Condominium
renovation.
A condominium renovation answers to two sets of rules: the city's and the building's. It suits owners who want a unit rebuilt to their own standard. They need a contractor who knows the board, the elevator and the neighbors matter as much as the finishes. With Mike, you deal directly with the person responsible for your unit.
Association approval comes first
In most buildings you need written board approval before work starts. Boards differ, so read your declaration and rules or ask the management office. The application often asks for drawings, a scope of work and the contractor's paperwork.
Approval can take time and can arrive with conditions. Plan the board review alongside the design and not after it, and hold off ordering materials until the approval is in hand.
Work hours, elevators and noise
Condominium rules usually set the days and hours when noisy work is allowed. Demolition, core drilling and tile cutting are often limited to a narrow window, so the schedule is built around the building and not the other way round.
Deliveries are the other constraint. Many buildings require a reserved elevator, protective pads, a booked loading dock and limits on what may cross the lobby. Stone slabs, large glass and cabinetry need a plan for how they will reach the unit. Check yours, because no two sets of rules match.
- Allowed work days and hours
- Elevator reservation and protection
- Loading dock and delivery windows
- Noise limits and notice to neighbors
Where it goes wrong
Flooring is the classic case. Many buildings require sound-rated underlayment beneath hard floors, and tile laid without it can mean tearing it out. Risers, shared walls and the structural slab limit what can move, and water or power shut-offs must be arranged with the building.
Impact windows and balcony doors are often controlled by the association, so confirm what you may change before you design.
How Mike works, and what to decide early
Mike works with your architect and designer and prepares what the board asks for. He is personally involved from preconstruction to closeout and manages a limited number of projects, so the board, the building manager and you all reach the same person.
Decide early how much of the layout you want to change, which floors and fixtures you want, and whether you will be away during demolition. Each of those answers shapes the board application.
- Layout changes the building allows
- Flooring and sound requirements
How the work goes
- 01
Consultation
A private conversation about the unit, the building and what you want it to become.
- 02
Scope and preconstruction
Mike reads the building's rules, develops the scope with your designer and builds a budget before any contract.
- 03
Approval and selections
The board package goes in, the city permit follows where required, and long-lead items are ordered once approval arrives.
- 04
Construction
Work runs inside the building's hours and delivery rules, with elevators and corridors protected.
- 05
Closeout
A final walk of the unit, common areas returned in order and a handover of finished rooms.
Questions owners ask
Do I need board approval to renovate?+
In most buildings, yes, and often in writing before any work starts. Boards differ, so read your declaration and rules or ask your management office. Mike prepares the package your board asks for.
Can the work happen on weekends?+
Many buildings restrict noisy work to weekday hours, and some limit it further. Check your building's rules, because the schedule has to be built around them.
Can I change the layout of my unit?+
Within limits. Interior walls can often move, but structural walls, shared walls, risers and the slab are controlled by the building and by an engineer. Your board and the city have the final say, so confirm before you design.
What does a condominium renovation cost?+
Scope and price are set together in a private consultation. Building rules, delivery logistics, how much plumbing moves and the finish level all shape the total. Knowing your building's requirements first keeps the price from drifting.
What happens to the common areas?+
Elevators, corridors and the lobby need protection during deliveries and debris removal. Mike plans both with building management before work begins.