Ultimate Renovations, born of humble beginnings more than 40 years ago, has consistently strived to gain a reputation in alignment with our name. We are proud to offer the Ultimate experience when it comes to complete home renovations: from start to finish, our team offers professionalism and expertise beyond the ordinary. This shows in our work, and our results: Ultimate Renovations has consistently been a top contender in the renovation industry at municipal, provincial, and even national industry award celebrations in a wide variety of categories, and this past year has been no different.

At Ultimate Renovations, we are committed to a palpable excellence that our team regularly procures for every job we take on. Our methodology combined with the careful curation of the most skilled professionals in the industry exemplifies what we are all about: bringing your dream home to life.

It has taken time, dedication, and consistent efforts toward growth to get to where we are today. Every home that we have had the privilege of working on is a testament to our journey toward the award-winning enterprise we are today. We cannot thank our valued clientele enough for helping us to reach these milestones year after year. And of course, to our industry peers for recognizing our work too! We are proud to be considered one of the premier home renovation companies in Calgary.

A Year in Review

Finalist Categories

In the past year, Ultimate Renovations is proud to announce that we were considered finalists for 18 different awards and categories.

These included:

2022 Canadian Homebuilders’ Association (CHBA) National Awards for Housing Excellence:

- Best whole home renovation in both the $200-$400k & $600-$800k categories

- Best basement, best exterior, and best bathroom renovations

- Best kitchen renovation in both the under $70k and $70k-$100k categories

2022 Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) Alberta:

- 2 X Best kitchen renovation in the over $100k category

- 2 X Best renovators choice category

- Best bathroom renovation

2021 BILD Calgary:

- 2 X Best kitchen renovation in the $56-$100k category

- Best kitchen renovation in the over $100k category
- Best basement, best exterior, and best bathroom/ensuite renovation

Awards Won

In the past year, Ultimate Renovations has also been awarded the following 5 wins for our exceptional work. We are extremely proud of the team effort it has taken to bring these awards home.

2022 BILD Alberta:

- Best kitchen renovation – over $100,000

- Best bathroom renovation

- 2022 Pinnacle Renovator – 3rd Year in a Row

2021 BILD Calgary:

- Best whole home renovation with addition

Renovator of the Year – 3rd Year in a Row making us Calgary’s only 12-time Renovator of the Year

As we eagerly await the results of the 2023 CHBA national awards (finalists announced early January 2023), and the upcoming 2022 BILD Calgary region awards, we can’t help reflecting on how far we’ve come. To our industry associations and peers for recognizing our standards of excellence and achievements in this area, to our amazing team, to our valued clients, we want to take a moment and give our sincere thanks for making these achievements possible. We couldn’t do it without you!

It’s All in the Name

At Ultimate Renovations, we do our best to live up to our name. From the beginnings of ideation to the final steps of your renovation, our goal is to provide the ultimate experience – and it shows in the accolades we have earned over the years. We have worked hard to become one of the leading home renovation companies in Calgary today, and intend to continue making strides in our industry.

Whatever your vision is, allow the experts in local industry and craft to help you bring it to fruition. For truly award-winning work, contact us at Ultimate Renovations to get your project started today.

Ultimate Homes & Renovations is Calgary’s only 12-time “Renovator of the Year.” Our mission is to bring your home to life. For over 43 years, we have established ourselves as the industry’s elite team of contractors for complete home renovations in Calgary and Edmonton. Our quality craftsmanship, superior customer service and our ability to exceed expectations are how we have established ourselves as the renovator of choice for homeowners. Contact us at (403)-287-3122 (Calgary) or (780)-430-6441 (Edmonton).

In this month’s entry, we’re focusing on the ins-and-outs of home addition projects. Home additions are a great way to increase the value of your daily living space without relocating or otherwise modifying the layout of your existing space. With the right planning and execution, home additions can have a hugely positive impact on your lifestyle to provide the space and functionality you’re craving.

There is a lot to consider when embarking on a home addition project. Whether you’re deciding on what space to build or trying to break down the logistics of the project, it’s important to take your time. Lean into the process of developing a plan, and make sure you’re thinking in the long term. Read on to learn more about custom home additions and why we love them.

Different Types of Home Additions

Ultimate Renovations has covered just about any addition you could conceive, and we’ve seen a lot of great projects come to fruition. Here are some of the most common types of additions we see. All of these spaces are thoughtfully designed to increase not only the value of a home but the enjoyment of its inhabitants.

Office

A home office is a great use of space, but often not the priority. In a home where most bedrooms are in use, family comes first. If you frequently have company staying with you, sharing the spare room as a workspace is inconvenient. With remote work becoming more and more common in the digital age, an office space can be an essential feature for many households, and can even double as storage space if cleverly thought out.

Gym

In a busy household focused on well-being, the benefits of a home gym cannot be overstated. Rather than having to seek childcare or worry about leaving your house at odd hours, investing in a home gym provides privacy without the monthly price tag. Now more than ever, many individuals are further inclined to privatize their workout space to avoid uncontrollable interruptions to their routines and mitigate their exposure to pathogens. A private at-home gym also provides the opportunity to customize equipment needs and set-up positions according to your needs.

Prep Kitchen

A new space becoming more and more popular among families and entertainers alike is the prep kitchen. These handy expansions provide ample pantry and counter space and are particularly favoured in homes with open floor plans in the main kitchen area. A well-designed prep kitchen leaves plenty of room for storing ingredients and kitchen accessories, and may even house additional appliances.

Mudrooms

There’s nothing quite like the hectic hustle of moving a family through a cramped entryway in the morning. With laundry on the go, strollers, and sports bags, making room for everyone’s ‘stuff’ can easily be accommodated in a new mudroom. You might even consider this an opportunity to add an additional point of entry to your home to make bringing in groceries and keeping the front door free of clutter a breeze.

Master Retreat

Retiring to your beloved bedroom at the end of a long day is an understated luxury. Why not make the most of it by increasing your bedroom area’s square footage? This opens up tons of options for closets, spas, and additional private living spaces to unwind in.

The Sky is the Limit

The above are just a few ideas to consider when it comes to popular home addition choices. You might even consider building a guest suite or expanding your garage space. Art studios and project workshops are other great options. The wonderful thing about custom home additions is that you can build them to suit your needs rather than reconfiguring an already-built area of your home. Of course, the most common place we see home additions is in the kitchen. It’s no surprise that with growing families and changing needs many will opt to reimagine this space in a home they’ve come to grow and love and what better way to do that than by giving yourself more space to dream!

Where To Start

Now that we’ve filled you up with inspiration for your custom home addition, there are many different orders of business that must be completed before it can commence. The foundation and structural limitations of your home must be kept top of mind when investigating your addition, as should local bylaws. Real Property Reports (RPR’s) will also clearly define your property lines and the location of any structures and easements which can dictate the scale of addition that’s possible. This research is an important step that can take time, so ensure you’ve budgeted for that in your timeline if you’re considering a home addition renovation.

Why We Love Home Additions

Any Time of Year

These projects are a favourite because they can be completed any time of year – and yes, as an Alberta business, we mean it when we say it! A skilled renovator will be able to minimize any impact on heat loss throughout your home, and see the project through with minimal disruption to occupants, which brings us to our next point.

No Need to Relocate

With a well-thought-out home addition, you can gain the spaciousness you’ve dreamed of without sacrificing your location. Instead of disrupting the kids, saying bye to beloved neighbours, or worse your dream home, create it with additional space.

An in-law suite is also a great option for folks who need to look after relatives who require constant care – rather than uprooting them and having them adjust to the stress of a new and unfamiliar environment. The right addition can be the perfect solution to the challenges of life.

Add Value

At the end of the day, it’s no surprise that the more square footage you add to your home, the higher its value becomes – both intrinsically and extrinsically. After all – the number of bedrooms is a key selling point in any home. So why wouldn’t a home gym, office, or mudroom do the same? Adding additional space is sure to increase your home’s sale value when the time comes to move on. In the meantime, you’ll reap the enjoyment of having a space you love, crafted precisely the way you wanted it.

Keep in Mind

Once you’ve decided you want to move forward with a custom home addition, it’s important to understand the requirements of this particular type of renovation. Because it is being built from scratch, you will need to ensure all the materials, engineering, and skilled labour necessary are lined up in order to properly take care of…

HVAC
Electrical
Plumbing
Flooring
Drywall
Roofing
Siding
Soffit
Fascia
Eavestroughs

And more, depending on the type of addition you are going for. This is where it is important to have skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable professionals available to help with planning and execution.

The Ultimate Addition

Now that you’ve gained a bit more insight into the home addition process, we hope you feel prepared in your considerations of this valuable home renovation project. For any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact your friendly local team of experts at Ultimate Renovations.

Adding an extension to your home can be a significant benefit. You can experience an upturn in value, enhance your home’s curb appeal and set your property up for your future. However, planning out a home addition isn’t a simple process. It requires time, patience and flexibility.

For those you don’t know anything about adding custom home builds in Calgary, it can be quite confusing with no starting point. This step-by-step breakdown can ensure that your home addition is a successful venture.

7-Step Process For Home Additions in Calgary

Identify key objectives

Ask yourself what you want the project to achieve or what problems you want it to solve. Have a concrete plan early on what you want from the project, so you know why you’re investing in the home addition in the first place. Do you want bedrooms, bathrooms or both? Or do you want a room for entertainment? Your first starting point is deciding what you want from your project.

Crunch the numbers

Crunching the numbers to decide whether you’re in the ballpark regarding the budget. Homeowners commonly underestimate remodelling costs, so make sure you always add 20% extra on top of the budget to cover for expenses.

Plan Out What You Want

When deciding on a home addition, building out or building up are the two options available. Choosing what you want can determine the impact of your project, it’s time and the complexity of its completion. Building out is a sensible strategy that requires less work and effort compared to building up. But adding another storey can preserve outdoor living space and add value to your home. Plan out what you want and how you want it done.

Run it by a City Hall

Remember that any addition to your home requires approval from the City of Calgary or the City of Edmonton. You have to make sure you fit into legal restrictions and building codes regarding what can be built on the property. Specific constraints include height restrictions, building area ratios, design covenants, and historic-district preservation ordinances. Make sure you meet all the regulations, or expect to be denied the application. If you need assistance with this process, it is best to speak to a professional.

Hire professional renovators

Custom home builds in Calgary is not a DIY project. You’re going to need professionals that can handle the job for you. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. What do you look for in a renovation company in Calgary? Here are a few key things:

Experience in the industry
A history of successful projects
Quality in value, products and workmanship
Experience in kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations and basement developments in Calgary
Additional services such as an in-house designer that can assist you with a design consultation, construction drawings, and project management.

Take your time to research a company that suits your needs (or just sign up with Ultimate Renovations now!)

Bring the design into focus with your renovators and designers

Show the renovators your plans and what you want. They’ll inspect it, conduct an analysis of your home and determine if the plans are secure and possible. If not, they might suggest some changes that can help you with your project, as well as your budget restrictions. They’ll organize your plan so that it fits your lifestyle and steers you past the pitfalls of poor planning. They’ll give you a quote on their work for the project.

Analyze the final drawing and crunch the numbers a final time

Once you’re satisfied with the design, it’s time to take another look at the numbers – a tough look. Consider the cost of the renovators and how much renovations in Calgary will cost you in the long-term. If the numbers don’t look right, thinking about cutting something out of your plan or speaking to the renovators for assistance. If the numbers seem manageable, you’re all set to put your plan into action.

Ultimate Homes & Renovations is Calgary’s only 11- time “Renovator of the Year”. Our mission is to bring your home to life. For over 40 years, we have established ourselves as the industry’s elite team of contractors for complete home renovations in Calgary and Edmonton. Our quality craftsmanship, superior customer service and our ability to exceed expectations are how we have established ourselves as the renovator of choice for homeowners. Contact us at (403)-287-3122 (Calgary) or (780)-430-6441 (Edmonton).