Home Renovation Contractor in Abbotsford, BC
Abbotsford
Home Renovations
Ali's Old To New General Contracting has been renovating homes across the Fraser Valley for over a decade. We work throughout Abbotsford on kitchens, bathrooms, basement suites, attic conversions, additions and full interior renovations. We are fully insured, BBB accredited and a registered British Columbia contractor, and we pull the permits the City of Abbotsford requires.
Get a Free Quote in AbbotsfordAbbotsford's Home Renovation Contractor
Homeowners looking for a home renovation contractor in Abbotsford usually want the same three things. They want someone who shows up, someone who tells them what the work actually costs before it starts, and someone who is licensed and insured if something goes wrong. We have been doing renovations in the Fraser Valley since 2014, and we run every Abbotsford project the same way: a walkthrough of your home, a written scope that lists what is included and what is not, and a schedule you can plan around. We are a general contractor, so we handle the trades ourselves. Framing, plumbing, HVAC, electrical coordination, drywall, flooring, painting and finishing all get sequenced by us instead of by you. That matters most on larger jobs where a delay in one trade pushes every trade behind it. We are fully insured, BBB accredited and registered in British Columbia. Quotes are free, and we will tell you honestly if a project is bigger than your budget allows.
Serving All of Abbotsford
We work across the whole city, not just the central neighbourhoods. In Clearbrook and Sandy Hill we see a lot of older family homes getting kitchens, bathrooms and basements brought up to date. East Abbotsford and Auguston have newer stock where the work is more often a finished basement, a bonus room over the garage, or an addition to make room for a growing family. West Abbotsford, Townline Hill and McMillan sit somewhere between the two. Out on Sumas Prairie, in Matsqui, Mt. Lehman, Bradner and near Huntingdon we work on acreage properties and rural homes, which come with their own realities: septic systems, well water, longer driveways for material deliveries, and outbuildings that sometimes need attention before the house does. Aberdeen and the surrounding areas round out our regular service map. Wherever you are in Abbotsford, we come to you for the initial walkthrough and measure the space in person before we quote anything.
Renovating Abbotsford's 1970s to 1990s Homes
A large share of Abbotsford's housing was built between the 1970s and the 1990s, and those homes share a predictable set of problems. Kitchens are closed off from the rest of the main floor, so removing a wall is usually the first request. Whether that wall is load bearing decides a lot about the budget, because a beam and proper posts have to carry the load down to the foundation. Bathrooms from that era often have original fibreglass surrounds, poor venting and subfloor damage around the toilet flange that nobody sees until demolition. Insulation levels are frequently below what people expect, especially in attics and in walls that were never upgraded. Aluminum wiring, undersized panels and galvanized supply lines show up often enough that we check for them early. We also see wood rot and dry rot at deck ledgers, window sills and around exterior door thresholds where water has been getting in for years. Finding these before quoting is the difference between a firm price and a pile of change orders.
Basement Suites and Secondary Suites in Abbotsford
Secondary suites are common in Abbotsford and the City regulates them, so a basement suite is a permitted project, not a weekend job. A legal suite needs its own separate entrance, adequate ceiling height, egress windows in every bedroom sized to code, fire separation between the suite and the main dwelling, and proper smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are interconnected. Ventilation and heat have to be addressed too, which often means a dedicated HVAC arrangement rather than sharing the upstairs system. Parking and lot requirements are part of the City's review, so we confirm those before drawings go in. On the construction side, most 1970s to 1990s Abbotsford basements already have the ceiling height, so underpinning or lowering the floor is rarely needed. What takes the time is the new entry, the window wells and egress cuts, the plumbing rough-in for a kitchen and bathroom, and the sound and fire assemblies in the ceiling. Done properly, a suite is one of the most reliable renovations in this market.
Attic and Bonus Room Conversions in Abbotsford
Attic conversions turn wasted space into a bedroom, office or bonus room without changing your home's footprint. The first question is always structural. Homes framed with trusses cannot simply be opened up, because the webs of a truss are carrying the roof, so a conversion means engineered modifications or a new floor system. Homes with conventional rafters and a joisted ceiling are usually easier, but the existing ceiling joists were sized for drywall and insulation, not for people and furniture, so they often need sistering or replacement. After that it comes down to headroom, an approved stair with proper rise and run, egress for any sleeping room, and insulation and ventilation at the roof assembly so you do not create a moisture problem above your new drywall. Heating and cooling that space needs its own plan as well, since attics run hot in Abbotsford summers. We will tell you at the walkthrough whether your roof structure makes this a straightforward project or an expensive one, before you spend anything on design.
Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations in Abbotsford
Kitchens and bathrooms are the two rooms Abbotsford homeowners renovate most, and they are the two where the price range is widest. A bathroom renovation typically runs $15,000 to $50,000 or more. The low end is a straightforward refresh in the existing layout. The high end involves moving plumbing, a curbless or tiled shower with a proper waterproofing membrane, heated floors, and better finishes. A kitchen renovation typically runs $25,000 to $80,000 or more. What drives the number is cabinetry, whether the layout stays put, and how much structural or mechanical work is hiding behind the walls. Moving a sink or a gas range means new supply, drain and vent runs, and that is where budgets grow. In older Abbotsford homes we frequently find undersized venting, no dedicated circuits for small appliances, and subfloors that need levelling before tile goes down. We quote these items up front rather than discovering them halfway through, because a bathroom you cannot use is not something to leave sitting for weeks.
City of Abbotsford Permits and Project Timelines
The City of Abbotsford issues its own building permits, which means Abbotsford timelines are not the same as Surrey or Langley timelines. Structural changes, additions, secondary suites, attic conversions and most plumbing or electrical relocations require a permit. A cosmetic refresh with no structural or mechanical change usually does not. Permit applications need drawings, and for anything involving beams, new floor systems or truss modification you will also need engineering. Budget time for that. As a rough guide, a bathroom in the existing layout runs about two to four weeks on site. A kitchen typically runs four to eight weeks depending on cabinet lead times, which are often the longest single item. A legal basement suite generally runs eight to fourteen weeks of construction once permits are in hand. Additions run longest, since they involve foundation work, framing, roofing and multiple inspections. We build the permit and inspection windows into the schedule we give you, so the date you see accounts for the City, not just our crew.
What to Expect Working With Us in Abbotsford
It starts with a phone call and a free in-person walkthrough at your home. We look at the space, talk through what you want, and point out anything we notice that could affect the price. Then you get a written quote with a defined scope, so you know what is included, what is excluded, and what the allowances are for items like tile, fixtures and cabinetry. If the project needs drawings, engineering or a City of Abbotsford permit, we tell you at that stage and handle the application. Once work begins you have one point of contact for the whole job, not a different number for every trade. We keep the site protected and cleaned up daily, because most of our Abbotsford clients are living in the home while we work. Changes get priced in writing before they happen. At the end we do a walkthrough with you, build a deficiency list, and finish those items. We are fully insured, BBB accredited and registered in British Columbia. Call +1 (778) 861-6482 to book.
Get a Free Quote in Abbotsford
Ready to start your renovation project in Abbotsford? Contact us for a free consultation.
Request a QuoteCall: +1 (778) 861-6482
Email: info@oldtonew.ca
Our Services in Abbotsford
Renovation Services Available in Abbotsford
FAQ
Questions About Renovations in Abbotsford
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Can you build a legal basement suite in my Abbotsford home?
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