: Saanich
Outside Upgrades Create Fresh, Comfortable Spaces While Strengthening Structural Integrity
From roof to grounds, the exterior of this Cadboro Bay home now offers refreshment and peace of mind for years to come. Initially only an outdoor renovation for the front and back of the home, the scope grew to encompass structural restoration when building issues were discovered. All for the better — now the home not only features relaxed outdoor living, but serious water and ant damage is no longer a worry.
This Winter exterior renovation involved two phases. The first was an expanded rear terrace. Natural stone now complements the home’s charm and lush landscaping. A covered alcove was reframed to increase room for lounging al fresco on even the rainiest of West Coast days. We built a custom, hinged glass-panel windscreen that folds up or down, set on a black cement and stucco divider. When upright, the glass provides perfect wind blocking, its top edge designed to skim above the client’s seated height. A built-in fire table ensures cozy gatherings well into cooler temperatures.
The second phase of this Saanich renovation was the front entry. A circular wooden gate opens onto a round stone expanse, together creating a warm welcome nestled in abundant greenery. Although the gate was crafted by a wood artisan, Flintstones collaborated to integrate deer-proofing, which extends around the front garden. A structural overhaul around the front door and a new roof resolve moisture, rot, and ant damage.
Connecting the front and back gardens, we built a stone path and retaining wall that wraps around the home and features a delightful touch — small steps with integrated, under step lighting for little ones to sit on and climb. Now the exterior has refined yet comfortable spaces all around.
We completed
- Natural stone pavers
- Slope and drainage for the terrace
- Concrete & stucco retaining walls
- Hinged glass-panel windscreen
- Structural reframing around the front door and sliding back doors
- A new roof and rot repairs
- Building envelope and siding repair
- Deer-proof fencing
- Outdoor gas line and built-in fire table
a trusted residential construction leader offering design and build services to clients in Greater Victoria, Oak Bay, and the Gulf Islands
Client objectives
For this Saanich renovation, the homeowners’ priority was more spacious outdoor dining and lounge zones. Aesthetics lean into a layering of organic materials and curved lines, bold colour, and whimsical patterns that echo the home’s character.
Project Challenges
The discovery of rot from a faulty roof and siding, plus active, extensive ant damage expanded the project’s scope. A structural engineer was engaged to assist in determining the best course of action. Fixing the issues prolonged the project from three to six months, however, a permanent solution for a structurally sound home was the only outcome that would meet our modern building standards.
Throughout, we maintained an amenable client experience for this Saanich exterior renovation by:
- Working onsite within acceptable hours so as not to impede the clients when they were home
- Acquiring the necessary Saanich building permits
- Ensuring the worksite was safe and clean by storing materials and equipment in an out-of-the-way area
- Keeping the driveway clear to allow access to the home throughout the project
- Taking precautions to ensure the safe removal, storage, and reinstallation of the bespoke front doors
- Organizing teams strategically to minimize noise and traffic
- Working in flexible collaboration with the client, designer, landscaping teams, wood craftsman, and structural engineer to achieve the clients’ vision
- Minimizing work on the interior of the home, even when disassembling structural components
- Completing the structural and exterior repairs in a manner that ensured the finished product looks original to the rest of the home
- Maintaining clear, transparent and open communication with the clients throughout as the full extent of rot and ant damage wasn’t fully known until a full diagnosis was completed.
