This is a story about a family who had a house—a small house, actually. It was on a small lot, just 33 feet wide, but their building was a bit oversized with a big footprint. They had a secondary street-facing yard and an upper floor with two stories. They were looking to build a laneway home to add some extra income and make their mortgage payments easier. However, because their main existing building was larger than usual, they knew getting a permit would be a big challenge.
The Challenge
They searched everywhere for help, but many people either said it wasn’t possible or discouraged them. Then they met me. At the time, I was building a commercial building in Vancouver and had to go through due diligence—not only to prove who I was but also to build trust. He even spoke with my client for whom I was building the commercial project, and eventually realized I was a trustworthy person. That’s when he gave me the information to start working on the laneway home project.
The Approach
Yes, it was very difficult. Honestly, this could have been the smallest home I ever built—basically the size of a garage. He wanted just one story to save money and to keep the yard user-friendly without making it feel cluttered. So, I designed and built a one-bedroom laneway home.
When we finished the design, he wasn’t quite sure what to expect or how it would turn out. However, he trusted me to complete the job. We got the permit and started the project in winter. He was almost competitive, curious to see how long it would take to finish since one of his friends was building a similar but slightly larger project.
We began around February, and despite the weather challenges, especially with pouring concrete in snow or freezing temperatures, we did a perfect job. We had to pause for several weeks to ensure the concrete work was done properly and on time.
The Result
After six months, the project was completed. When he saw the final laneway home—about 440 square feet—he was amazed. He couldn’t believe how good design could transform a small, dead space into a livable, enjoyable home and even a source of income. Although he had kids who couldn’t live in a one-bedroom laneway home, he was very satisfied. Most importantly, the rental income he collected deeply surprised and pleased him.
Because he was so comfortable working with me—from design to permit to construction—he was extremely satisfied. Later, he gave me more projects, which I will talk about soon.
If you’re planning to build a laneway house and want a realistic understanding of what to expect, we can help you review your project and identify the right approach from the start.
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