Home additions in Chilliwack

The difference between a good addition and an awkward one is usually the connection. Rooflines, floor heights, window styles and the way you walk from the old house into the new room all decide whether an addition feels part of the home or bolted onto it.

We plan the addition with the existing house in mind, so finishes, trim and flooring carry through. If the addition opens a kitchen, Cheam can plan the cabinetry and countertops at the same time.

Additions usually involve more planning than other renovations. Drawings, engineering and permits are often part of the picture, and the rules for what can be built on your lot are set by the City of Chilliwack, including things like setbacks and lot coverage.

We'll talk through what your project is likely to involve, which professionals and trades are needed, and how their work is coordinated, before you commit to anything.

Every addition is different. A typical path looks like this, and we'll explain it in detail for your home.

Cheam Sardis brings together Sardis Contracting, for framing and renovation work, and Cheam Countertops and Cabinets, for cabinetry and surfaces. For an addition that includes a kitchen, a bathroom or built-in storage, that means the structure and the finished room are planned in the same conversation.

Living at home during an addition is often possible, since much of the early work happens outside the existing walls. We'll explain which stages affect the rest of the house and when.

An addition is a big project, so it's worth asking the question early. Sometimes a better layout inside the existing house, opening a wall or rethinking a room, gives you the space you need for less disruption. Other times, the house simply doesn't have the room, and building out or up is the only way to get it.

Your lot plays a part too. How close the house sits to property lines, where services run, and how the land slopes all affect what's possible. We'll look at the house and the lot with you and talk honestly about the options.

Inside and out, an addition should look like it belongs. Outside, that means siding, trim, windows and roofline that match or complement the house. Inside, it means floors that meet at the same height, trim and doors in the same style, and lighting and heating that make the new room as comfortable as the rest.

Where an exact match isn't possible, a deliberate contrast can work better than a near miss. We'll talk through the choices with you as the plan comes together.

We work with homeowners in the communities below. If you're in a nearby Fraser Valley community, ask us. A rough sketch of the house and a note about what the new space is for are a good start.