Notes from
the jobsite.
Field notes from a working Calgary design-and-build studio — what we learn on real jobsites about large-format tile, legal suites, kitchen budgets, and living through a renovation. Plain English, no sales gloss.
What It Really Takes to Build a Legal Basement Suite in Cochrane
Creating a legal secondary suite in Cochrane is a great way to increase your home's value and generate rental income—but it's important to understand that the approval process is more involved than in Calgary.
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Why we love a 1.6 metre tile (and what it asks of your floor)
The bigger the slab, the smaller the margin for error. A field guide to substrates, lippage, and why the prep is most of the work.
A plain-English guide to legal secondary suites in Calgary
Egress, fire separation, sound, ventilation. What the City actually checks for, and the order we tackle it in.
Where the money actually goes in a kitchen renovation
Cabinets, stone, plumbing, electrical, lighting. We break down a recent $94k Calgary project line by line.
How to live through a renovation without losing your weekends
A short list of the small disciplines that make a noisy job feel calm. Mostly: communication, dust, and shoes.